The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-01-19
Men and Things at Augusta.


We were unable last week to give much
space to the sayings snd dongs at the State
capita but hereafter The Journal will present
a summary of the legislative proceedings with
other matter of local and general interest. The
legislature was organized January 4th with the
following officers:
SENATE. President, Nathan Clifford Of Port
land; secreta y, William c. Hanson OF Machias-
port; assistant secretary, Harry h. Thurlough
of Pittsfeld; messenger, Charles II. Lovejoy of
Sidney.
House. Speaker, Frank A. Morey of Lewis
ton; clerk. C. c. Harvey of Fort Fairfield; as
sistant clerk Willis W. Kelley Of Farmingdale;
messenger William Mcclure of Machias.
For these positions the Republican caucus
nominated practically all the old officials; and
at the caucus the following night they did the
same with regard to State officers, and despite
one speech in opposition nominated Frederick
A.Powers of Houlton for U. S. Senator. In the
Democratic caucus, as everybody anticipated,
Obadiah Gardner of Rockland was defeated
for nomination as U. S. Senator by Charles F.
johnson of Watervie, and took his defeat
very much to heart. Joseph Williamson is
said to have gone to Mr.. Gardner with propo-
sition from the Waterville ring to elect him
commissioner of agriculture, at which he was
very indignant, saying that the Democratic
ring had kicked him out of the tail Of the cart
and he was perfectly willing to stay out. "You
have pitched me over the dam once before"
Mr.. Gardner is reported to have said, land
believe am well able to swim for myself and
require no assistance from any OF the ring"
Later Gov. Plaisted brought his powers of per-
suasion on Mr.. Gardner and induced him to
accept the position of chairman Of the State
board of assessors at salary of $4,000, and
expenses. Hon. W. R. Pattangall of Water
vile was nominated for Attorney General by
reclamation, but wished to retain his seat in
the house during the session, and failing to in
duce the Republican attorney general to hold
over, Cyrus R. Upper Of Boothbay Harbor
was prevailed upon to take the Office until the
close of the session when he will resign and
Gov. Plasted will appoint Pattangall. thus
making personal convenience 6f an import
ant public office. Cyrus W. Davis is 'aid to
have secured the nomination for secretary Of
State by clever trick. As the story goes the
Waterville crowd knew they couldn't hope to
land the fat plums of United States Senator,
attorney general and secretary of State in
| Waterville. Mr.. Davis was therefore informed
by the Kennebec county delegation with much
ostentation that he could not rely upon them
for support, but on the quiet he was also told
that they would vote for him to man. Mr..
Davis was quick to see the point. The story
that he had been repudiated by his Waterville
friends to save johnson and Pattangall was
industriously spread throughout the corridors.
Mr.. Davis's expenditures for Democracy were
outlined and magnified and great sympathy
was manifested for him. Up to this time he
anti-Johnson men, including those from Cum
berland county, took the bait that was offered,
and not only the bait but the whole line, bob
and sinker as we'll They thought they were
repudiating the Waterville ring in so doing
and voted for Davis, and he was nominated
defeating Fred B. Wiggin of Saco, who had
felt sure of the place. Later Gov Plaisted
consoled him with the appointment as warden
of the State prison to succeed Bernes o. Nor
ton, resigned.
The new State Government inaugurated
January 5th consisted of Governor Frederick
W. Plasted of Augusta; Secretary of State,
| Cyrus W. Davis'of Waterville; State Treasurer,
James F. Singleton of Bangor; Commissioner
of Agriculture, G. P. Buckley of Westbrook
DR.. G. c. Kilgore of Belfast is member of
the Governors Council and has been placed on
the following committees: School for Feeble
Minded; Election Returns, chairman; State
Benefciares and Pensions; Insane Hospitals;
Library, chairman; University of Maine; visit
ing committee on the Insane Hospitals.
The committee assignments of the Waldo
county delegation are as follows: Shore fish
cries, Towns; State Prison, Senator Pendleton;
Knight of Monroe, Federal relations; McAllis-
ter of Burnham, Telegraph and Telephones
and Library; Trim of Islesboro, Manufactures.
Morse of Belfast is on the standing committee
of the House on Ways and Means and Trim of
Islesboro on engrossed bills.
Major George E. Dodge of Carmel has been
appointed pension agent by the governor and
council to succeed Colonel E. c. Millken of
Portland, who has held the position for the
past Is years. Orrn ]. Dickey of Belfast
has been appointed member of the board of
trustees of the Maine State School for Boys;
Mark J. Bartlett of Waterville, notary pub
lie, and Lyman C. Putnam of Belfast. justice
of the peace.
The expected resubmission resolve came
Thursday morning in the Senate, and of course
it was Staples of Knox, who introduced it.
The resolve unlike his bill for the repeal of the
Sturgis law, had the enacting clause in it on its
first presentation.
Senator Staples has also presented a resolve
appropriating $159,O0O for 1911 and $l55,OOO
for 1912 for new buildings, water supply and
running expenses of the Maine School for
Feeble Minded. The resolve further provides
that any unexpended balance from the appro-
priation 1911 shall be available for the wear
1912.
In the house Thursday morning Pattangall
of Waterville made the first move toward
economy and more careful expenditure of
money,to which the Democrats are pledged, by
moving that all bills and resolves carrying an
appropriation of money should be introduced
before February 10th, and also moved that the