Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-14

eide this case and we should oecloe IL
as the circumstances show are right,
as we think it is right. We have no
right to shelter ourselves behind the
decisions of the Supreme Court. Ev-
cry lawyer has reason frequently TO
believe that the Supreme Court is not
right. No Court is infalhble and never
will be. The question Is will you abide
by the decisions Of our court or Will
you follow the decisions Of Courts
/ scattered all over the United States,
decisions Of the National House, and
will you return to a seat in this House
! a man who without question had ma
! jority of the votes and whom the Vot-
! ers in that district wanted to have here
/ for your representatives. (Applause)
I Mr.. THOMBS Of Lincoln: Mr..
/ Speaker and gentlemen. just word.
! think the gentleman from Houlton
/ (Mr. PIERCE Internationally perhaps
! has placed me in false position be-
| fore you. / do not now remember nav
| ing spoken Of the check list at all, but
since he mentions the matter l wish
TO make plain to you the contention or
! the parties in the matter OF the check
/ list, as l understand it. In this mat
ter also we are handicapped, and you
/ are handicapped by not having at your
disposal this check list as the COM
mittee have had 1t. 1t is not admitted
by Mr.. Thibodeau that the check list
is correct; in fact, 1t is his contention,
as l understand 1t, that one too many
names are checked, and an inspection
! of the check list seems to show there
a name checked and an attempt made
to erase it. That is my explanation
of the matter Of the check list as
far as it shows one extra vote: that
is nv remembrance Of the fact relat-
ing to the check list.
Mr.. ST. CLAIR Of Calais: Mr. Speaker.
considerable has been said here in regard
to carrying out the intention Of the
voter. Ordinarily I believe that is the
rule that we should follow, but we are
unable TO follow it sometimes. For in
stance, take the case where the voter
has placed at the right of the name OF
every man on the ticket a cross, and that
vote is thrown out, and there is no doubt
how he intended to vote: everybondy
knows that, but he did not vote as the
statutes say he should vote. by placing
a cross in the square above the ticket
although we can determine how he in
leIlueu W vote III ISSdIu " touHliliS
these three ballots. we are asked to set
aside the decision of the Supreme Court
of other states. 1t seems to me that is
q rather bald proposition to put up to
the legislature of Maine. 1t is certainly
evident that man might lose his vote;
admit that. and we all admit that. The
Supreme Court of this State has said
that ballots voted as those three ballots
which have been spoken of were voted
could not be counted for either party,
and that should be the law in the State
of Maine.
Mr.. SNOW of Mars Hill: Mr.. Speaker
this being an Aroostook county case I
have just a word to say. l had the pleas
lure of seeing the check list and the
original list used in this case and it does
appear that at least two names We're
checked and then an attempt to cross
that check off or mark it off. The names
! were close together, and it seems likely
that a mistake might have been made.
and the name crossed and then a mark
put through il to mark ii off. Now
/ as TO that lost vote in the election at
! Ham!in Plantation. | heard witnesses
! say last night that there was a state
nlent made at the counting OF those votes
that Mr. Thibodeau had A. and that MI
Michaud had A.. l think at least three
parties had made that statement thai
| Il was made in open town meeting. and
that they Were very much interested
IN the election of a representative. They
We're asked il they made any demonstra-
ton, ana they said. no; it was usually
! tna case to cheer the winning man,
but it does appear that some one at least
! said in that town meeting that it was
4 tie, and that there was no cheering for
any body, and they went olit and Went
Away and went nome and the town clerk
gathered up she ballots and took them
With rim.
In tie case of the Van Buren, stickers
! you lose and do away with the safe
guard OF the election when you count
stickers where the name of the other
! ,arty is plain to be seen. l think the
Jaw says that first a cross shall be made
| n the square at the head of the party
| -olumn, and then the name shall be
| Erased II you want to vote a split
| ticket, ana a new name inserted
Now, If these votes are to be allowed
men will say that it doesn't make any
difference, We have no need to cross
out any names. we will put our stickers
on and leave the two names exposed The
instructions upon the package containns
the ballots are very clear, no voter needs
TO mark his ballot without knowing how
to do it; they have every opportunity to
acquaint themselves in regard to the
| manner of voting, and it takes all re-
sponsibility away from the voter
Gentlemen, it appears that three par
ties were concerned in the vote in this
district. the Progressive, the Republican
and the Democratic. l am reminded of a
story in the Bible where Isaac sought to
bless his sons. One. you know. was a
mighty hunter with hard and hairy
hands. and that is the Progressive party
IN this district. and they went out
through that district hunting votes Cen
tlemen, you know that Jacob. the other
son, could disguise his hands, but his
voice was inevitable. it was the voice of
Jacob. He didn't care who hunted the
votes, Jacob and the Democratic party
wanted the blessing. Gaughter)
Mr.. GREENLEAF of Portland: Mr.
Speaker. l move the previous question.
The SPEAKER: This motion rea,lires
the consent of one-third of the members
present under the rules. All those in ia
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