Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-09-06
tialnes and swasey Speak.
LARGE AUDIENCE HEAR ILLUMINATING
DISCUSSION OF CAMPAIGN ISSUES


DISCUSSION OF CAMPAIGN ISSUES
New Hall WAS filled to its full seating
capacity Monday evening of last week
to hear addresses on the issues of th'
campaign by Hon. William T. Haines o
Waterville and Hon. John P. Swasey o.
Canton. A notable fact about th'
audience was that while there were ;
few women present, and small number
of boys, by far the greater part Of thu
audience were voters. That they were
there to give attention to what was said
| was evident. While there were nc
| ''great outbursts of enthusiasm" suct
as We sometimes read of, good meas
ure of applause was given the remarks
of the speakers, and every body listened
with close attention. Not more thar
twelve or fifteen people left the hall un
til the speaking was concluded after 10
meeting, for it shows that the voters are
interested in the campaign, and are
thinking about 1t. A number were pres
emit from Paris Hill, West Paris, Hebron,
and other places.
Walter L. Gray, Esq chairman of the
Republican town committee, presided at
the meeting, and shortly after s o'clock
with brief remarks introduced Hon.
William T. Haines of Waterville.
In very straightforward and bust
nesslike way Mr.. Hainss talked upon
state issues. He said he felt almost
ashamed to come before an audience to
talk about these issues. because there
really isn't anything. The Democrats
haven't put up anything new to us.
It's simply the same old kick that they
have been making as long as we can re-
member.
Mr.. Haiues quoted from a political
advertisement in the Waterville Sentinel,
in which reference is made to the Re-
publican policy (which has crippled
Maine and kept you poor" There was
a time, said Mr.. Haines, when We were
crippled and poor. In 1855 the state
tax was Is mills. In 1909 the average
tax for all purposes was 81 mills, and Of
this the state tax was 8 mills. From
1887 to 1909 the average state tax was
2 "a mills. At the close of the war the
state debt was 100000. Now it is less
than million. In sumo way, while we
have been "crippled and poor" we
have managed to pay off nearly all this
debt, and reduce the annual interest
charge to less than $4,000.
During these years the Republican
party has had policy, perhaps not very
well understood, but distinct policy.
for equalization of taxation. In 1909,
although the valuation had nearly douhl-
ed, only little more was taken from
the people in direc, state taxation than
in 1882
Mr.. Haines then reviewed some of the
features of our system of taxation, Civ
ing numerous figures and statistics to
show it's operation. He showed the in
creased amount distributed by the state
for schools, which goes to provide equal
educational advantages for every scholar
in the state. He pointed out the sources
Of additional Observation-Disclosures, insur-
ance companies, savings banks, trust
companies, sleeping car companies, ex-
press companies, and other corporations,
from which large revenue is obtained, to
take the place of direct taxation.
Speaking Of the charge of ex,rava-
gance in state administration, MIR.
Haines said that he had been to the
trouble to tabulate, from the state
treasurer's report, the expense of run
ming the state government in 1909, in
the salaries and expenses of all
state officers, clerks, commissions, men,
bers of the legislature, and so on, and he
found that the expense of running the
state government in 1909 was less than
$3.50, 900. The rest of the nearly S4,-
600, 900 revenue of the state was used for
purposes which are direct benefit to
the people of the state. Schools use
large part of il. We are paying much
greater sums than in 1882 for various
purposes, such as the care
of the insane and the feeble-minded, the
support Of hospitals, where the poor
may receive care, and so on. We are
tax upon all the property of
the state, to be distributed to the towns
to assist in building better rOads-a
beneficent and equitable expenditure.
This is system of equalization which
makes the rich towns, cities and corpora
tions pay the tax, which is distributed
by the state in various channels for the
benefit of all the people, rich aud poor
alike.
In the legislature you have never seen
the parties lined up on question of
fiscal policy. Party lines are never
drawn there. 1t is only when it comes
to the necessity for Democratic cam.
paign material that you hear of such
thing. You won't hear Candidate
Plaisted, OF any other leading Democrat,
name any place where he would cut
down the appropriation, or tell you how
much he would cut it down.
Hon. John P. Swasey was then intro
duced by the chairman, and devoted the
first few minutes to continuing the
of Mr.. Haines by reviewing the
progress of the state, asking what a
government is for il not for the benefit
of the people, and eulogizing the state
and the county.
Mr.. Swasey then apologized for de-
voting time to personal matters, but said
that inasmuch as he was the representa-
tive of this district in congress, and a
candidate for reelection, he wished to
refer to some comment that had been
made upon his action by Mr.. McGilli-
cuddy. Mr.. McGillicuddy says, said
Mr.. Swasey, that sat there in the house
and did nothing, except to make one
little two minute speech, and to vote as
Uncle Joe Cannon nodded. He didn't
know that made three speeches on the
floor of the house, one of which makes
fifteen printed pages, and all Of which
are now being used as campaign litera-
ture. He didn't know that | was on
three important committees, one of
which was almost always in session.
He didn't know that had from hun-
dred to hundred and fifty letters day
from my constituents, on all sorts Of
subjects and with all sorts Of requests.
He didn't know that before the COM
mittees l made at least ten speeches on
tariff revision. He didn't know that
had introduced sixty mine bills, thirty
nine of which had become laws. There
are lot Of things that Mr.. McGillicuddy
doesn't know.
In the consideration Of the tariff bill
In the house, there were votes on eight
separate schedules. On several Of those
votes I was on the other side from
Uncle Joe. II I voted as Uncle Joe nod
ded, / didn't understand his mods.
Mr.. Swasey referred to his action In
the maintenance Of the duty