Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-17
Tuesday, December II, 1912.
Let us Make 1t Plain.

justifiable charges of discriminating
against Progressive news. As a rule
this was circulated as a street sneer
without responsible source to which to
make reply. But on one or two occa-
sions it was possible to find some one
of which we could demand that they
name specific instance. In those
cases we were always able to prove
that they had been misinformed. These
underground stories We're quietly cir
culGted, however, we have reason to
easy conscience for purpose which
we cannot understand.
The johnson incident" in the expe-
rience of the Kennebec Journal is
good one for illustration. That we dis
proved the false stories is known by
our readers, but some of the cores
pondence growing out of it may serve
to refute the following clipped from
the answer of the Progressive COM
mittee to the Hichborn letter:
"The united Republican daily pa.
pers of the State, except the Lewiston
journal, joined in suppressing Pro-
gressive party news"
In reply to the above direct state
meni we offer the letter of the business
manager of this newspaper Immediate
~ after an unsatisfactory telephone
experience:
October, rs. 1912.
Mr. Halbert p. Gardner,
Portland, Maine.
Dear Sir: Referring to your telephone
to me, this morning, regarding the ap-
pcarance of Governor johnson IN Au-
gusta, today; as you gave me no OPP
portunlty for reply, but Immediately
hung up the receiver, / am obliged TO
put my view of the case in writing.
/ gathered from your remarks, which
were uttered so hastily that could
only grasp the general scope OF your
meaning. that you blamed the journal
for lack OF Sufficient publicity of the
meeting in this city, this afternoon, 70
receive Governor Johnson.
/ can see how some of our readers
who are not familiar with campaign
methods might blame the Journal, but
how man in your position VINO is
thoroughly familiar with the methods
of publicity can do so is past my I'M
derstanding.
IT seems to me you should hold your
local committee in this city RESPONSE
BILE. The journal mas given its readers
all the information that has been CIV
en- il by your committee. In addition TO
the advance announcement, we had an
item in our Fridays issue, another
saturday morning announcing the
change in the hour of Governor john
sons speaking, and, this morning, had
the general program of Governor Johh-
son for the day on our first page.
Our local editor tells me that he ex-
pected something to be handed IN by
the local committee. Not receiving
ANYTHING he tried to get Mr.. Milliken
by phone. but was unable to do so. He
intended to call Mr.. Milliken up again,
but in the press of other matter over
looked it.
AS a matter of fact, there was
meeting of your local committee, sun
day afternoon. to perfect plans Tor the
reception of Governor Johnson ana
understand it was left with one mem-
Der of that committee to attend TO the
insertion of a proper notice in this
mornings Journal.
Our advertising columns have been
open to you for the advertising of this
meeting, and the Journal has accepted
for its news columns all that has been
offered. You cannot expect our editors TO
act as your publicity bureau in Angus
Ia and vicinity; we do not do that for
the Republican party; we always de-
pend on the local committee to give
us what they desire published about
the local meetings.
AS business manager of the Journal
/ protest that il is entirely unfair to
attempt to hold the Journal RESPONSE
BILE for any lack of publicity in the
announcement OF this or any other
meeting that has occurred in this vi
entity.
Sincerely yours,
C. f. FLYNT.
In answer to Mr.. Flynt's letter came
the following manly expression from
the Hon Haibert p Gardner. We re-
spected him for the frank manner in
3 which he met the situation when he
fully understood it:
Headquarters Progressive Party, Port
land. Me-, Oct. 20. 1912.
C. F. Flynt, Kennebec Journal,
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Mr.. Flynt; Your favor of the 2Stf
relative te publicity as to time and
place of Coy. Johnson speaking in Au-
gustf. duly received. / frankly admit
that al the time it was called to my
attention by telephone and otherwise
from Augusta, that / was bit peey-
jsh, as it seemed almost an insult to
GOV. johnson. Governor Of the great
state of California, that he should
come into our Capital City and not
have a reading notice which would give
the time and the place of his speak
ing
1 have your letter, and judge by II
that il is one of those things which
might occur through the negligence OF
the local committee. Please under
stand that / have no wish or desire Il
feel towards the Journal otherwis'
than perfectly fair in the matter
neither has our party organization.