Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-09-10
A<h~s
COLONEL AT HOME.
Mayor PIaisted Given a
Cordial Welcome.
Back 10 Augusta al The End
Of His Campaign.
Both He and G. F. johnson Tickle
Democrats with Talk.

The Democrats last evening closed
their campaign in Augusta, the home
of Col. Frederick w. Plaisted, Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor, with
a most cordial welcome home to the
colonel from his speechmakng tour of
the State.
Previous to the rally the band COM
posed of musicians drawn from the
Augusta Cadet and Sacred Heart or
CARNATIONS marched down Water
street and crossing the bridge enter
tanned a crowd that lined both side
walks opposite City hall with. several
we'll rendered selections.
City hall had it's stage tastily
decorated with a large American flag
for 2 background and the three small
tables We're entwined with bunting III
the national colors.
Special efforts had been made by
the Democratic city committee to ODD
tain a good crowd and with Charles L.
Johnson, who is perhaps the leading
speaker of the Democratic party in the
state, together with MavOr PlaiSted,
the Democratic candidate for the Gov
errorship as leading attractions,
the assemblage was large, a major
ity of the seats on the floor being occu-
pied hv men, with considerable
sprinkling of ladies, while the two
front rows of the three galleries were
we'll lined with onlookerS.
| Hon. Charles F. johnson Of WaterviliS
was the first speaker of the evening. Mr.
| Johnson, who is well known all over the
State as a fluent and able orator, was
cordially received as he stepped to the
front of the platform He commenced
his argument with the assertion that a
| feeling of independence was beginning t.
permeate the entire country and prophe-
| sled the doom of the country through
the medium of the trusts if the Republi-
cans are continued in office. He gave a
general survey of the conditions existing
| in the country today and stated that the
| issues of this campaign were the freedom
| of thought and the freedom of the ballot
| Mr.. Johnson then devoted nearly half
| hour to what he designated as the
iniquitous Payne-Aldrich tariff law. He
quoted extensively from speeches by Re
publican congressman and stated that the
high cost of living was robbing many OF
| the working people of the comforts OF
| home Claiming that the cost of living
had greatly increased, While the wage
had increased only slightly in the CORE
spending length of time, Mr. johnson
made the charge that all of these condi-
| tons were directly due to the recent
lenactment of the new tariff.
| Mr.. johnson then reverted to State is
sues He paid a compliment to the hon
esty of Governor Fernald but vouchsafeG
the statement that his administration
| was both imprudent and eXtravaSant
The Democratic. platform was next touch
| ed upon by the speaker He advocated 3
direct primary law and also the enact
ment of corrupt practice law.
| Mr. Johnsons speech was cleverly
worded and cleverly delivered, because
Mr.. johnson is one of the ablest public
| speakers in Maine. and he pleased tbs
crowd.
| At 80 o'clock Mayor Plaisted arrived
| from Hallowell, where he had been con
| Quoting another rally. He received :;
| warm welcome from the crowd. Mr.
! Plaisted was then introduced and he i'm
| lediately launched into a speech of ac-
cusation against what he termed the ex
| travagance of Governor Fernald's admin
! straton.
| He said that he had received good cour-
age during his campaign over the State
and predicted his own election several
times, much to the pleasure of the as
sembled Democrats. Mr.. Plaisted toli
the crowd that if they considered Gov
| ernor Fernad's administration a good
and economical one they should vote fo'
| his continuation in office on Monday; but
| if they did not think that way they
| should vote for change.
| The expense account of the State and
| the amount spent by the present admin
| istraton was strongly denounced by the
| Democratic candidate, he claiming that
| by the first of the new year Maine woul7
| be much behind.
| Candidate Plaisted then concluded hi
| remarks with an urgent appeal to tn
voters to elect him and his party to of
| flee and promised better administra-
| ton than that of Governor Fernald