Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-09
BY Their Fruits We Shall Know Them.

rious. non partisan standpoint. what
did the special session amount to.
Let us consider it as might two loya
Democrats in private conversation
with intent TO justify or condemn tbs
wisdom of calling 1t.
The cali of Governor Plaisted named
desired action on local option
amendment tn the Constitution, an
amendment. providing for bond is
sue of $4,000, 600 for good roads. re-
districting legislation and revision
of the laws relating 10 elections in
the State.
In this attempted legislation Maine
has been given demonstration of
hasty, ill-eonsidered legislative action
without precedent in this State. Bills
ir.tended To be enacted into law were
thrown together in such ram shackle
manner and so obviously without in
vestigatioif Of previous statutes Or
provisions as to make the session a
standing joke among legal men Of the
State and law makers OF other states.
When the jokers had been removed
and amendments made. the proposed
amendment 10 the Constitution, giving
Maine cities and towns the privilege
of establishing saloons. was defeated
in the Legislature: it did not live to
go to the people.
1t is no secret that his defeated
legislation. asked for by the Governor
and Democratic leaders. was the en-
tire cause of the special session of the
Legislature. which. brief as it was,
imposed a burden of more than $4,000
useless cost upon the State. The 9TH
err subjects We're excuses only, while
the whitewashing of Sheriff Emery
was incidental and seized upon TO
help justify the expense.
Tie good roads bond issue amend
ment is left 10 the next Legislature
10 provide method Of application. if
the proposition should be acceptable
10 Tie people.
The firsl redistricting plan snapped
KelneLec county into the Third dis
trict and took Oxford and. Franklin
Oft of that district and put them into
the Fourth. thus extending the Fourth
district from TT. Kent TO Kezar
Falls. 1t placed Penobscot and
Washington with Waldo and Hancock
for Third district. and left the First
district as it is. But this plan. which
was nicely calculated for Democratic
political purposes met with such de-
termined opposition from Congress-
man Gould and his friends in Somer-
set that it was abandoned
Thus the redistrieting scheme peter
ed out, the only change made to justi-
fy the great shout for its necessity be-
ing the taking of Washington county
from the Fourth District and adding
it to the Third.
AS to the revision of the election
laws. the law passed is so distastefnl,
10 say the least, to all those who love
fairness and honesty and oppose OPP
portunities for trickery. that without
the shadow of doubt the referendum
will be invoked to halt the scheme of
sending the ballots of town to the
office of the secretary of State within
"a hours after an election. The
chances for fraud would be increased
100 fold under such a plan, to say
nothing Of the expense to interested
parties in distant sections who might
wish to inspect the ballots within q
reasonable time. The memory of
"eount-out' days will not down in the
face OF such a law and the brand of
craftsmanship displayed in recent
months by the Democratic leaders.
But one thing remained To be done.
TO consistently round out and com
plete this brilliant record. That thing
was done, and the curtain dropned.
last Saturday, on an exhibition Of
rank and disgracefu craftsmanship
which win leave its ugly blot for all
time on the Legislative records Of this
State
The mere fact that a Democratic
sheriff was acquitted by a Democratic
Legislature, which promptly thereupon
Instituted proceedings against his Re-
publican aeenser and convicted him by
what was essentially party vote. is
not in itself conclusive of partisansbip
or injustice. But we ask our fair
minded readers 10 pass judgment upon
what actually occurred in connection
with these proceedings.
Sheriff Charles Q. Emery was recent
ly arraigned upon the charge Of at
tempting to bride the county attorney
Asa A. Richardson. who was the com
piainant In the case before the court.
Probable cause was found, and Mr.
Emery was bound over To await the
action Of the grand jury. Proceedings
bcing thus pending in The courts of