Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-11
"Extravagance" and ECONOMY"

In the dictionary of the Democratic
politician the pages which should bear
the greatest number of thumb prints
of long usage are those wherein ap-
pear the words. "extravagance' and
economy AS a matter of fact, now
ever, it is exceedingly doubtful wheth-
CT the aforesaid politicians really ever
took the trouble to look up the exact
definition of the words. Suf1lclent lor
their PURPOSES is the definition sup
piled by necessity rather than by the
lexicon. viz: extravaganza is what tiie
other fellow spends while in power ana
economy is what we, the Democrats
would save if we were in power. III
short these two much abused words
have always been available straWs
seized by the Democrats when testing
the Eoitical currents, for owing 10
fine exiscncies of their position. the
nosition of critic rather than execu
tive. they are ever short of issues on
which to make their campaigns.
The other day distinguished SEN
atnr declared that this government Is
not getting the value for it's money
For that matter it never has as COM
pared with the private individual. The
cruds methods by which these leaks
occur have been in use for several
generations. They wcr" employed
when like leaks occurred under Demo-
cratic administrations We do not re-
call that amy DISTINGUISHED representa-
tive of the Democratic party called the
puhliCs attention to it. as vas done
BY Senator Aldrich. or made practical
Efforts to improve as Republicans are
doing. The Democratic party always
found it's record an insolublc prob
lem. 1t talked much of trusts and
did nothing. In putting an ehd
to the railroad merger the Re
publican ADMINISTRATION did more t"
curb the trusts than ever the
Democratic party expected to do i'll
its most sanguine moments. Sugar is
said to have had the same sticky prop
critics when applied to the fingers in
the DAYS of the WILSON, German tariff
as it ever possessed. The present
prosecution of that trust is not par
tisan affair but it is noteworthy that
it is and has been vigorously con-
Quoted by the Republican administra-
ton. Alusion to this. however, is only
for purpose of illustrating the differ
ence between talking about doing
things and actually doing them.
While the changes are being rung on
those well worn words, "cXtravagance"
and economy" the Democrats in
Congress are urging and voting for
enlarging the powers of the interstate
commerce commission, for establishing
a court of commerce, etc. all most eX-
c"llent but all requiring the cXpendi-
ture of more money than heretofore.
Those same Democrats will go back to
their constituencies and compare the
expenditures of the present Congress
with on" twenty wears ago as proof
of extravaganza and the Democratic
party one Of economy. The Same con-
n tlt
When the Democrats come to the
state Legislature here in Maine. and
presumably this State is no exception.
they come with u desire to secure for
their constituents NOR" money for
schools. possibly state aid for ii
bridge. better roads and a share in
the good things. For the time they
are not tn" ideal Democrat. ever ready
to- reform everything from dog law
to Interstate commerce. they are hui
man beings. they like their fellows,
they believe in the future Of their
state. in progress, and all that sort
Of thing It is not until they get home
and another election draws nigh that
they discover the Legislature of which
they were members was wutully cx-
travagant that it WAS corrupt and
that the only way in Which true econ
umy and civic purity may be had is
to elect "A lot more Democrats Just like
themselves.
Truly it is a funny world. in spots
and at times.