Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-08
CALLAHAN TELLS
WHY He CORRECTED

The Lewiston Journal published the
Gov. Curtis interview and the follow
ing:
Mr.. Callahan was shown the above
interview from the Portland Express,
just as he was leaving for the Maine
State Fair, of which he is treasurer.
Said he:
Il do not desire TO enter into con-
troversy with Gov. Curtis, on the
line of the above interview. l think
that all that need be said is how 1
happened to notice the governors
figures On this l will say that I saw
them first in the Waterville Morning
Sentinel. | was in Waterville that
morning, attending the fair and look
ing up CONFESSIONS for our fair in
Lewiston. The governors figures
caught my eye because they We're
spread out in double column meas
ure in that mornings Sentinel. The
prominence given them suggested
that they were considered very inter-
esting to the readers of the Sentinel.
Even then much as l might have de-
sired to correct the misrepresentation
in those figures of the governor as to
the actual facts conveyed by my an
nual report, on which the governors
figures were based, l might not have
found time or had the impulse to cor
rect them, had | not been waited
upon by representative of the
kennebec Journal, who requested the
truth in the matter / made an APP
pointment, but | did not seek or sug
gest the interview. The interview
sought me and | answered the in
quiries as succnctly and emphatical-
ly as possible.
AS to the purposes of the compila-
ton of figures which the governor
made, l knew nothing. There was
nothing in the Waterville Sentinel to
indicate that they were private and
special for use only in the executive
council. Had the Waterville Sentinel
or any other reputable agency of pub
licity informed me that these figures
of the governor We're not to be taken
seriously and not to be discussed
openly. but we're only for private use,
| certainly never would have noticed
an article intended solely to be
passed about in secrecy and used only
within a limited circle.
AS it was, quite unaware Of the
more intimate and private nature of
these Misrepresentation of the facts
in my annual report, I could not see
that it was wrong to correct them.
Every figure that the governor had
quoted was from my annual report.
Touching me thus personally as it
did. l felt it proper. after due con-
sideration, to make plain to the pub
lie what was the truth. 1t did not
occur TO me then that there could
possibly be any statement of figures
on public matters that would be ad-
MISSILE. in the executive council of
Maine, which il was iradmissible for
any person deeply concerned therein
to Ci~lGss publicly. Certainly it is in
corce!t a's,e that there shall be wide
spread publication Of critical allusion
TO state officials public report that
may not concern him as we'll as the
general public that pays the bills just
as much as il concerns the governor
and council Even now. after reading
the ABOVE interview in the Portland
Express. l cannot understand what
the condition of the last administra
ton had TO do with a small neCas-
sary expenditure called for by the
State Industrial schools. I supposed
that the present council was spend
ing appropriations in 1915 made by
the LEGISLATURE Of 1915.
Finally do not comprehend
what the governors idea was as to
the purpose TO which the newspaper
would put his statement of figures
when he gave il to them. He sug-
gests in one breath that this was
private matter for use only by the
governor and council and in the
next breath he says that he gave
the figures to the newspapers. 1t
usually happens that when the gov
ernor gives an article of state wide
importance to the newspapers, said
transmission is equivalent TO publ
cation. BY that act, the matter
passes outside of what the governor
calls a statement made in the regu
lar course of the states business. 1t
then becomes public property.
4 regret that the governor con-
siders ii 10 have been unfair and
political for me TO have replied to
a statement which affected me and
which l saw in the morning news
paper to whom he had given it for
publication certainly acted in
good faith and did nothing which,
in view of the public sources OF my
information. l should not feel war