Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-21
INVESTIGATORS
Oh, for a Chance ''HOIIer'
About Something!
Democratic Statesmen" Itch
ing Tor NOiorieiy al Home.
Glory at a Premium, This Session,
for Use In Campaign.

Washington, D. c., June 20.-(Spe-
ciaD.-The Democratic efforts to dis
credit the American Wooden Co.,
whose score and more of mills, in
clude plants at Skowhegan and other
cities in the Kennebec Valley, have
been a fiasco. The last chapter prob
ably was when Representatives Fran
cis, of Ohio. made a speech the other
day, sailing into the American Wool
en- Co. furiously. His speech was not
half as feroeious as it would seem,
because he had previously made
charges that he hoped were to lead
TO a Congressional investigation of
the company. But after the charges
had been made and given due pub
licity, the courage of Mr.. Francis
oo2ed out. He was unable to offer any
evidence to the Democratic committee
on rules that would convince the
members there was something to in
Vestigate.
Accordingly Mr.. Francis WIS simply
making as loud a "holler" as he.
could for the benefit of people back
in Ohio and especially in that wool
raising district which he represents
one of the regions that produces
some of the finest wool in the Unit
ed States. 1t is said. He reiterated
charges that the American Wooden
Co. was monopoly; that it made
undue profits depressed the price of
wool, and all that sort of thing. His
argument was soon knocked into a.
cooked bat by Representative Weeks
of Massachusetts who showed con-
Ntinpin0lN
Co. manufactured only a small per
cent. of the product in this country.
paid better wages than are paid in
Ohio wooden mills, and that its stock
instead Of being in the hands of a
few people, was extensively owned by
women and trustees in New England.
This will be the end probably. of
the agitation in the Democratic House
about the American Wooden Co, al
though of course, it will not halt the
efforts of the Democrats to reduce the
duties on wool and on WOODEN goods.
TIE Maine Democrats, it might be
mentioned incidentally. have had
nothing whatever to say affecting all
these proceedings that are so peril
nent to one Of the big industries of
the Pine Tree state and especially
of the Kennebec Valley. They are
simply voting with the House Demo-
Gratis, whenever the opportunity comes
for voting.
The scramble of numerous House
Democrats to light upon something
that viii help them to get little rep
utation for stirring up things" at
Washington and thus make il easier
to get back for another term is inter-
esting to observe. They know the cam
paign for reelection is only about l.
months away and that it is very ne
cessary TO carry home the bacon" if
they are to persuade their eonstitu-
ents to give them another two years.
Dr.. Martin ID. Foster of Olney. ILL.,.
opened his batteries the other day in
the House on fellow Democrat,
Clark, of Gainesville, Fla. for trump
ing up chargs against the conduct of
the Insane asylum at St Elizabeths,
little way out of Washington, that
were based largely on the say-so of
"pettyfogging lawyer" who makes a
business of habeas corpus cases
among the inmates.
Now as last resort" said DR..
PpSltit Ill
the debate, las final triumph, when
the gentleman democratic Represen-
tative Clark might be able to get hold
of something that would enable him to
come hack to Congress again, he
goes to the committee on rules and
comes to this House and asks you that
an investigation be had"
Representative Clark of Florida did
not get the investigation which would
afford him something to brag about
among his constituents. The House to
its credit turned him down. Numerous
other efforts to get investigations of
this and that. which would give the
author notoriety at home, have died
a-borning.
The chairman of the nine commit
tees ON expenditures in the nine exec
utive departments have been striving
hard to obtain some glory. Several of
these chairmen are Democrats in close
districts or in districts where other
Democrats are pressing them hard for
the privilege of coming to Congress
and consequently nearly every man of
them is scratching gravel most indus
triously, making everything he possi-
bly, can out of his opportunity. The
yield of sensations that the folks back
home would take any notice of has
| been remarkably lean thus far and
| the investigating chairman who could
| get a front page story has been the
envy of his associates.
The Steel Trust Investigations and
| the Sugar Trust investigations are in
| little different category. The Dem
ocrats, as a party, had been critical
| of the governments attitude toward
those corporations for a number OF
years and 1t was inevitable that as
a party policy, the Democratic House
should order Investigations of both
| those corporations.
The material they have obtained
| thus far has been interesting. not
1 for it's newness but for the fact
that the information was given by
| the great captains of the steel in
dustry, as witnesses. OF course the
country takes notice of anything thai
Continued on Page Two.)