Oxford Democrat., 1910-07-26
A Sample Democratic Argument.

II all the statements made by the
Democratic speakers in this campaign
are as accurate as those made by Mr..
McGilicuddy in one instance in his
South Paris speech few weeks since,
they can hardly complain at the use of
the shorter, ugier" term.
In the only instance where Mr.. Nc
iillieuddy got down to particulars in
,alking about national or Second Maine
District affairs, he made statement in
regard to Congressman Swasey's action
on the appointment of a postmaster at
Sabattus. This statement was in brief
that Edwin Woodside conducted drug
store, and was postmaster; he was in
dicted for liquor selling, pleaded guilty,
and he and his clerk paid fines; an old
soldier of the town got up petition for
appointment as postmaster, but Mr..
Swasey turned him down in favor OF
woodside, the convicted liquor seller,
"who is still poking the mail out
through the same wlnuOW.
This is the story told by Mr. McGilli-
cuddy, with embellishments, at the
Democratic county convention at South
Paris. II has been quite extensively
commented upon by the Democratic pa
pers, who have advertised as widely as
possible that Mr.. Swasey had turned
down an old soldier and recommended
the reappOintment of convicted rum
- eller. One of the striking features Of
the case has been the sudden intense
interest in the old soldier manifested by
some of the Democratic organs.
Now as has before been said, the
Democrat considered that even If Mr.
MeGillicuddy's statements were strictly
true, be spent a great deal more time
upon the matter than its real importance
justified, because the important things
to be decided in an election are ques-
tions of governmental policy, and not
squabbles over post offices. Neyerthe
less il was not TO be denied that the mat
ter would have certain political bear
ing. Nor did the Democrat believe that
Mr. McGillicuddy had told the whole
story, but it was willing to wait to hear
from Mr.. Swasey.
Mr.. Swasey was heard from the other
day at the meeting Of Republican COM
mittees at South Paris, and the facts in
the matter put Mr.. McGillicuddy in a
homely light. AS stated very briefly by
Mr.. Swasey, there has been no recon-
mendation made for postmaster at Sa-
battus. Edwin Woodside is still post
master, and his term does not expire for
some two years. The only matter which
Mr.. Swasey has presented to the post
Office department in connection with the
case was petition for the renaordl Of Mr..
WoOdside, accompanied by copy of the
court record showing his plea of guilty
and his payment of a fine. This was
presented to the department for such
action as it saw fit. The department has
assured Mr.. Swasey that if Mr.. Wood
side was removed, he would be consult
ed regarding the appointment of sue
cessor. The department has not yet
seen fit to remove Mr.. Woodside.
The really remarkable thing is that
Mr.. McGillicuddy should have told the
story be did so early in the campaign.
IL II had been done on the eve of
election, when there was not time for
the facts in the case to be made known,
II might have been regarded as sharp
even II uutruthful political trick. Told
as II was, when its falseness must in
evltably have been shown, it would seem
10 be foolish.