Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-23
Capitol Revelations.

editorial staff has lately been studying
conditions and matters at the state
Capitol visiting daily the departments
and seeing for the first time just now
the work of the State is being con-
Quoted under the Republican admins
tration of Governor Fernald.
Previously, in common with large
number of citizens Of Maine whose
business affairs have not called them
to make any such acquaintance with
the interior affairs of the State, this
writer has had the generally received
notion that "a public Office in Maine
is an easy snap"
This opinion doubtless. also. Is that
of Maine Democracy Otherwise, DEM
ocrats would not be so varacious for
state House jobs!
But the writer has discovered, In
this brief period of superficial examln-
alton. enough to convince him that
the widely received opinion of the
duties and labors of Names public
servants in the States high positions
| is erroneous.
IF 1 had my life to live over again.
remarked one high official to this Edi-
tor, II would not go into politics
could make more money with less
labor in private business
We have previously referred to the
day of our call upon Secretary of
State Brown, found working like
truck horse from early morning to
supper time at his desk, in his patient
zeal over the States affairs. We have
found that in every department this
devotion to conscientious work that is
instlled in early training into Maine
boys and girls. crops out in maturer
years and is very obvious among not
only the States official chiefs but in
all their helpers.
From the executive and his aids,
through the offices of the Secretary of
! State, the Attorney Generals office,
the Treasury and agricultural Depart
ments, the Insurance Commission.
| State Auditors office. the Superin-
tendency of Schools. the Fish and Game
and Railroad Comissioners-in word
through every department at the
Blaine House and Capitol and some
outside offices as well, the same long
| int
prevails.
| Commissioner Putnam. absent from
his desk some day, is found to be on
duty in a far Maine city on Insurance.
Fish and Game Commissioner Brack-
EFT. when not in his office, is learned
to be 100 or 200 miles away, looking
after the important game and fish pro-
! lection, holding half a dozen hearings
in out of the-way places in a day. In
the Agricultural department recently,
we accidentally heard of the return of
an assistant from Ontario and Michi-
gan. whittier he had gone to learn
about improved methods Of dairying
the Labor Bureau Commissioner
Lyons may be off settling a strike, or
| looking after interests of Maine labor
in some other way. Adjutant General
Dill is always at it improving the con-
dition of the soldiery of Maine DR..
Young, quiet and modest, is busy ever
at the Department of Health. seeking
to keep death and disease away from
Maine homes. Col. Dunbar. the Gov
errors private Secretary. keeps
the executive Offices smoothly running
while Governor Fernald is away, and
his office is no sinecure. The Colonel
being always active over a multiplicity
of important matters. has to keep
posted on every detail of public affairs
and ever be, as he is. the courteous
host to a. multitude of visitors.
We are able in this editorial only to
scratch the surface. to just touch upon
the subject which, to so many a mys-
terry and delusion in their ignorance
on the merest acquaintance proves so
interesting and admirable and bene-
fetal a proposition.
It's the administration.
In this year 1910 it's the Republican
Administration headed by that live,
robust genial, business-like and able
chief executive. Governor Bert M.
Fernald, the farmer governor!
OF the Governor the Journal of late
has often spoken in praise-as he de-
serves Here it is needless to again
revert to Governor Fernalds early
rising habits. his hours in his office
when in Augusta. his attention to
Names business affairs. his urbanity