Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-04
DuttOn and Nelson Stir the
Voters at Belgrade Depot Rally.

Belgrade. Me-, Sept. 3.-(SpeciaD.-
The Republican rally held, Monday
night. at the Grange hall, Belgrade
Depot, was the best attended and
most enthusiastic that has ever been
held at that place. Twice as many
people were present as at the Demo-
cratic rally previously held there.
Donald Stevens was chairman of the
meeting. and the speakers We're John
f. Nelson of waterville and Frank l..
Dutton of Augusta. Together they
spoke more than two hours and a
half. principally upon State issues.
and not single person left the hall
while they We're speaking. Mr.. Dut-
ton takes his audience easily along in
his preliminary remarks. and before
they are aware of it has them so fully
in his grasp that they cannot help
following TO the logical conclusion of
his discourse. Mr.. Nelson is care
full thinker and clear and convinc-
ing speaker. The speakers We're met
al the close of the meeting by a num-
Der of Republicans, who said that
they had voted for Frederick w.
Plaisted for Governor two years be-
fore. but that this year they should
vote for Mr.. Haines for Governor and
for the entire Republican ticket.
Campaigns of Misrepresentation.
Mr.. Dutton, in his opening remarks.
stated that Frederick w. Plaisted first
came into prominence politically by
his candidacy for sheriff of kennebec
county, and at that time he went be-
fore the people representing that at
the close of the fiscal year Kennebec
county would be over $4,000 in debt.
lie spread this report over the county
and the voters believed ii sufficiently
to elect him, while as a matter OF
fact, there was no foundation for the
report, and when the county treasurer
closed his books on the first day OF
January the following year ii was
found that the county had practically
no floating debt When Mr.. Plaisted
Lecame a candidate for Governor, two
years ago, he started out on the same
kind of a proposition, stating that the
was as little foundation for this as
for the false issue which he had pre-
viously raised in Kennehec county,
yet he secured his election again on
what proved to be an absolutely false
issue.
Mr. Dutton then went on to show
how the State funds are raised. and
that, under the general laws of the
state. the State tax for any single
year is not due and payable until the
first day of January in the following
year, and that there is no way that
the State treasurer can collect it be-
fore that.
He said that the Legislature of 1909
had unanimously made extraordinary
appropriations for rebuilding the State
House. for the Eastern Maine Insane
hospital. the Maine Insane hospital.
the Home for the Feeble Minded,
IIiehmoor farm, Rines Hill crossing.
and many charitable institutions,
amounting in the aggregate to an ap-
preparation aggregating rising s9oo'-
OGO In order to take care OF TINS eA-
ira amount, it was necessary to raise
the State tax two mills Inc state
Legislature made the state TAX three
mills and that of 1910 five mills. WITH
out doubt, the Fernald administration
made a mistake in having the extra
two mills come the last year, which
cost Governor Fernald his reelection
because of the false issue raised by
the Democratic party. Now no part
of this five mill tax had been received
by the State prior to January |, 1911,
excepting a few thousand dollars
which the towns had voluntarily paid
upon the request of the treasurer of
state. According to the report OF
James F. Singleton, the Democratic
treasurer of State, covering the year
1911. the bonded and floating debt of
the State of Maine, January l, 1911,
was approximately 81. 100000, although
the Democratic orators and campaign
speakers had spread the statements