Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-25
Convention Opens

Convention Opens
The convention was called to order
at LIS p. M. by Walter Emerson of
Portland who read the call State
Chairman Irving E. Vernon of Port
land introduced Morrill, ". Drew of
Portland as temporary chairman.
Mr.. Drew delivered the first address
of the convention setting forth the
purposes of the new party.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
Convention
I esteem ii both an honor and a
privilege to be invited by your State
committee to preside over these DELHI
erations. II is custom with the old
er parties to select as chairman, po-
litical orator to pitch the key note"
for the coming campaign, but not so
with the Progressive party. Being es-
sentially a party of the people, we
ferences where all of us-rank and
file-may, without lot or hindrance,
freely discuss any and all questions
relating to the public welfare So
what l shall today say to you will
be in the nature of frank talk, Civ
ing to you my own personal views on
some of the questions that ought, to
my mind, challenge the attention Of
the voters of our State in the coming
campaign, leaving to Senator Clapp to
discuss what bearing Progressive
principles may have on our future
national life.
The Progressive party is essentially
party of the present future. We be-
lieve that political party. to be of
real benefit to the country, must be
alive to the questions of the day. A
virile party cannot thrive on ancient
history alone, for yesterday is only
valuable to humanity in so far as it
helps us solve the problems of today.
In discussing political questions, we
must never lose sight of the fact that
our government is of the people, by
the people and for the people. If
government is in truth and fact of
the people, then officials, whether of
the executive, legislative or judicial
branch, are and should be merely the
servants of the people, and being the
source of all power, the people must in
the final analysis. bear all the bur-
dens of maintaining the government.
One of the aims of the Progressive
party is not only to make the burden
as light as possible, but to equalize 1t
by just and equitable system OF tax
alton.
Abolish Governors Council
The people should not be called upon
to support and maintain officials whose
a., IL
to good government. We have in this
State, offices that might we'll be abol-
ished and in proof of this assertion I
have but to refer you to the governors
council. 1t seems to me the council
has long since ceased to be useful
or necessary adjunct to the State
government; it is purely ornamental
and / hope this convention will go on
record in favor of it's adjustment.
When we had no State auditor, the
council acted as an auditing commit
tee on all bills against the State, but
today the council only act as a
visiting committee to State institu-
tions, recommend pardons and confirm
or reject nominations made by the
governor, The last Legislature cre-
ated the State board of charities,
which can, il seems to me, do all nee
essary official visiting to State insti-
tutions. If it is still deemed wise to
maintain a check on the governors
appointments, / would suggest that
nominations by the governor be made
by and with the advice and consent
of the heads OF the State departments,
acting as an advisory or confirming
board and acting as such without ex-
ira compensation. This arrangement
would save the State annually quite
large sum of money. You will find
that a governors council exists in
very few states.-Let us do away with
1t.
Elect Department Heads.
1t has always seemed to me that
government officials should at all
times, be in close touch with the peo-
pie whom they serve. Therefore, I
strongly advocate that the secretary Of
state, State treasurer, attorney gen.
eral and commissioner of agriculture,
as well as the governor and State au-
ditor, be chosen directly by the elect
ors. Believe this change would
arouse more interest in primary cleo
tons. If we can stimulate more in
terest in the primaries, we will have
more faithful officials, and If these
State officials should be directly elect
ed, they would be freed from politi-
cal bossism and accountable only to
the people. If this change is adopted.
then they and in fact all other elected
executive officers should at all times
be accountable to the people who elect
ed them, and IL they fail. or neglect
TO faithfully execute the laws--the
mandates OF the people--they should
be subject TO a recall by the people. II
the recall could be applied, I believe
| the laws would be more strictly. more
uniformly and more economically ad-
| ministered.
| The Progressive party of Maine is
and must be alive to the future de.
yeiopment of the agricultural. indus.
trial and commercial interests of the
State. 1 believe In Maine. No state
| has greater natural resources. Goo
has blessed us. Consider our sea
coast with it's fisheries, it's safe har'
t"rs, it's islands, its beauty and gran
deur; the lakes, rivers and streams
with their innumerabie and might,
water powers, our granite, lime ant
a m r.tx