The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-07-02


financial risk was enormous. The
profit, If any, could only come after
long years of anxious struggle. A un
animous legislature said: Build it.
gentlemen, it will help the State; we
will remit your taxes for twenty
years." Your legislature had said the
same thing unanimously to the Ban
por IL Aroostook and without it that
: road would never have been built.
Go down into Aroostook, the Gar
den of Maine, and ask them if the
: building of the Bangor & Aroostook
was mistake. Your legislature had
unanimously given the same exemp-
ton to the Washington County road
Ask the people down there if they
, made mistake in being annexed to
the State of Maine. Study the rail-
road returns and see where the
freight and passengers turned out by
these great roads to the trunk lines
finally bring to the State treasury
taxes of two dollars for every dollar
lost by exemption. Was the trade a
bad one? In 1905, the Democratic
candidate for governor, as able man
as they ever nominated, attacked
these rebaters as favoritism. The at
tack was lodged. Has it come to this
that every time the Democratic party
assaults us, we turn the cheek for an
other blow. For one / am tired of the
Republicanism that lives on Democra-
tic milk and dares not defend its rec
ord against Democratic attack. Maine
is bigger, better and richer, your
treasury the gamer, your taxes
lower, because of all these rebates.
Why not stand erect and give blow
for blow when the facts and truth are
with us?
Because of this road Mr.. Haines has
been called railroad king He has
had no ownership of any kind III any
railroad since the spring of 1907.
When he travels he pays full fare, as
do the most of us, and, better for the
State, if | could say as do all men by
the law of the land. This man with a
railroad collar? Has the public for
gotten his memorable fight in the leg
islature for the abolition of passes?
This man not to be trusted in the i'm
pending contest for more taxes upon
railroads and better regulation of all
public service corporations? Who
proposed in the Senate the first rail-
road regulation law in New England,
today sound Republican doctrine in
the nation? This man has deeds be-
hind him, not idle words or promises.
No Republican in Maine is more
keenly in touch with the advanced
Republicanism of the hour than he.
Try him by his life.
Unfriendly newspapers have criti-
cised him because he has warmly de-
Tended the financial record of the Re-
publican party in Maine. Why not
defend it? Your tax on property has
decreased. Your revenue from cor
porations has greatly increased. You
have more revenue to spend. Twenty
years ago your debt was nearly four
millions. Year by year you have paid
it off, under the administration OF the
man you are to name for governor
every dollar will be paid and the State
will be free from debt.
Your expenses have grown with
your revenue. The totals are large.
What item is wrong? Which one will
you cut out; Shall it be less for
schools, less for good roads, less for
hospitals, less for charity, less for
b.idges, or less for the soldiers of '61.
Where, pray tell me, is the wrong?
Shall it be less for salaries? They
have been increased far less than in
private life. Not one of them has
kept pace with the advance in the
cost Of living or the rise in wages that
has followed the Republican policy of
protection. Deal not with totals,
gentlemen. Point out the errors, if
you can. For twenty years not a
Democratic vote has been cast in
either house against your appropria-
ton bills. Why should they? Mr..
Haines believes the people Of Maine
represent the best there is in Ameri-
can manhood and that the financial
policy of the State but photographs
their civilization and their needs.
Gentlemen, this is to be winning
year in the State and nation. We
have an ideal candidate for president
in Secretary Taft. His associate is of
Presidential size. The Republican
party was founded in Maine on old
Franklin's hills. 1t raised the flag of
equal rights. We have followed that
flag for fifty years and more and new
er break in the step, first for the
Pathfinder under the head of the
grand old Carthagenian whom all
Maine loved, Hannibal Hamlin of
blessed memory, then for the eman-
cipator, then for the uncrowned hero
vi VliOh Iva iioy % thC
peacemaker, then for the lamented
Garfield, then for the Plumed Knight,
then for Harrison, the eloquent, then
for Mckinley, the apostle of protec-
ton, then for the great president OF
today, who has done more for equal
rights than any man since the Civil
war. The Republican party is again
peoples party under the leadership
of Theodore Roosevelt. 1t will con-
tinue in that faith, under the admin
istration of William II. Taft. This is
no year for Maine to ialter. Millions
in other States are looking for Maine
to lay strong and well the first stone
in the wall of corporate regulation
the Republican party is building to
withstand the rising tide of socialism
1t is the hour of all of us to touch
shoulder to shoulder, to close up the
ranks, and eyes to the front swing on
to victory. We are all going into the
fight to redeem Kennebec, to redeem
Cumberland, to redeem Androscoggin.
There is no secret process in the
manufacture of Carpenter Morton
Roofing. 1t is made from long fibre
wool felt, treated with Genuine Nat
ural Asphalt. 1t is free from Coal
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