Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-08
SENATE.

dent / wish TO ask the indulgence OF
the Senate for moment II would not
be fitting in me at this time, after the
long protracted hearing and the able
discussion concerning this resolve, 10
ask the indulgence of the Senate, II IT
did not indirectly at least, reject
somewhat on the good name ana the
integrity of the people of YORK county,
the county ! have the honor to repre-
sent. The people of York county De
lieve in Asa A. Richardson. Ihey
have considerable confidence in him as
an attorney at law, and always nave
believed in him as man. | nave per
sonally known him for about 10 years
and know something concerning the
condition of affairs in York county
and this is the first time, as ! under
stand it that | ever heard questioned
The integrity of our county attorney
/ do not say this, gentlemen, in
spirit OF partisanship / eradicate all
politics in this brief discussion, and
my mind goes back about three years
to our county convention. Mr.. Rich
ardson was opposed by one of the
abest attorneys in York county. lie
had then been engaged in the work OF
the law for about II years. He had
the unanimous endorsement of his
town and the surrounding towns, and
they said he represented the common
people of York county, and that peo~
pie is in the large majority in all the
counties of our State.
We found Asa A. Richardson
young man, dependent largely upon
his own resources. He had TO work
for his living He had not had the
advantages of a liberal education,
and when about 81 years of age,
while engaged at work in a shoe
shop and on the farm, he was APP
pointed collector of taxes in the town
of Kennebunk, and while engaged in
the work of that office he began the
study of law. AT that time he held
various offices in the town and he had
then and still has the confidence of the
people
Now | would like to say just this;
Are we in fairness going to impeach
Asa A. Richardson, an efficient officer,
ON the evidence that has been pre-
scented at this hearing? In other
words. is the evidence that has been
presented in regard to the count just
ItdQ DR Tie N-iidli ilidtt III liilS bodAs
is ii sufficient to convict Asa A. Rich
ardson in a court of law?
If not, should this Legislature, sit
ting as a general court of the people
say that he is guilty of misconduct in
office and ask for his removal?
In the second place. il we should
eliminate from this case all politics
and all craftsmanship. | say in all
sincerity. il we eradicate that from
both these cases, would We have. very
much left? l pretend to be a fairly
good Republican. Possibly / may be
partisan. but / have never so far lost
my manhood, as ] would II ! should
vote upon a question of this kind 70
impeach the integrity of my fellow
men upon the evidence presented 10
the Committee in this case As | I'M
derstand the issue. we are asked to
find Asa A. Richardson guilty of mis-
conduct in Office, because of his fall
ure to sign single Indictment in I:
liquor case. which he says was an
oversight and clerical error, and I
believe, gentlemen. when he makes
that explanation that he tells the
truth, and there is no evidence to the
contrary
There are two propositions which we
as members of this Legislature might
well consider
NO" without entering into the mer-
lis OF the first case, would submit
TO the members of the Senate
II II is consistent to exoner-
ate that official, when there was some
considerable evidence presented i'm re-
gard to his guilt, and with this official
say ne is guilty. | would ask if II
would not be fair TO send both of
these. officials home to the people of
York County, eXonerated by this gen
eral court, and let the people there
attend to their case later on.
l hope. Mr.. President and gentlemen.
that IN treating this case, as | believe
you Will. that you viii treat il fairly
and honestly. If we do err. let us err
on the side Of humanity and ON the
SIDE of right.
| hope, gentlemen, when this vote
is taken, that the county attorney
VIII be eXonerated and adjudged not
guilty
Mr.. KELLOGG of Penobscot Mr..
President, ] do not feel competent to
make any remarks on this proposition.
but as long as the Senator from York
mas seen nj rather to lay down on us,
] am going To bring this into politics.
He is laying down on the Democratic
party in this ease This forenoon we
voted on the Democratic sheriff. and
If you look over the record You will
. ind All the Republicans voted Gull
ty / do not think il is fair for the
Senator from York TO rise up here and
try to influence this decision in po-
litical way. If he had left that out
altogether ] think it would have been
better
Mr. GOWELL. Mr. President
fear the Senator misunderstood me.
j tried to consider the ease in a gen
eral way, and in all fairness. and if
] have INDUCED in anything of a po-
htical nature, / did not so intend
What ] said would surely apply 10.
one party as well as the other.
Mr.. MILLlKEN of Aroostook. Mr.
President, ] suppose l am correct in
the belief that it is impossible TO
amend this address in any way?
The PRESIDENT: / think that is
right.
Mr.. MILLIKEN: And that sena-