Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-31
BILLY STIRS EN- UP.
Rep. w. II. O'Brien of Massachusetts,
Legislature Busy Man.

6SSiSioeti Z d busy mdn
Thes hosts of friends of Representa-
tive.Win. H. O'Brien of Ward 16. Bos-
ton;Em the Massachusetts Legislature,
formerly Of Augusta and better known
as "Billy." will be, Interested in the
following from the Boston Herald Of
Sunday:
Interest has been aroused all over
the city in the referendum meeting
that will be held in Ward 16 Thursday
night, and if it should prove the sue
cess expected its extension to other
places is likely, according to state
ments made yesterday at the State
House.
The district option bill, dividing
Boston into eight zones. each of
which shall vote separately on Wheth-
er or not licenses shall be granted for
the sale of liquor within its borders
will be discussed at the meeting
which is to be held in the Municipal
building, Columbus road and bird
street. -
Representative William H. ~O'Bricn
who originated the scheme, wacs yes
terday the target for all sorts Of ques-
tions from those Of his colleagues .ayhU
came to the State House.
How did you think of it, Billy
was the favorite form of question
When he Explained that it was part
of his campaign platform, the almost
unanimous rejoinder was:
well, that's good Who ever heard
of a man remembering he had a plat
form after he was electcd?'
Despite the raillery, howcver,. the
matter was discussed seriously4t- 10y
most of the legislators who made THEN
appearance, and the prevailing feeling
was that the experiment was sure TO be
Of the utmost Importance politically
The number of persons who may at
tend and the likelihood of getting the
| real sentiment of Mr.. O'Brien's con
stituency on the bill under discussion
We're two subjects that We're discussed
with great seriousness.
There are almost 5000 voters on the
| lists in the ward, and, while the NUM-
cipal building will not hold all of them
| it can be made, by removing the seats
az is done at town meetings in other
| parts of the state. to accommodate {
large percentage of them without I'M
| due croWding.
Every precaution has been taken,
| declared Representative O'Brien, "tC
prevent the meeting being packed.
arr looking for the feeling of the peo-
| pie who elected me- and if the crowt
| from other wards keeps any of then
! out, why the men from other wards
will have to go. However, | don't ex-
| pect any overcrowding, and nobody
| who is not on the voting list from
Ward 16 can take part in the meeting
The claim of many on Beacon Hi
| is that the danger will be not from
! overcrowding, but from the opposite
| contingency that Representative
| O'Brien will be unable to have enough
of his constituents at the gathering t.
| secure what he seeks-an expression
of sentiment that will represent the
| ward
THAT is very easily met" he de-
clared to one man who made this OBJ
| lection. LAS it happens / am not en-
tirely WITHOUT ideas regarding .tht
matter on my own part. hence if Sc
few appear>at the meeting that {
genuine expression of opinion is I'm.
possible, l shall take it that the PEG,
pie are not sufficiently interested il
this particular matter to care any
thing about it. l snail then feel free
to Use my own judgment and prepare
for the next referendum. That viii
| be on the merger question: which is
soon coming before the Legislature"
| Mr.. O'Brien yesterday sent notice:
of the meeting to every pastor in the
ward, requesting that they be read a
The services today:
The following is from recent issu,
1 of the Traveller:
Representative William H. OBriel
| of 18th Boston, certainly stands goot
with the children of his district. Hard
ly week goes by but Bill is to be seel
plotting scores of boys and girls abou
the State House. pointing out to hi
delighted guests the interesting thing
in that big building. 1t was rumoret
in the lobby the other day that tn,
gentleman in the second division ha
aspirations of eventually going to Con
gress., and that for that reason h
ws$k.to stand in good with all tn,
peQpls'of his district-the children anC
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