Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-05
waterville. Me-, Sept. 2. 1914.

Maine had a more unique start than
our present Governor. remember him
from the time he left his farm home
in Levant and came to Kennebec. He
says he was dropped off a passenger
train there the last day of April, 1879,
at then West Waterville, now Oakland.
He had s35 in his pocket, a diploma
from the State college and the Albany
Law School, but no library. He here
began the practice of law among peo-
pie he had never seen before. He had
been farming, teaching country schools
and studying up to this time, and was
rs years old. Mr.. Haines soon made
the acquaintance of the people of Oak
land. He had all the Republicans in
Waterville up in arms against him in
about two weeks after he landed in
Oakland. They had just had town
election, and Charles Gilman was pro-
scouting his life long opponent, the
late Edwin Moves, for buying votes.
The complaint was made and trial
had before what we used to call Chief
Justice Aver" in Oakland. No justice
in Waterville, on account of the popu-
larity of Mr.. Noyes would entertain
complaint and issue a warrant, and
no lawyer here would act as Mr.. Gill
mans attorney, but Mr.. Haines was
looking for his first client. He told me
he had never been in Waterville but
once in his life. He did not know Noyes
from Gilman or Gilman from Moves,
but men whom he did know in Oakland
said that Gilman was good and would
pay for his services, so he took the
job, and lively trial it was, too. The
late S. S. Brown and F. A. Waldron
were Mr. Noyes' attorneys. Waterville
was present in full force, both Demo-
| Gratis and Republicans, and while the
evidence was not of the character to
satisfy the Chief Justice of. the guilt
of the defendant, so as to hold him
! for punishment when he rendered his
decision, he said he had no doubt of
| the guilt of Moves fror.. the testimony
| before him. but that he did not know
the witnesses well enough to render
decision against Moves on the evil
dence they gave. A strange decision
and one that was laughed about for a
great many years after.
From this time forth young Haines"
was pretty well known. He made it so
hot Ia this trial for the then Repubi-
celebration which followed in the eve
ming in honor of Noyes' acquittal,
cheers were given for Brown and Wal
dron. and groans for the young attor-
ney in Oakland.
The Green Back campaign came on
in the fall. Mr.. Haines' law business
was not SO great but that he found
time to go upon the stump By this
means he extended his acquaintance
| into many towns in Kennebec, and
| had his introduction into politics. and
there has been but few campaigns
since that time when he has not found
time to discuss public questions on
the stump before the people of Maine.
He has always been a consistent and
faithful advocate of the principles of
the Republican party, although many
times when younger he was known as
kicker against machine politics, and
MS rise has been attended with the
most determined opposition in near
~ every instance when he has aspired
TO public office.
In 1882 he ran for county attorney
against Justice Spear of Gardiner. Mr..
spear was native of the county and
but few thought Haines could win. but
he knew the farmers, and notwith-
standing Waterville had three candi-
dates for county office, Mr.. Haines
was one of the two that were success
full
He tried his cases with promptness
ana disposed of his docket with dis
patch. He sent many rum sellers to
jail, as the county docket shows. al
though 1t was not the practice then to
lnf1ict many Jail sentences. He held
this Office for four years, and during
this time he tried several murder
cases. I think three in one term. and
L nave heard it said that the three
were tried and convicted and in State
Prison for different terms, one for life
and two for shorter terms, within 90
days Of the time the first homicide
was committed. This was a great
schooling for the young lawyer. He
had moved from Oakland to Water
vile in the fall Of 1880 and had been
IN practice but two years when he took
the office Of county attorney, but this
experience extended his acquaintance
and brought him large business.
During the time Mr.. Haines was
county attorney, the people Of Water,
Viile remember the severe Illness he
had, rheumatic fever, from which he
did not fully recover for several years
He carried cane good deal, and was
on and off clutches for different peri
ods during this time. I have seen him
trying cases in court when he had to
be hauled to and from the court room
in hack and was not able to stand
to examine witnesses. He was poor in
both purse and body. On account OF
this illness, we find him in 'S7 on a
farm, two miles below the city. COM
ing to his office part of the time
only. 1t was through this enterprise
he regained his health, and also made
him life long devotee to farm life. as
he says he owes his life to that expe-
rience.
In SO. after another strenuous political
campaign, he was elected to the Senate
and 1t was here that his political .yvork
begins. That winter was one of great ex-
element. l cannot recount all the incl
dents connected with his FIRST term in
the Senate, but he succeeded himself nv
a second term, and during both terms he
accomplished a constitutional amend
M t-axFtI H.. g.