The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-04-14
Was 1t Telepathy 7
portland Press.l

The independents Reporter of Show
hogan speaks of "a long and fiatter-
ing editorial on Senator Hale and the
State of Name" that appeared re-
Gently In the Fairfield Journal and
says 1t lis probably the same identical
piece of merchandise which was Of
fered to the publishers of the indie
pendent-Reporter by certain Hale
managers, the same to be paid for at
so much per inch. The publishers
declined the offer. Whatever appears
in the editorial columns of the indie
pendent-Reporter," says that paper
is not canned goods from Washing
ton, and Is not paid for at so much
per inch. We gladly confess that our
matter may be none too bright and
none too meaty and none too helpful,
but 1t can never be said of 1t that it
is put out in the empty spirit of in
sincerity or with sinister designs"
So much by way of preliminary. 1t
Is evident that the editorial columns
of the ependent-Reporter are not
for sale. On the same day that brought
the article from which the foregoing
quotations are made,two other papers
came to hand. which are published in
widely separated parts of the State
and which contain articles of rath-
er remarkable nature. These are the
Calais Times and the Camden Herald.
and the articles referred to are os-
tensibly editorials. each more than .
column In length. 1t has been said
that great minds sometimes run in
the same channel. That appears to
have been the case in this instance;
and indeed something more appears
to have been the case. for not only
do the articles pursue the same line OF
thought, bring out the same line of
argument and treat 1t in the same way
which would not have been particu-
larly remarkable-but examination
shows that, with q few trivial eXcep-
tons, they are identical, verbatim ct
rliteratim ct punctuatim. By some
miracle the editorial minds, cogitating
on the same subject at distances as
far apart as Camden and Calais at the
same time, have not only thought the
same thoughts but have used the same
words to express those thoughts. This
is wonderful phenomenon. 1t should
be investigated by for Society for
Psychological Research.
Let us look little more closely in
to the marvellous coincidence. The
captions of the articles are different.
mo Change Is Desired is the Calais
papers headline-and it Is understood
of course that the argument in each
case was for the retention of Senator
Hale. And this is the way the Calais
editor attacks his subject:
The political world in Maine would
be very quiet of late were 1t not for
the spasmodic attempt to deprive Sen.
= tn hn INIT cd
States Senate that he has occupied
so long and so ably, Once or twice
before some politician coveting the
place himself has attempted a cam
paign against Senator Hale but such
have ended in failure as the present
one will with reason.
Now put that alongside the opening
paragraph of the Camden Heralds
article, and 1t is seen that, while the
thought is similar, the treatment va
ries somewhat. The Jupiter Tonans
dwelling among the Camden hills thus
launches his bolt
Maine is now having a slight taste
of politics in the attempt that is be-
ing made to deprive Hon. Eugene
Hale of his seat in the United States
Senate and up to date about the only
argument that has been heard in be
half of change is that somebody
else wishes the seat, a laudable am
bition but one that seems hardly like
ly to be realized.
1t is seen that the essence of the
paragraphs is the samoan attempt
Is affirmed and its failure predicted
but they do not appear in precisely
the same verbal garb. AS we rea(
further. however. we find the two ar
ticles identical after the first para
graph Even mistakes in spelling are
faithfully reproduced. Thus the wore
manufactures" is spelled "manufac
turtles" by the Border city paper ant
also by it's contemporary on Penob
scot bay. But to show the astonishing
not to say deadly parallel, let us quote
a few more paragraphs:
The gentlemen who are now cam
paigning against Senator Hale have
been at fault (n) reading public sen
timent. and have mistaken an occa
sional expression of difference o
opinion from the views of the senator
for antagonism. AS a matter of fac
the people of Maine as a whole have
been entirely in harmony with the
attitude of Senator Hale on most pub
lie questions and those who have diff
fered at times have in the end almost
always changed their sentiments as
they came to have better under
standing of conditions. 1t Is hardly
necessary to say to the people OF
Maine that they have been admirably
served in Washington by Senator
Hale as they know well but the above
remarks are simply in answer to the
claims put out by the opposition to
| Senator Hale that he has not repre-
scented Names interests-Calais
| Times.
The gentlemen who are now cam
paigning against Senator Hale have
been at fault in reading public senti-
ment, and have mistaken an occasion
al expression of difference of opinion
from the views of the senator for an
tagonism AS a matter of fact the
people of Maine as 0 whole have beer
entirely in harmony with the attitude
of Senator Hale on most public ques
tons and those who have differed al
times have in the end almost always
changed their sentiments as they
came to have a better understanding
of conditions. 1t is hardly necessary
to say to the people of Maine that
they have been admirably served at
Washington by Senator Hale as they
know 1t we'll but the above remarks
are simply in answer to the claim put
o,t by, tho onnositiou To Senator Hale