The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-04-07
A PARTISAN AND A DESPOT.


and untruthful. No one was spared-not
even the local clergymen-who was even
suspected of opposing conditions which
have brought our city into disrepute
turbed business and social relations at
home. 1t was evident that, sore over
his narrow escape from defeat and the
lessening number of those who have sup
ported him in his policy of rule or ruin,
he gave full vent to his passions and
prejudices, and the result was the most
scurrilous and indecent sheet issued in
Belfast since his "Fakes for Voters''
Although the mayor has declared on
several occasions that he was out of
politics, in this issue of his paper he
sought to pose as martyr to his Demo-
cratic principles. He wished it to be
understood that he was hated because of
his utilization with the Democratic party.
He knows better, but took this opportu-
nifty to proclaim his Identification with
that party because his name had been
included, with some thirty or forty others,
as possible Democratic candidates for
Governor in case the Waterville clique
succeeds in turning down Obadiah Gard
ner. Of course the mayor knows per-
fectly well why he is opposed when he
seeks a public Office, and he should be
the last man to desire the reasons to be
made public. There is no doubt that he
was elected mayor the first time through
sympathy-the kind of sympathy that
prompts certain people to carry dellca-
cies and bouquets to condemned muir
derer; and the more atrocious the muir
der the more bouquets. Once in office
he has succeeded in perpetuating him
self by use of the city patronage and by
promises not always fulfilled. No one
has been permitted to perform even the
most humble work for the city unless
they would fetch and carry for him.
Even lifelong Democrat could not get
/ work under Democratic administration
if he was suspected of disloyalty to the
head of the ticket. This year we have
seen faithful official and staunch sup
porter of the mayor turned down be-
cause he had enforced the law alike up
on all offenders, regardless of their poll
teal affiliations. By so doing he had, as
the mayor stated on the street the other
day, lost him six votes in former cleo
ton. This officer was led to believe he
would be retained, although it was gen.
orally understood that his removal had
been determined upon weeks before and
two candidates were named one of whom
received the office. 1t is only another
illustration of the despotic rule of one
man, who carries his passions, his predu-
ces, and his greed for power and pelf, into
all the affairs of cur city.
At the city government meeting last
Monday evening the mayor made
another exhibition of his partisanship.
Two years ago he turned out board OF
library trustees that was exceptionally
we'll qualified for the duties devolvine
upon them and against whom no com
plant had been made, with view to re-
moving the efficient librarians, and the
janitor, to make places for his support
ers. So great was the public indignation
over this action that he dared not carry
out his intention of removing the libra
rians, but he did land the janitorship
The act in relation to the Free Library
says that five trustees shall be elected
annually. The mayor. controlling ma
jority of the common council, decided
that this year there should be no election
and the next day after the March meet
ing called the old board together and or.
gained for another year. The actor
taken in this matter at the April meet
ing has been made record of and is fully
reported in another column. 1t will be
seen that the mayor threatened veto in
case his one-man rule should be disputed,
although there is no authority in the
rules for his exercise of the veto power;
and he said further: cat any rate he
should refuse to concur in such action
even if concurred in by both boards. -
In other words, if both boards of the city
government were agreed upon any mea-
sure this autocrat would defeat tiff he
could. Read the list of names submitted
from which to select five trustees for the
Free Library and contrast them with the
mayors appointees.
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At the recent meeting of the city gov
eminent an order was passed to buy fur
niture for the city marshal's room. When