The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-09-10
Rally at Grange Hall.

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The citizens of Skowhegan and Vi
entity availed themselves very gen
orally of the opportunity TO listen to
the two Republican speakers, State
Auditor Chas. p. Hatch of Portland,
and Hon. Guy Ham of Boston, at
Grange Hall on Friday evening of
last week. Geo. W. Cover, ESQ,
secretary of the Republican town
committee presided. In introducing
Mr. Hatch, Mr.. Cover referred to the
fact that the Democratic speakers
and the Democratic press devoted
very little time or very little space to
praise of the Republican party or its
candidates but that they did admit
that there was one honest Repu bill
can official, Hon. Chas. P. Hatch Of
Portland, who was 10 be the first
speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Hatch devotes very little time
to public speaking and had not pre-
vious ly appeared before a large aud
fence for twelve years. What he had
to say was in a great measure non
partisan and yet, as he told what he
had found in his work as auditor and
from his knowledge of the wisdom
with which the financial affairs of the
state had been conducted, his hearers
could not fail to come to the conclu-
sion that there existed nothing in the
field of State Finance to serve as an
excuse for placing the Democrats in
power. Mr.. Hatch spoke of the value
of publicity in the matter of all ac-
counts and stated his determination
to SO arrange the accounts of the
state that any citizen might, at any
time, either before the payment of a
bill or afterwards, conveniently con-
suit and study the same. In this
matter of making all accounts Access
slble Mr.. Hatch stated that he had
received the loyal support of Cover
nor Cobb, who had also aided him
in other ways in introducing systems
and rules of procedure, of auditor eff
fective for what it was designed.
Hon. Guy Ham, the second speaker
is youthful in appearance but speaks
like veteran campaigner. He had
the orators most important gift of
introducing his remarks with an apt
story and using stories to illustrate
his most telling points. He spoke
very rapidly and evidently enjoyed
the task he had set for himself of
showing the vanity and emptiness of
Democracy's claims for recognition.
He told of his experience in the IL
cense state of Massachusetts, both as
an official of the United States Gov
eminent and as the special attorney
of some of the m unicipalities of that
state, in his efforts to bring liquor
dealers of that state to Justice who
had violated license regulations. He
advised the voters OF this state to
continue under System of prohibi-
ton, securing the best enforcement
for a license system which the
speaker knew from actual experience
would be equally difficult to enforce
Mr.. Ham then took up national is
sues. He was especially severe or
Bryan's much Wanted plan for guar
anteeing the deposits in national
banks, showing that it was shoulder
ing the bad management and weak
ness of the small banking houses oil
the West on to the stronger and more
conservative banks of the east. In
this respect it was unjust and in any
case it was sure to encourage specu-
lative investments, rather than to de-
crease them. The speaker made his
points very clear, held the attention
of the audience finely and was fre-
quently interrupted with applause.
This was Mr. HAMS last speech fol
the week and after the meeting he
was taken to Norridgewock by auto
mobile where he took the night pull
man for Boston to pass Sunday with
his family. He is in Maine again
this week, however, his plan being to
speak until the close of the campaign