Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-27
A Sample Democratic Argument.
(OXfOrd Democracy.

If all the statements made by the
Democratic speakers in this campaign
are as accurate as those made by Mr..
McGillicuddy in one instance in his
South Paris speech few weeks since,
they can hardly complain at the use
of the shorter, uglier' term.
In the only instance where Mr.. Nc
Gillicuddy got down to particulars in
talking about national or Second
Maine District affairs, he made a
statement in regard to Congressman
Swaseys action on the appointment
| of a postmaster at Sabattus. This
statement was in brief that Edwin
Woodside conducted a drug store, and
was postmaster: he was indicted for
liquor selling. pleaded guilty, and he
and his clerk paid fines; an old soldier
of the town got up petition for APP
| pointment as postmaster. but Mr..
| Swasey turned him down in favor of
| Woodside, the convicted liquor seller,
who is still po<ing the mail out
through the same window
This is the story told by Mr.. Nc
Gillicuddy, with embellishments, at
| the Democratic county convention at
South Paris. 1t has been quite extern
sively commented upon by the Demo-
cratic papers, who have advertised as
| widely as possible that Mr.. Swasey had
turned down an old soldier and recon-
mended the disappointment of a con-
victed rumseller. One of the striking
| features of the case has been the sud-
den intense interest in the old soldier
| manifested by some of the Democratic
organs.
Now AS has before been said, the
Democrats considered that even if Mr..
| McGillicuddys statements were strict
ly trne. he spent great deal more
time upon the matter than it's real i'm
portance justified, because the impor-
tant things to be decided in an cleo
| ton are questions of governmental
| policy, and not sQuabbles over post
| offices. Nevertheless it was not to be
denied that the matter would have a
certain political bearing. Nor did the
Democrat believe that Mr.. McGillicud-
| dy 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 Republi-
can committees at South Paris, and
the facts in the matter put Mr. Nc
Gillicuddy in a homely light. AS stat
ed very briefly by Mr.. Swasey, there
has been no recommendation made for
postmaster a Sabattus. Edwin Wood
side is still postmaster, and his term
does not expire for some two years.
The only matter which Mr.. Swasey
has presented to the postoffice depart
nent in connection with the case was
q petition for the removal of Mr..
Woodside accompanied by a copy of
the court record showing his plea of
guilty and his payment of fine. This
was presented to the department for
such action as it saw fit. The depart
nent has assured Mr.. Swasey that if
Mr.. Woodside was removed, he would
be consulted regarding the appoint
ment Of a successor. the department
has not vet seen fit to remove Mr..
Woodside.
The really remarka BILE thing is that
Mr.. McGilicuddy should have told the
story he did So early in the campaign
If it had heen done on the eve of cleo
ton. when there w@s not time for the
facts in the case to be made known, it
might have been regarded as a sharp
even if untruthful political trick. Told
as it was when its falseness must in
evitably have heen shown, it would
seem to be foolish