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

officials should be held the same day.
One fault of these modern forms sof
elections Is the length OF the ballet,
too many names being placed upon It,
and there Is a widespread demand
20. what it called the short ballot.
By consolidating the elections we
would be tending toward confusion.
For these reasons ard Others which I
vii! not take time 20 elaInerate. I move
tina, the minority report Of the Commit.
tee be accepted.
Mr. BOYNToN Of Lincoln: AR. Pres
tient- the genial Senator from Somerset.
Sea.toF Walker, has laid great stress
upon the sact that there was no interest
an, Were. and that no-one other than
myself appeared
presume had there been those taking
tie interest t.fat they 60 In great many
other things. getting together petitions
with thousends OF signatures. and had
there been large hearing, taking up the
thine OF the Committee for two or three
hours possibly the minority OF the legal
affairs committee might have though:
that WIS an Awakening o. interest
1t again becomes my very pleasant
duty in behalf, as firmly believe, OF a
very grea, majority Of the people OF the
State Of Maine. to urge upon this Lesis-
.ature the passage OF such laws as will
change the date q our State election
from September TO November. and so
that once Ii four years the Presidential
election and the State election will
come on the same day.
The farmers Of our State. whose COM
for, and convenience should be constd
cred second TO meme. on the second Mon
day Ii September find themselves busy
harvesting their crops. Il IS to my mini
ar entirely Unnecessary hardship Tor
them 10 leave Cor hait or whole
day TO exercise the right OF suffrage
which every citizen OF or State ought
to exercise. 1t 1. our duty tina, that pa
triotic duty be made as pleasant and
convenient as possible, Those that can
leave seek employment, IN the many
canning factories Of our State; 70 leave
and cast their bailo, means a loss OF
tine and money. In November their
are closed. and they can and I have no
douo, cheerfutiy would give the day at
the polls.
Our fishermen from kittery TO East
port. numbering thousands. II the wealth
er is pleasant on the second Monday in
September, leave their homes a, daylight
and do not return until too late to get to
the polls They 60 not, will not, and
cannot be prevailed upon to give UP
good days fishing to vote. aid they can
no, be blamed for not doing so In No.
veinher conditions have entirely changed.
and a greater part can, and l have no
,io;,b; would avail themselves Of their
politieal rights.
The EXPENSE Of holding the State elec-
ton in September once in four years is
perhaps SIS GO, which would be saved to
the State.
The State Grange Two years ago unen-
imously adopted resolution asking the
Legislature to submit this question 10
the people. and State Master stetsen OF
tina, body appeared the Legal Afa;rs
COMMITTEES and in their behalf urged that
this action DE taken.
The national committees os both part
les have in the past Gent large sums OF
money into this State at different times.
to be used for campaigning purposes
A large pcrfien @. this money is used In.
Defiance Of law to deoeuch and corrupt
our voters. the idea being to make the
best possible showing in this State, 50
,f.at II may influence the vote IN othe.
states 10 November. 1. cur date was
made in conformity with others SO That
al, might ccn.e a. tha same time, tff2t
money would De needed elsewhere and
the disgusting scenes now enacted in
many polling places would be lesseneE
in my opinion.
Once .r four years We have pracu-
eany three campaigns ami three elec-
.ions Our direct primary demands In
many localities and many instances 4
campaign almost as Strenuous as that
in SEPTEMBER Immediately following. We
must at once prepare for ard conduct
the campaign for the election o. Pres
isses.t il. November. and our citizens are
T., a continual fer,nent from June TO No
ye,aber One third Of which may De re-
moved by changing tire date OF the State
election from September to November.
believe that I am correct when /
state that now the State OF Maine is the
only State III this Union that does not
hold !,s election in November. and in TO
state where it has been submitted 10 the
-eople have they refused to make the
change hy a large majority.
believe that when any considerable
number OF the citizens q oCr State come
to tie legislature ana ask year after
year that any matter Of legislation De
submitted TO them for their approval or
disc pprovai that right ought not to be
denied them. It is their right, and We
should heed IL
This is in 10 sense a political question.
ami I sincerely hope that it viii not be
so considered by any member Of the
Senate. II affects the whole State ana
all its people alike
Gentlemen OF this Senate, our beloved
State. that should be first in all useful
resorsss. is now last IN this important
one. Do not longer delay.
want to emphasize, aIr. President.
right here again, that when the people Of
this State demand that any question
shor.d be submitted to them for their
APPROVAL or disapproEal. 1t is the duty CT
this Legislature TO grant il.
For two years in this body I have
voted against Woman's Suffrage because
l cid not believe in it, but they have
come herN-r1e people demand the night
to vote on it--and this year. because Of
TIA, demand, not because my ideas on
wonan's Suffrage have changed. but
because the people demand the right,