Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-22

been or is to be made to collect ii
| back to the State until September.
there is nothing indecent in calling
attention to the fact that the people
are losing the use of the money.
| II it be true. as asserted. that the
| Secretary of State ordered printed
| and sent to Auburn, 70S0 socialist
| ballots, only to have them found to
| be all wrong; that he reduplicated the
| order making l4,160 ballots in the
primaries, it is not indecent to call it
to his attention. The printing of
14,t60 ballots Cor nine socialists or
any other party of nine, to vote upon.
may not trouble the Democrats Of
Maine, but it troubles other people in
these days of high living. Especially
when il is shown by one of the most
astute lawyers in Maine that the law
requires no such Interpretation
Lewiston Journal.
The Kennebec Journals charges
were true, remain true. and will
be proven true, if ever brought be-
fore any tribunal of investigation.
But instead of being a matter of ''seK-
eral hundred dollars" as our Lewis
ton neighbor modestly puts it, it was
several thousand dollars.
Mr. Davis is explaining and excus-
ing and apparently denying, OBJ
viously hoping to get a verdict OF
neutrality-suspicious. of the law until
after election; but the printing of
more than seven hundred thousand
uncaued for and useless ballots, at
S492 a thousand is a matter of some
Importance to the taxpayers of Maine.
It is particularly striking to those
familiar with the State printing ar
rangement, and the connection OF
Secretary of State Davis with the
printing plant.
Those who listen to Mr. Davis at
ter1pted justification of his course
will remember his direct personal IN
terest in the waterville Sentinel con-
tract. They will remember that II
was made in defiance of the statutes
which he publicly claimed to be
eognizant of and to understands that
the Governor and Council showed
their friendliness, and that the Su-
preme Court interfered. They VIII
remember that the Governor ahd
Council showed further friendllness
by assuming the responsibility Gin
defiance of the statutes) of continu-
ing the States work under the pro-
visions of void contract.
Under this illegal arrangement the
State has suffered. We are not mis-
taken about it. Mr.. Davis can Meth
err explain it away nor get away from
it. 1t was as true the day we made
the facts public as it will be when the
Legislature reviews the whole pro-
ceedings between high State officials
and a private concern in which they
are financially Interested.
Just now it is, to many, matter
more or less colored by politics, but
in the sober light of. after election
days it will become a serious matter
to the people of Maine-a demonstra-
ton offthe lawless lengths to which
class. or clique will go when they
have no respect for the laws of their
commonwealth. 1t will be start
ling commentary on the class of men
who oppose. moral law and demand
legal pretense that contains no re-
straint for evil. 5a
The private acts of Mr.. Davis are
of public interest when they have
bearing on official duties, because he
is a public servant. We are IN
formed that Mr.. Davis has pubiiciy
declared that if the kennebec Jour-
nails charges are true, he (Secretary
of state Davis) should be impeached'
We agree with him in this-ANO
OUR CHARGES ARE TRUE!
If Mr.. Davis wishes any furtne'
oroof that the kennebec Journaf $
charaes are true, we are ready TO
furnish it before any tribunal and the
tins cannot come too quickly to suit
us.
Let the voters of Maine, to whom
Mr. Davis is appealing for approval,
understand this before they give him
and those who have stood with him
in this illegal business. the sanction