Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-18


or frozen roads TO contend with. And
it would be very great disadvantage
to get out to the polls at that time.
In September generally we have
ideal weather conditions, and the roads
are good. While it may be said that
il is a time when the farmers are
busy. yet in most Of the towns. where
the polling places are located, it does
not make but a few miles for men
to go to vote and back TO their work.
In a town OF six miles square, sup
posing the voting place were near the
center, each voter would have a very
short distance TO go. The roads are
good, and the weather conditions ara
usually good. and the hardship. COM
pared TO what il would be at the sea-
son Of the year proposed, would DE
small.
Again, in a large part Of the stat.
which is north OF the 45th parallel Of
| north latitude, the people in the fall
OF the year, quite early in October
and from then up to the first Of No.
vember. go away TO work in the woods
"a large part OF the population-and
II would be impossible to get them out
at the season Of the year to vote. So
thar quite large part Of the popu-
| lation OF that part Of the state would
| be practically 6isfranchised.
Mr.. President 1 did not intend to
say anything on this question. bu,
see many reasons why should op-
pose this measure and see no reason
why l should be in favor OF il at this
time.
hope the report Of the minority
committee will prevail
Nr. GARCELON OF Audroscors;,. NJ
President and fellow senators, as a mem.
Der o. the committee which signed the
ma Jority report, and as one who has
listened patiently and carefully TO the
arguments PRO and con. I though, i, in
cuUoent upon he 10 declare the faith
that is in Tie.
MY memory rurs back 70 the time
when the State changed its policy in re-
gard TO annual elections. And l recall
that i was 10 prevent disturbing the
public and distracting the people from
their business affairs to attend TO DO
litical matters. and 10 give the State and
the people Of TIL. State rest from DO
lt;cai interference ~
Now the central idea OF this prooo-
siiion is simply to refer this matter 70
the people. and for ore an free 10 say
that l am Perfectly willing 10 trust this
matter 10 the judgment OF the people of
this State the privilege of deciding ,hi.
question.
me matter Of expense is an item FOR
, consideration. Unnecessary expense. as
! u mas been said here. is q matter o.
something like $500. just TO separate
I TIE state from the national election.
We Go not expect TO change any mans
mind. Every senator here is competent
70 decide this question through his own
reasoning powers. We might go on and
multiply and increase argument pro and
COT. but the fac, is have every conf
dence that every senator will make up
his Own mind from his own judgment.
Mr.. WALKER: Mr. President, move
that when the vote be taken it be taken
! by yeas and nays:
/ Mr.. DJRGIN Of Piscataouis: Mr.
President. do not deem il necessary
TO add anything 10 wha, has alread :
been said upon this question, out there
are one or two things l would ike to
ca! attention to.
presume that when the builders Of OFF
! constitution formulated that document.
they took into account our geogra phica,
situation on the face OF the earth and
that by reason OF our Indictment season
! and the fact We We're situated so far
north a large portion OF our voters vocii
be disfranchi.ed if We were obliged 10
go TO the polls and cast our votes in No.
veT,ber.
At the tine Of the November election
the people in my county and the coun-
ties OF Aroostcok and Somerset, would
/ be obliged, most OF the time. TO travel
through six inches OF snow or mud TO get
to the polls.
II is true that now our voters are got
ten TO the polls largely by automobiles
! When I was younger people used to go
OFT and vote because they thought i.
their duty and they felt a desire 10 cast
their vote one way or the other. Now
people are brought 10 the polls in auto
mobiles. Campaigning is done largely
by automobiles and We know that in
November it would be impossible TO run
the machines and get the voters out or
10 campaign that way.
+ In November q large part of our vot-
, ers are in the woods hunting and guild
, ing-a very large portion Of them are
| in the woods. in the lumber camps, earn
: ing their daily bread by the sweat Of
their brow They are not attending to
political matters al that time and l.
would be impossible to get them out To
the polls.
I believe that the matter Of the expense
IS not 10 be considered SO largely as the
matter OF DISTINGUISHING a large nurneer
OF the voters of our State. and il our
elections were held in November instead
of September il would practically throw
the selection OF our officials into the
cities instead OF the country towns. ana
our State officials would be elected large
~ by the city and not the country vote
l Go Tot believe that We should by our
action here disfranchse the country
vote. For that reason / feel il my duty
TO support the minority report OF the
committee.
Nj BCRLEIGH Of Aroostook: Mr..
President, 1 did not intend TO say any
thing in regard to this matter II I
was satisfied that a large majority Of
the people Of this State demanded that
! they have an opportunity to vote upon
this question should certainly vote for
the majority report but fail to see any