Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-26
Why Senator Gardner Loses Friends.

1 .9Shdtci opdlidn Gardner had q
guardian, or a mentor to tell him what
TO say and when to say it, he might be-
quite successful campaigner. Rut
ms overpowering bigotry, and assump.
| ten that he is talking to a group OF
people who know nothing but that he
tells them. wins contempt everywhere
| some of his assertions are so non
| sehsicai in their absolute contradic-
ton of what is public knowledge as
instantly to discount his veraeity.
For man who has attained the
United States Senate, even through
political intrigue in attempt to trick
great organization into tentative
support of gang of political trick
sters, to make such idiotic statements
as Mr. Gardner persists in repeating.
is a sad commentary on who may
reach high places.
AT Fort Fairfield and, we are told,
IN various places, Senator Gardner is
declaring that in the II years of his
service in Congress the records show
that Governor BurIesh voted against
every bill of general interest to the
farmers"
Had Senator Gardner not known this
statement to be entirely false, and ex-
actly opposite to the facts in every in
stance-if he had even believed his
own words, he still ought to have
known better than to have given ut
terance to them in Aroostook county.
In the first place Aroostook county
knows Governor Burleigh much better
than they know Obadiah Gardner. and
respect him a thousand times more.
In the next place Aroostook county
hates reciprocity.
Aroostook county knows that Gov
ernor Burleigh fought reciprocity from
its inception as long as he remained
in Congress-
Aroostook county knows that Sena-
tor Gardner voted. with every other
Maine Democrat in Congress, for the
reciprocity measure when it was
passed.
Aroostook county knows that Sena-
tor Gardner is using ali the power
which a political make-shift has con-
ferred upon him, to prevent the re-
peal CT reciprocity.
Aroostook county knows that even
while Senator Gardner is away from
his duties in Washington he was care
full TO be paired against the interests
of the farmers of Maine, in opposition
to the repeal of the reciprocity act.
And yet Senator Gardner has the
brazen effrontery to tell the people
of Aroostook county such a ridiculous
falsehood
Small wonder that even hardened
Democrats left the hall and refused to
listeni
In another desperate charge"
against Governor Burleigh, Mr.. Gard
ner reiterates his declaration intend
ed TO carry the impression that Gov
erner Burleigh was in hiding for IA
years and no one at Washington ever
heard of him. But MIR. Gardner has
softened his claim somewhat When
he first uttered it, in Western Maine,
he said: Il can find SO men in the
House who have been there 20 years
and do not know who Congressman
Burieigh is"
AT Fort Fairfield Mr.. Gardner, with
chara cteristic logged persistence,
chung to his original intention but the
laugh that had gone up all over Maine
had changed it's magnitude He told
them: why there are 20 men. today.
in he House of Representatives who
don't know who Burleigh is
As more than twice that Number
of new members have entered the
House since Congressman Burleigh
left it, and as many of them are men
"fic1S acquaintance tONeTfDT Bur-
Brrieigh would not care to cultivate,
this way of putting it is not only far
from striking but pointIess.
But Aroostook county citizens were
quick to appreciate the intention of
Mr. Gardner.
On another topic Mr.. Gardner said:
Il was not a candidate for United
States senator and / asked no one to
support me. Gov. Plaisted appointed
me because he wanted the great ag-
ricuitural interests represented"
But Senator Gardner did not tell
Aroostook citizens that the appoint
ment GANG as much a surprise to
him as to anybody: that not three
days before his appointment Mr.
Gardner had sneered to newspaper
men and others about "the Royal
Presence" and even to mock and inn
itate the Governors peculiarities of