Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-09

more OF the 80 important chairmanships
of the House, 81 are filed from the South.
Here rests the control of over 81, 900, 000,-
900 expenditures of the nations money.
and the direction of fiscal legislation
that affects your every interest, and hos
tile and sectional discrimination runs
through every line of such legislation.
Democrats Against Maine
Why, for example, only a few days ago
the federal quarantine for our potatoes
was announced, no potatoes to leave our
State without federal inspection after the
first of August. Who is to pay for the
vast cost of this inspection? The disease
was not bred within our borders; 1t came
from outside; and from the years inn
portation of the potatoes that brought
that disease to this country the federal
government received between 100000
and 100000 duties Senator Johnson
pleaded our cause In the Senate and we
could not have, personally, an ADLER or
more popular advocate. But he did not
have even the Democratic department of
agriculture with him. The department
refused to recommend the action he urg
ed, but estimated that II would at least
require 100000. ! know that our friends
believed that not less than s25o,0oo was
required. What happened? Our senator
introduced an amendment appropriating
100000 for this purpose. 1t was agreed
upon in the Senate, but it was cut in tive
in the House, and as 1T stands is to be
spent not alone in Maine, but through
out the country where inspection is need
ed, and from this sum must be paid all
clerical expenses. etc, in Washington.
How Insignificant must be the sum that
will come to Maine to protect a crop
worth to us from 10000 600 to s12, Ooo, 900?
And yet, listen to the appropriations
carried In this very bill for the benefit Of
the farmers of the South, ''e
For the eradication of Southern
cattle tick Observation-Disclosures. 500 600
For the control of diseases of cot
ton, potatoes. truck crops, etc. $1,000
For administration and investiga-
ton of cotton, corn and other
CAL regions .....,................. 49, 900
of cotton NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $50 $50
For the investigation and improve
ment of tobacco .................... 5000
fecting tropieal fruits 9............ 90 100
For same aHectlnS southern Heiu
crops. cotton, tobacco, rice, sugar
cane, and the cigaret beetle and
the Argentine ant .................. $1,000
FOR THE STUDY OF THE COT
TON BOIL WBEyIL ,........... 67s24o
Million and Half for South
Scarcely less than million and
half for the farmers of the South,
and a paltry share of $4,000 for the
Maine potato!
Why! In this same line of discrim-
nation, our Democratic representative
failed to secure the other day from
the Democratic House a comparative
ly insignificant appropriation for
lightship at Monhegan, which the last
Republican administration had author
ICED and for which it had provided
funds, but which had been allowed
to lapse by the present administra-
ton. And now the Democratic press
of Maine seek to- blame the Republic
can members from Maine for not be-
ing able to override the Democratic
chairman of the committee on appro-
priations and all but five of our rep
resentatives own political associates
on the floor of the House.
Now it matters not what recruits
|
from other states in some of this leg
islation--the power is there and the
leadership Is there. Northern Demo-
Gratis must recognize this, or lose their
party standing, or resign from Con-
gress, as at least one Northern Demo-
crat has done in disgust already. Do
not imagine that our, senators and
representatives have had grateful
task in their submission. And it must
grieve them sorely to think that
Maine has received less material re-
ward in the way of offices than in
the other Democratic administrations
before the political revolution here
that carried them into power. So far
as i can learn not single appoint
ment has been credited to Maine in
this administration. aside from purely
local appointments, save alone that
of ex-senator Gardner, not one In the
whole executive department, diplomat
ic or consular service. Nor is it any
wonder that they should be sensitive
to the charge that the tariff they have
participated in making, though not
framed by their hands, has unfavor-
ably affected the interests of their
constituents. and that business is bad
here and throughout the country. The
President and his cabinet are going
about telling us 1t is all "psychologi-
caL"' and trying to comfort the bust
ness man who has lost his business,
but who refuses to be comforted, be-
cause he has none. ~
Speeches to Come
We have had no such speeches yet in
Maine, but they are doubtless In store
for us. We have had one and only one
Democratic speech dealing with the bus
mess situation, but ii was honestly in
tended, as is characteristic of the au-
thor How does 1t read in the light of
the present situation?
Only so far back as March 9th, Sem
ator Johnson, at the Democratic State
convention, recognizing the fact that no
administration which did not conserve
business prosperity ever could be toler-
ated in power by the people, speaking
seriatim of the industries of this State
and district, said We placed boots and
shoes upon the free list" and the present
prosperous condition of that industry
was never eo,1a led in its history Rut a