Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-12

DtldN diC dliN way >' u ''AN>e7-o
this kind she has been behind long
enough (Applause.) The committee
has divided eight to two. Let them
divide. Eight Republicans cannot
swing the rest OF this House when they
are wrong. The gentleman from var
mouth has had the courage to unite
with the gentleman from Camden IN
signing the minority report which rep
resents the best interests and the pest
judgment of both parties. Treat II
not as a party proposition. Let US not
go through two or three campaigns
misunderstanding each other because
of the blanks of some platforms Cor
this measure or that measure Let
us send this to the people as 1t is no"
Shall the attorney general, secretary
of State and the State treasurer be
elected by popular ballot? Send 1t to
them without mixing up the issue with
any party declarations or anything
else. | know they want it, you know
they want it, the committee on judi
ciary. eight of them. know they want
it and they don't want them to have
it. That is why they have so report
ed. Let us, you and !, stand by the
people. (Appause)
Mr.. DAVIES: Mr.. Speaker. I am
not unmindful of the rule of this
House which provides that no gentle
man shall be heard but twice, and
know that there is an unwritten rule
that the second time a member of the
House speaks he shall not speak or
occupy the time of the House to any
great length. But | desire to tell you
I in llnGnr
control. MY constituents had sufti-
cient confidence in me so that 1t was
not necessary to issue me any instruc-
tions at the caucus ana it was not
necessary to hold any mass meeting
after the election for the purpose "r
instructing me as to what | should 40
am Republican, | believe IN the
principles of the Republican party
| am Republican because the party
was organized for great purpose
am a Republican because every meas
ure Of importance which has been
passed in the National House OF Rep
resentatives for the entire period OF
the party's existence has been brought
forward and passed by the Republican
party. | am Republican because the
Republican party has made this grea,
nation what it is. Those are some of
Fthe reasons why | am Republican:
and il l am confident in my own mind
that any measure that may be advo-
Gated here by a Democrat IS strictly
in accordance with my sense of duty
and in accordance with the principles
Of my party l give you my assurance
that that measure shall not be lacking
in my support.
| fee! that the attorney general
should be responsible directly to the
people themselves. / feel that the at
torncy general should feel that what
ever he does shall be under the direct
scrutiny of the people themselves and
IN no way responsible to the Legisla-
ture | feel that the State treasurer
who gets the money with which he
pays the bills from the people them
selves. that he also should be respon
sible to the people themselves. In the
matter of this minority report we are
embarking on an unknown sea. We
are merely following q course that al
Republican States in this Union nave
followed before us except ourselves,
and l doubt very much whether great
commemorative like the State of New
York, like the State of Pennsylvania.
like the State of Illinois. like the state
of Indiana, like the State or Colorado.
like tn" State of California; question
very 81 riously whether the electors OF
those states will find it at all necessary
to Communicate with the distinguished
gentleman from Houlton and inquire
as to what his ideas might be on .
| matter of this Importance. Cap
plauSe).
Mr.. PATTANGALL of Waterville:
Mr.. Speaker. | hope the House viii
pardon me for saying Just word at
| this late hour. l had not intended t.
| take any part in this discussion but
| it seems to me that before we vote 1t
| would be well enough for the House
| 10 bring its mind back to what the
| real issue before us is. 7 do not III
| derstard that we are going to take !,
yea and nay vote on the question OF
whether the gentleman from Houlton
| is q NOR, regular member of the Re
publican party than the gentleman
| from Yarmouth daughter and APP
| plause). That is a matter when may
! perhaps be settled in party councils
which some of us have no right tC
attend and which some of us are per-
| fectly willing not to attend. 7 rather
| deplnrt the habit which certain Of
my Republican friends seem To have
gotten into of holding their caucuSe>
here in the House of Representatives
| remembering the words of Solomon t,
the effect that for all things there is a
| time and for all things there is Il rea-
| son. 1t seems to me that it would b.
| We'll Cor some of us to defer making
our stump speeches until the nex'
campaign and save our time in this
hall FOR actual legislation. 1t does not
| interest Inc when a measure comes III
here--and I am as much Il partisan a.
| any man in the hall | think--that rel-
lows like myself and the gentleman
from Houlton had changed their party
| affiliations 4 few years ago. daughter
| and applause). 1t does not matte.
to me when a measure comes up her,
| on which ! am going to Hot,
whether it was proposed by 9
Democrat or by a Republican.
| had the idea when | came here
II still retain the ideal propose
| during this session at any rate to Ie-
| tain it-that we We're here to legislate
| for the good of the people of Maine