Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-30
Peters VS.. Pattangall.

When the legislators supposed that
they We're nearly through with their
duties the matter of impeachment OF
sheriffs was suddenly thrown into the
Legislature by the Governor, and by
force of circumstances new and ex-
traordinary responsibilities were thrust
upon the Speaker of the House. The
President of the Senate not being a
lawyer the custom of having the Pres
ident of the Senate preside over the
joint convention was modified, giving
joint authority to the Speaker and the
| President with full power to decide
all questions of law, evidence and pro-
| cedure without appeal.
1t fell to Mr.. Peters as Speaker of
the House to make all rulings as to
law and evidence on this eXtraordi-
nary OCCASION almost without prece-
dent in the history of the State For
two weeks. during the trial of three
sherifts and one county attorney. he
presided at three sessions day with
out moments absence and the fair
ness, clearness and correctness of his
rulings were recognized by everybody
as remarkable
1t is interesting to remember that
his Democratic opponent in this cleo
ton, eX-Attorney General William r.
Pattangall, was principal counsel for
the respondents in three of the four
cases and in another which did not
come to trial. Mr.. Pattangall in his
ceaseiess and ingenious activity in be-
half of his clients was constantly
raising objections to the Speakers
rulings and frequently appealing from
he same or trying to appeal to the
convention. without result. Echoes of
that contest were recently heard in
the supreme judicial court room at
Portland before the law court and the
scene was revived memorable in the
history of the State, in which Mr.
Peters and Mr.. Pattangall were the
two principal figures. upon whom was
fixed the attention of the whole State
1t can be safely said that each came
out with a wholesome respect for the
ability and courage of the other. This
lremaraa Bile record is winning Mr.
Peters some very fattering offers of
support among the Progressives of the
Bird district who desire to see the
Democratic candidate defeated
MIR. Peters Candidacy.
Mr.. Peters became a candidate for
Congress only after an entire after
noon of entreaty on the part of his
party associates, which would have
won consent from weaker man in
half a minute. He went to Augusta
to counsel with other members of his
party to canvas the situation discov-
er the wishes of the district and Sc
cure Il candidate who could pull the
full party strength, and was drafted
himself. once he affixed his signature
to the nominating petitions, however.
all signs of hesitation and reluctance
vanished. He promptly served notice
on those who had gathered that he
expected them to get into the fight to
win that he would do his best would
expect them tn do theirs and to put
a punch into doing it,
The campaign was opened with a
rush. In three days Mr.. Peters had
flied petitions sufficient to insure that
his name would appear on the pri-
mary ballot, had held half hundred
conferences with friends throughout
the district; had made manly peace
overtures to the Progressive party;
had declared publicly that he would
not enter into a campaign of person
alities: had prepared several letters
and pamphlets and had generally 80
conducted himself as to assure the
men who had called upon him To bear
the party standard, that he intended
to make strenuous work of it.
John Andrew Peters. in addition to
being a human dynamo when engaged
In political contest, is a very hui
man sort of fellow in other ways.
When it became evident that he was
to be the candidate it was the duty
OF the newspapermen to dig up "A bio
graphical sketch from some of the
numerous books of biography that
have made their appearance in recent