Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-02-24
Saturday, February "a, 1912.
onportunity for Action. Mr.. Patt.

ienIiop 10 the condition of the air during
the last Republican state administration,
when the atmosphere was laden with
impurities that have left behind most
offensive odor The effects OF life IN
that atmosphere are stil apparent in the
columns Of our contemporary. Its moral
sense is so deadened that il looks upon
iHfractions of the criminal Law by en-
ployes of the state as slight vagaries
of conduct to be described by no harSher
word than 'unbusinesslike." The ad-
mospnere has since been purified by a
Democratic administration which has
substituted honest business methods for
the practices which formerly were COM
mon. The change for the better in the
management of the affairs of the state
ment in bold face type. will not blind the
people TO the fact.-Waterville Sentinel,
Feb. %.
II MIR. Pattangalrs mouthpiece
wishes 10 talk about the incident of
Republican State official who once
performed an act not countenaneed
by the Republican administration, we
would call 10 his attention another
case: one which has gone unpunished;
which has not been corrected; which
vas persisted il by high State Of
ficisl in spite of public criticism,
which was defended by said official
with supreme contempt for the law;
which was referred to the Supreme
Court by a Governor and Council who
wished to dodge the plain duty point
ed out by the law. which WAS found
by the unanimous opinion of the court
TO be in palpable violation of the
law: which is continued under a Slip
snod arrangement in contempt of the
law, and which is still a subject for
correction by the Legislative investi-
eating committee or the attorney
general.
If the legal minded editor in-ehief
OF the Democratic organ is suffering
for worlds of unpunished indiseretion
TO conquer, let him first cast out the
illegal practices from his prevailing
regime.
The recent discovery involves a
matter of $4,000 of state money for
which was deposited, temporarily. a
perfectly good check for The fun
amount The act is not defended by
Republicans and was not allowed TO
continue.
The case of the present secretary
of State, above referred TO. involves
n matter OF many thousands of dol
lars in state contract which. under
a plainly drawn statute. and under
The express decision of our Supreme
Court. was absolutely null and void.
Yet this case was defended by Demo-
Gratis. and is protected by scandal
Gus make shift which, as time rolls
on, in the language of our contem-
porary, charges the atmosphere with
impurities that leave behind most
offensive odor.'
Under plea of the necessity of
Immediate printing the following or
der vas passed by the Governor and
Council on Friday. Nov. "a:
"ordered, That the State print
ing contract begun by the Water
vile Sentinel Publishing Co, and
remaining unfinished. Nov. Is, 1911,
shall be continued by Howard c.
Morse of Waterville, the trustee
for the bondholders of said eom-
pany, under the direction of the
Governor and Council, at prices
named in the bids submitted by
said company.
1t is further ordered that any
State printing, which may be re-
auired in the classes awarded to
said Waterville Sentinel Publish
ing Co, shall be performed as
above. on the basis of the bids
submitted by said company, until
such time as permanent arrange
nents shall be made for doing said
printing"
That was three months ago and, up
to this time, no move has been made
toward permanent arrangements" in
the way of call for bids for new con-
tracts. This course would seem TO
plainly indicate determination to
persist in contempt of the law, or
pathetic lack of executive ability.
On Thursday, Jan. A. 1912, the Wa
terville Sentinel Publishing Co filed
articles Of incorporation at the office
of the secretary of State The stock
controlled by the present attorney
general is entered under the name of
Gertrude NJ. Pattangall as one of the
incorporators. Mr. Frank Plumstead,
the law partner of the attorney gen
eral fPattangall & Plumstead), is one
of the incorporators, as is, also. the
Democratic nominee for representa-
tive, Mr. Cornelius b. Kelleher, the
latter being also a member of the
board Of directors. Further comment
would seem to be superfluous.
The Price of Potatoes.