Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-21
Thursday, March q. 1912.
The Democratic Platform.

mas ward would say OF our Demo
cratic friends, could he be present al
an up-to- date Maine gathering. Ger
tainly there was more than one
'amoosin' cuss" at City Han, Augusta,
Tuesday. For instance, there was the
one that framed the following SEN
tence for the platform:
1.-THE credit of the State. which had
been entirely exhausted by Republican
extravaganza and mismanagement,
has been restored"
Let us consider that statement in
the light of their own figures.
In his inaugural address. Governor
Plaisted stated that the amount due
on State taxes Dec. 81. 1910. was
x.77l.s496S.
The report Of the State treasurer
stated that the cash balance in the
treasury, at the close Of business, Dec
81. 1919 was little over Sl36 900
Thus we find that the Plaisted
administration started off with
more IMAM 9irSOOioVo.
Does that look as though the credit
Of the State of Maine had been ex-
hausted before Mr.. Plafsted became
Governor? For a State whose annual
appropriations are about s4000 ooU.
Is NOT 81 800 0tHt a pretty good starr
on which 10 do business?
80. 5s,,.-
that Governor Plaisted publicly pro-
claimed such nonsensical statements
as led people in other states TO believe
that the State of Maine was on the
verge of bankruptcy.
Every month State. Auditor Stevens
has repeated this clap-trap about
financial conditions. always giving the
people to understand that the State
was bankrupt on Jan. I, 1911, but that
the bills are being paid in some occult
manner of which only few Demo
cratic leaders have the key.
What are the facts2
Here they are, and we invite State
Auditor Stevens or any other juggler
of figures and phrases for campaign
material, TO disprove them
The PIaisted administration
started in the year of 1911 with
$4,000 in cash, and si,77te4e.68
in unpaid taxes.
1t had the State tax of 1911
amounting to $2,7f2,641.88.
II had revenue from other
sources Of more than 100000
The total is more than $6,620. 900.
With known resources for 10 months
of $500, 2sl, let us find out how much
of surplus ought to be somewhere
in existence at this time. Where is it?
Resources for IS months s6,62o2e1
Appropriations for 1911. 4,5664ss
Leaving .,........=.z.... $2,053, 1872
Temporary loan ......... 100000
Balance ............,.. s1,753792
If. as they claim, the public debt
has been reduced nearly one million
dollars, where is the remaining three
quarters of a million and more?
What right had the Democratic
party to. increase the State tax rate
for the sake of piling up surplus of
nearly million dollars in the first
fifteen months?
Are you, Mr.. Taxpayer, delight
ed with the way Democratic lead.
ers made you contribute to their
campaign Iitersture2
Does not their big shout about
magnificent financial showing"
somehow remind you of last years
tax bill?
Tine State tax has been lowered
from five mills in 1910 to four mills i'm
1912, saving la the people of more
than $4,000 for the year 1872 alone
From Democratic platform March 10.
1922
Can any taxpayer, of any party,
conceive of a more false and utterly
misleading declaration
Why did they not refer to the tax
rate Of six mills in 1912
Why did they not state the truth.
that the Aye-min tax of 1910 was
avaiiabie for use in 1911?
Why did they not say that last
years six-mil lax is available this
year.
And why were they not honest
enough to state that the 1912 tax
Of four mills will be available in
i913-when the Republicans are
to once more assume charge of
the States affairs?
Can you fail 10 see the sophistry Of
the Democratic platform? The five
mill tax to which they refer as If il
HAD BEEN USED by the Republic
cans was a record breaking tax rate