The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-08-08
Maine Political Notes

pense for use in the primary ballot
ms
II is interesting II note, at this
point that this marvel OF official ex-
actitude the Hon. cyrus ". Davis,
secretary of State, was the erstwhile
State printer, while holding the office
controlling the work which, as coll
tracing party, he would do. When the
kennebec Journal called the attention
of the secretary of State to this pal
pable violation of the law, he fought
bitterly to maintain both positions.
The Governor and Council refused to
invoke the law, which carried penalty,
and referred the matter to the SUI
preme Court. The latter body decided,
unanimously. that the law was plain,
its intent obvious, and that ii was a
wise provision by a deliberattYe law
making body
Thus this strictly lawabiding State
official was obliged to apparently sew
er his connection with the publishing
company, with which as its head he
had contracted as State printer. The
Governor and Council then made
temporary arrangements for State
printing until legal and permanent
contracts could be made.
This temporary" arrangement with
Mr. Cyrus w. Davis paper now pub
licly acknowledged to be under con-
troll of Hon. William K. Pattangall, at
torney general of Maine) has contin-
ued for eight months. Under this lille
gal continuation by official and private
connivance, Mr.. Davis as secretary of
in al q :
inconsistency, the primary ballot pro
visions with such results as We shall
mention below
For the sake of the Davis-Pattangall
printing plant the State of Maine, be-
cause of its June primary balloting,
must settle for seven times as many
ballots as were ever cast in any one
election in the State.
More than one million ballots
we're printed and distributed for
the primaries of 1912.
The paper used weighed 20 tons.
More than 100000 Socialist bal
lots We're printed and sent out;
while in the election of 1910 only
1911 Socialist votes were cast.
In 1910, Franklin county cast
eight Socialist ballots. To that
county for the primary balloting
this year, 6240 ballots were sent
$50 times as many as there was
any likelihood of needing.
In 1910, Piscataquis county cast
three Socialist ballots; 1920 So
calist ballots were sent there for
the primaries.
In 1910. three hundred towns
and plantations cast no Socialist
vote; to these towns We're sent
53,OSO Socialist ballots in June,
1912.
In 1910, siXty-eight towns cast
one Socialist ballot EACH to these
6S towns were sent $4,000 Socialist
ballots for the primaries.
In 1910, thirty eight towns cast
two Socialist ballots each; to these
SO towns were sent 10, 300 Socialist
ballots.
The above are but a few specimens
of Democratic rigid economy" and
enforcement of law Here are some
of the au-Plaisted strict bust
ness principles"
Why does not the state auditor is
sue a bulletin to inform the trusting
public about this?
Democratic leaders are talking about
economies practiced which have en-
abled them to carry on the State af-
fairs with not quite twice the State
tax which any Republican administra-
ton has had. Wonderful, isn't it, in
the light of the above facts and 9TH
ers just as potent?-Kennebec Jour
nal.