Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-07
ORGANIZATION EFFECTED
IN HOUSE AND SENATE.
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Gentlemen Of the Caucus: We are
about to select an attorney whose Gil
ents will be the people OF Maine. In
making this selection we should not De
influenced by any narrow and paltry
considerations. It makes no difference
what section of the State the candidate
comes from 1T is immatcrial whether
he lives on one side or the ether OF any
river or anv county line. 1t is of no
sort of consequence that the county
or town in which he lives may have
had a few odd months or years more
or less of representation in pubic Oh
flee thar some other county or CITY.
The question to ask ourselves is tillS:
Which of these candidates is best fitted
by temperament, ability, character ana
training to represent in the courts ana
wherever their most important l"gal
rights are Involved the 100000 people OF
Maine.
The attorney general Of this state
should be q man learned in the law,
experienced in it's practice, strong ana
forceful as an advocate. possessing
sound Judgment, dauntless courage and
unblemshcd integrity.
Without disparaging any other can
didate; without denying to any other
candidate possession of these qualities,
7 present as a man possessing in an
eminent degree all the qualities that
I have named, measuring up to the FULL
to this high standard, the name of
Warren c. Philbrook of Watervile.
-Four years ago Warren Philbrook
was appointed assistant attorney gen
ricIn of M
upon the office of the attorney general
many new and arduous duties, winch
in previous years had been performed
by special counsel at cost to the
State many thousands of dollars. Mr.
Philbrook found on assuming the dl-
ties of his office that the performance
Of the duties devolving upon the as
sistant general would require him to
devote substantially his entire time
to the work. and for the past four
years he mas devoted his time, his
enegies and his splendid abilities to the
service of the State, sacrificing his
other interests and for a compensation
which is but a fraction of what he
might have earned in the same time
in private practice.
This, however. is not sufficient reason
for his promotion to the office of at
tcrney general. l do not ask that he
be elected to the office or attorney
general because he has served faithful
ly as assistant. but l do maintain That
his faithful service as assistant at
torncy general does not make him
ineligible to the office of attorney gen
eral.
If you are satisfied that Scott Will
son is better qualified Tor the Office
tkan Warren PhilbrooE, you will. OF
course, vote for him. But If you tc-
lieve that Warren Philbrook IS upon
the whole the worthier of the two
worthy candidates, do not be fright
ened by the bug,aar Of precedent.
Let us not try 10 solve hypothetical
questions that may arise at some sup
positions time: let us not take. upon
ourselves the guardianship Of future
Legislatures that may be quite as able
as we are to solve the problems sub
mitted to them: let us not be deferred
from voting for the man we believe
to be. the best fitted who happens to
have held the position Of assistant
attorney general. for fear that some
future Legislature less wise than We
NAV eject an lHltINI iiiei'l WV ''''l'
pens to have been an assistant at
torney general: let us not reverse the
Scriptural lesson; let us not say to
Warren Philbrook: "Wcll done, good
and faithful servant thou hast been
faithful over a few things. therefore,
get out"
If we are afraid of establishing a
precedent, we can readily avoid 1t by
providing by proper bill that the as
sistant attorney general shall be elect
ed just as the attorney general is, and
In my judgment it would he a wise
policy to enact such a law. If you
elect Scott Wilson. you will not be
establishing a precedent that the at
torney general must have been county
attorney of Cumberland county; II
YOU elect Warren Philbrook. you Will
not be establishing a precedent that the
attorney general must have been an
assistant attorney general. II you elect
either of these men because you be-