Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-29
MIR. Gardeners Questions.

Hon. Halbert P. Gardner has re-
piled, in part, to our challenge Tor
something more than insinuatlon'
and in turn has presented a series of
questions which we gladly answer.
Our position is plain. and if Mr.. Gard
ner had been regular reader OF the
Kennebec Journal he would have
known the replies to his questions.
However. we have no objection to
stating our position at any time.
Mr.. Gardeners letter came in the
evening after our editorial page had
been made up. So We could not publish
the letter and our reply together, but
we assume that every person who
reads this will have read Mr.. Gard
ner's letter or will refer to it. We
hope. also, that those who read his
letter will have read our editorial
which called it forth, or will refer to
it in the Kennebec Journal of Satur-
day, April %. We think such readers
will notice that Mr.. Gardner has
adroitly side-stepped some of our
questions.
Our first desire was to find out why
the Progressive leaders are waglng
campaign upon Penobscot county con-
ditions. We also demanded to know II
these Progressive leaders were thus
attempting TO discredit Governor
Haines, administration as an en-
forcement administration, by leading
the people to think that in one coun-
ty the sheriff has not done his duty.
We demanded to know if one
"Haines sheriff not doing his full du-
ty outweighs three "Haines sheriffs'
who are doing their utmost-if the al
legged nullifier is always to be referred
to as eHaines sheriff and the three
weighs three "Haines sheriffs" who
other Haines appointees. who are ad-
mittedly fulfilling their oaths in ev-
cry particular, are never to be re-
ferred to at all.
We demanded to know where this
general understanding" that Cover
nor Haines holds Sheriff oConnell's
resignation came from. Our purpose
WIS to bring out that it was a mani
fest political trick to mislead people
into thinking that Governor Haines
knows the Penobscot sheriff is not
enforcing the law, and could remove
him but will not because he wants
the law nullified.
Mr.. Gardner does not meet the is
sue. Read his letter and decide for
yourself He evades all by saying
that it rests entirely with the Gov
ernor"
Mr. Gardner should know, if he does
not, that the Governor has no more
control over Maine sheriff once he
is elected or appointed, than he has
over sheriff in Massachusetts,
Mr.. Gardner should know, If he
does not, that the Governor cannot
proceed for impeachment until he has
evidence to work upon. If Mr.. Gard
ner has evidence he should submit it
to the Governor.
Mr.. Gardner says fatty that Sher-
lift O'Connell is NOT enforcing the
law, therefore he must have evidence
on which he bases that assertion.
To our mind that puts the matter
squarely up to Mr.. Gardner. We ac-
cept him as a man of honor and re-
sponsibiiity. In his high and honored
position before the people of Maine,
he declares, over his own signature,
that "Sheriff o'connsII is NOT en-
forcing the law"
That is definite Now if Mr.. Gard
ner is sincere in his position he will
present his evidence to the Governor
for, he demands the removal of Sher-
if O'conneII.
Mr.. Gardner must know the neces-
sary procedure for the removal of
the sheriff of Penobscot or any other
county. Now
WILL Mr.. GARDNER RECON-
MEND THE CALLING OF A sPE-
ctAL SESSION OF THE LEeisLA.
TURE TO CONSIDER THE EVIL
DENcE WHICH HE HAS OR CAN
PRODUCE AGAINST THE SHERIFF
OF PENo6scoT OR ANY OTHER
COUNTY OR COUNTIES?
The Kennebec Journal has no evil
dence as to lax enforcement in Pc
nobscot county unless list of names
furnished by Mr.. Gardner and at his
request, held in the utmost confidence
and secrecy. may be considered such.
II Mr.. Gardner can furnish suff-
cient evidence to promise a conviction
of the Penobscot sheriff, or the sheriff
Of any other county, we will gladly
cooperate with him in every way pos
sibie in procuring and presenting the
evidence. II Mr.. Gardner will recon-
mend that Governor Hanes call a spe-
ciai session of the leoista+ura 20 oo.