The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-04-14
May Close Canning Factory

The following is from the Portland
Press:
The Calais Times, which recently
printed an editorial commencing the
services of Senator Hale, has this
week come out in favor of the cleo
ton of Judge Powers as successor to
Mr.. Hale. The Times says that be,
lieving that the best interests of the,
State will be promoted by the selec-
ton of younger man to succeed
Senator Hale, 1t takes the occasion to
heartily endorse the candidacy of
Judge Powers. The editor adds that
he has no apology to make for the
editorial commenting Senator Hale
which recently appeared in the Times
Says the Times: THE services per-
formed by Senator Hale are known to
all but we believe that the time has
come for the venerable senator to lay
down the burden of public life and
give a place to one who is approach
ing the full measure instead of the
decline of his powers. We endorse the
candidacy of Mr. Powers from choice
and in the firm conviction that he is
eminently qualified for the honor
which he seeks, believing also that
the editor of paper is bound in
honor to give to his readers his own
opinions on matters of public interest
rather than those suggested or writ
ten by Others
Here then is the case of an editor
who, having been beguiled by the
Hale press bureau into printing one
of it's productions, takes occasion to
assert himself and announce that
hereafter he will run his newspaper
without the assistance of the talented
members of the literary syndicate
maintained to further the cause of
Senator Hale. And it is safe to pre-
dict that as the weeks go on there
will be other cases in which the press
bureau will find 1t increasingly diff
ficult to do business with the Maine
editors.
There Is another significant thing
about the attitude of the Calais pa
per. 1t Is printed in Washington
county. a section of the State which,
according to the products of the edi
torial canning factory, is solid for
Mr.. Hale. Calais is the home of the
Hon. George Murchie, a member of
the st. John river commission, APP
pointed to that position through the
influence of Senator Hale. Mr.. Muir
chic favors the denomination and re-
election of the senator and 1t is I'M
derstood that he thinks he has a per-
sonal grievance against Judge Pow
ers. Under these circumstances, 1t is
bad news for the Hale forces to find
newspaper in Mr.. Murchies own
town closing its doors to the output
of the opinion factory and declaring
its determination to do its business
in it's own way. The incident serves
to throw cold water on the roseate
predictions of the press bureau. 1t
creates doubt as to the accuracy of
the political lore which is being
spread throughout the length and
breadth of the State by the members
of the Hale syndicate. If this sort
of thing goes on, it may be necessary
to close the canning factory almost
at the beginning of what was suppos-
ed to be the canning season.
That's the kind of independence
worth having! What a fine opportu-
nifty the Fairfield Journal had to
come out in just the same fashion
straightforward, plain speaking, mat
ter of fact Instead, the Fairfield
contemporary throws back an epithet
and opens it's nav for more canned
goods"
Here's our hand to the Calais
Times!