Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-13
Political Points
For Careful Study

The American Wooden Company re-
Gently bought Maine mill. The
Democratic press greeted the news
with all sorts of brag that the deal
was an indication that the wooden
business was prosperous. The man
who had more to do with the deal than
any other individual is authority for
the statement that the investment was
made because the men spending the
money believed that some day in the
near future the people will again pro-
teet wooden goods. The menace Of
free trade had so shrunk mill values
that the purchasers could afford to let
the plant remain idle until such time
as it can be Used at profit.
William J. Bryan, with the assis
lance of President Wilson, is busily
engaged in Gripping the civil service
! of the United States. This is greatly
/ TO be deplored because cit is admitted
on all sides) the civil service has CIV
en- a most efficient corps of servants.
Men who had dealings with the in
competents under Governor Plaisted
in state affairs know that it is the
habit to preach efficiency and nom
| partisanship and practice peanut poll
tics and the spells system.
Potatoes are coming into this coun-
try from Belgium at the rate of 100000
to 10000 sacks week. These sell
for about $1.00 sack. Therefore
the people of this country are sending
from 100000 to $4,000 a week to the
farmers of Belgium while Maine pota-
toes rot. How do the farmers of
Maine like that feature of the Demo-
cratic tariff?
The potatoes of Germany are af
fected by dangerous scab. 1t is
charged by reliable authorities that
thousands of sacks of these diseased
potatoes are coming to us via Bel
GUM.
Potatoes from Belgium are not the
only potatoes that are depressing the
price for the Maine farmer. Probably
twice as many potates are coming in
from the Canadian provinces every
week. The Canadians expect to reap
glib rhegetaoin etaoin etaoin etaoin
bigger harvest next year. This has
been very favorable season for fall
plowing and never in the history of
the Dominion have so many acres of
land been plowed, in preparation for
the American market The Democrat
ic tariff has stimulated agricultural
enterprise in Canada, but not in Maine.
Not only have Maine farmers prac-
tically lost their market for potatoes
to be eaten, but the tariff has knocked
the bottom out of the starch business.
Foreigners are landing starch in New
York for about Pa cents. When the
Maine starch factories pay 30 cents a
barrel for potatoes, their starch costs
them ga cents in Boston. The tariff
is only cent now, SO it is easy to see
the foreigners advantage. The
starch business in Maine will soon be
thing Of the past.
The starch manufacturer who fur
nished this information. also said:
Il hope the sensible people in Maine
will get together under one flag, and
that will be the Republican flag, and
three years from now make change
| that every business man and farmer
in Maine will be glad to see made"
The Democrats are running the
postal system of the country by in
Producing the spoils system into the
service. The Democrats in Congress
who are behind the movement are
afraid to come out into the open and
be identified with it. They fear their
own constituents.
More than s1,500,o00 is spent every
year for ordinary repair and mainte-
nance of Maine roads. The chief en-
gineer of the highway commission
created by the present Republican adj
ministration is planning a big two
days convention of the road commits
/ sioners and selectmen of the 500
cities and towns that spend this
money. 1t will be held in April after
/ the town meetings.
Not only will these men who spend
| the money be invited, but a general
invitation will be issued to the people
who use the roads. That means
everybody. The place has not been
decided upon, but it will be in the CEN
trail part of the State. SO that it will
be the biggest road convention ever
held in New England. The farmers
will be there; the manufacturer will
be there and the automobile men will
be there. Addresses will be delivered
by some of the best road builders in
the country. Experiences will be ex-
changed among the men who actually
do the work. Manufacturers of road
materials will be on hand to show