Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-16
As Candidate for Governor, Having 575 Votes to
311 for Obadiah Gardner, The Defeated Can.
didate Of 1909 Lamont A. Stevens Of Wells
Named for State Auditor. -Stoyof Convention.

Hon. Frederick W. Plaisted of Au-
suSta was nominated as a candidate
for Governor by the Democratic State
convention, which convened WedneS-
day in City hall, Augusta. Mr.. Plais-
ted received 575 votes, against 81 for
Obadiah Gardner, who was also Il
candidate for the nomination.
The convention was called to order at
1910 o'clock Wednesday morning by
Hon. Fred Emery I3eane Of HalloWell,
chairman Of the State committee. Mr..
Became introduced Hon. ID. j. McGilli-
Cuddy of Lewiston as the temporary
chairman of the convention and after
William +. Curran of Bangor. score
tary of the State committee, had read
the call and Rev. l.. W. Coons of Au-
gusta had offered prayer Mr.. NcGilli-
cuddy launched into the opening speech
of the convention. which was as fol-
lows:
Chairman McGilIicuddy's Speech.
Gentlemen of the Convention:
For the high honr conferred in your
courteous invitation to preside over the
deliberations of this Convention | am
deeply grateful | earnestly ask your
generous cooperation in order that we
may bring the issues of this day to
happy and prosperous conclusion.
We meet under circumstances OF eN-
traordinary interest and concern. Not
only in our own State but throughout the
country come up protests. swelling IN
volume every day. against present con-
dtions and the unjust and oppressive bur
dens that weigh heavily upon the people
These protests are not confined to any
particular section of the country nor
limited to any particular class of people
but come from everywhere and from
all classes regardless of political
affiliations. When such a condition
of unrest and discomfort exists in
our country and is universal as "a &C
that something is radically wrong SUCH
conditions naturally call for explanation
There have been no outside causes TO eN-
plain such conditions. We have had no
war pestilence, famine, loss of crops or
other national misfortune to bring on
these results. Surely our people are not
to blame, and have in no way contrl-
bGted to this condition The great mid
de classes of our people of moderate
means and fixed incomes find that work
as they may, plan as they will it is with
difficulty that they are able to make both
ends meet, while the great masses OF
wage earners with large families to sup
port find life for themselves and their
miles almost a struggle for existence.
And all this in the very midst of a time
OF OVERCOMING plenty, Wien more wealth.
is being produced and accumulated than
at any other period in the history of our
country.
This most abnormal condition of affairs
is not without a plain and adequate
cause 1t is the direct result of vicious
legislation largely brought about by the
influence of great trusts and combines
in this country. The growth and power
of these trusts for the past twelve years
has amazed the world They have not
only succeeded in monopolizing the great
industrial forces of the land, but largely
control it's financial institutions and have
order that they may dictate the poll
cies of the government and control its
legislation.
The great contest in the coming cam
paign in this country will be between
those great trusts and the people. Nomi-
nally it will be between the Republicans
and Democratic parties. for in that great
contest the trusts will form their line Of
battle inside the Republican party, be
cause they know they control that party
and if that party wins. they will ON the
ot er hand the people will concentrate
their forces within the Democratic party
as being the only available way to make
the conflict effective and the result de-
csve.
7 his is largely a country of parties,
always has been and probably always
will be. Whoever dominates the party,
in case that party wins dominates the
country. That the Republican party as
today constituted is dominated and con
trolled by the Trusts no intelligent Re-
publican can deny. The only hope and
claim of the Independent Republicans is
that in the future they may free the
party from Trust domination. Today the
Trusts have the undoubted controlling
influence and dominating power in the
party.
This was clearly demonstrated in the
recent session of Congress on the pas
sage of the PayneAldrich Tariff Bill. In
this Congress is a large Republican ma
iorty in both House and Senate The
battle of tariff taxation was on for
months. The Trusts were there with
their powerful influences both in the
lobby and on the floor of Congress. Not
withstanding the fact that there were
powerful and influential Republicans like
the able and eloquent Senator Beveridge.i
representing the great State or lndiapd
and Senator Nelson representing the
great State of Minnesota, and Laf0[iette.
the great State of Wisconsin. apd Sena-
tor Cummins and his able colleague, Sen
ator Deliver, representing the great
State of Iowa, and other gore patriotic
and powerful members OF, tne republican
favoritism of this bill us 81 injustice to the
great masses of people. Its failure to re-
deem the solemn promise made by the
Penuhlican narts to revise the tariff in
the interest offhe people, yet when the
line IN Gang and the vote was taken
the Trusts asserted their power in the
Republcssl party ana not only passed
the hill but showed they could pass al
most any kind of bill they wished.
Tpey passed as bad a one as thew dared
TO The only reason they did not pass a |
sorse one was because they feared the
aroused wrath of the American people.
The truth about it is that the Trusts
look upon the Republican party as their
own legitimate possession. They have !
furnished the money to finance their
campaigns for the past dozen years. 1t
is an open secret that in that time the
Trusts and the great interests which they
are able to influence and control have
contributed millions to the Republican
campaign funds. What do the people
suppose these Trusts are contributing