Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-05
The Absent Hero.


gence of his farmer constituency
Perhaps it is u combination of boil
of these things which is responsible
or the remarkable production with
-Rieh he is now plastering the State
Nh\the interest of his candidacy fo1
Reunited States Senate.
/ (Blway of preface to the eonsidera-
/ pnpf this most entertaining docu-
! nSnAlet us say that some time in
Fesrqry, 1912, Mr. Gardner intro
dueeeln the United States Senate a
Din Cling l!gss5 fo BY t 1hffe government, and
Is articulation with rural and farm
ing communities. A similar measure
had previously been introduced in the
House, itssy leading exponent being
Representative Lewis. Many farmers
of the country who had given
and intelligent considera-
ton to the matter, while realizing the
initial cost of such pro-
ceeding. and theimany difficulties and
objections to be overcome, both those
of legal nature and otherwise, new
ertheless believed that the PROPOSE
ton was worthy of the serious con-
sideration of Congress Their views
were tempered by sanity, however,
ard they neither expected nor desired
the enactment into law of this pro-
ject, involving the expenditure of pn-
told millions, without adequate inves-
tigation and consideration.
Meanwhile, whether the parcel eX-
press proposition should eventually
prove feasible or not, there was an
urgent and entirely rational demand
for the immediate enactment of a
parcels post law which should ade-
quatcly serve the rural communities
"a measure which has for years been
advocated by the Post Office Depart
ment, whose existing equipment may
at small expense be made adequate
for the purpose.
Had the farmers of this State un-
derstood in June last that Hon. oba-
diah Gardner was to- side-step this
demand for a parcels post, we ven
ture the assertion that he would not
be today the Democratic candidate for
United States Senator.
Something like score of bills re-
lating. or related, to one or the other
of the two subjects, We're introduced
At the last session of Congress, Mr.
Gardeners among the rest Mr.. Gard
nerss bill was referred to the Senate
on Interstate Commerce.
The reference was subsequently
changed to the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads, in whose pig
con holes it has ever since peacefully
on July 20, 1912, Mr. Gardner made
a speech in the Senate in advocacy
of his measure, which was still in the
hands of the committee, and there
fore not before the Senate. On July
"a he packed his grip and came to
Maine. From that time until Con-
gress adjourned on August rs, he has
been here faithfully serving his con-
stituents by telling them that he can
ind fifty men in Congress who nave
never heard of Edwin C. Burleigh.
Meanwhile, what was transpirlng IN
Washington minor consideration,
perhaps, to Mr.. Gardner, but OF some
interest to his constituents. The fight
for a parcels post was being waged
by way of amendment to the Post
Office Appropriation bill. On May
that bill, with parcels post lnot
parcel express) amendment, had
nassed the House. On May 1t was
referred to the Senate Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads. which
renorted il. with amendments of its
own. to the Senate on July 2S-the
very day of Mr.. Gardeners great
sneeeh on a bill not then, or ever
after. before the Senate.
On August II, the Senate, IN It's
consideration of the post Office APP
nroprlation bill, had reached the Sen
ate committees amendment of th'
IIouse provision for parcels post. Sen
ator Ashurst offered SUBSTITUTE
amendment designed to obviate the OBJ
iections pointed out in a memorial u
the Senate by Mr.. George p. Hampton
of whom more anon. Moreover, NJ
made kindly reference (the only ont
i'm the Senate which we have dlscoV
ered) to Mr.. Gardeners speech. Herr
was Mr.. Gardeners opportunity 10
fame. 1t knocked at his door. ou
where was he? Not having before u
a list of his assignments for stunt
speeches, we are unable to answer
| And alas! Senator Ashursts amend
ment was rejected without debate an
| without even yea and nay Vot
| wherein the absent Obadiah Nigh