Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-12
Viewing the Political Field.
Fairfield. Ne. Jar

Fairfield. Me, Jan. 8, 1915.
Editor kennebec Journal:
The political pot is boiling over Sun
DAY IN Maine as it has seldom boiled
since the palrny days Of So years ago.
Men With old heads on their shoulders
are In Maine politics today who recall
without pride those perilous days for
the liberties Of the State. Political
passions rose high then; so high that
viewed from this distance one might
imagine Kentucky feudistS transplant
ed 10 Maine and s1rutting around the
state house with Kentucky blood run
nlnS nigh but Maine brains to steady
their troubled souls. IL is a history re-
pIete with interest to the students OF
aHairs now shaping up at Augusta,
where $50 men Of three parties are
oeadlocked, on joint ballot in the Maine
legislature on the choice of State off,
GERS Parallel conditions. almost, OBJ
tain, IN the setting Of the story Of to-
day, with the vital difference, that men
are cooler in their political passions
than then. Though living in warlike
tunes partizans are leaving their arms
at nome. 1t is said on good authority
that men didn't do SO in 1880. which
shows how Maine has grown out Of the
shoddy political clothes she once wore
with fear and trembling.
Maine papers have been full for a week
with particulars OF this grinding battle
OetWeen political forces which have been
aned Up against each other in Maine
go, but with their true coiors never be-
tore So apparent, their efforts never be-
lore SO coIlce ntrated on one object, the
attainment CT the governing power in
"a
leaders OF the three factions have been
passed back and forth over the State till
men are scarce, YES, and women scarce
100, VINO cannot recite the several stories
OF their battles for the faith that's in
their \ 3 C.s. If the deadlock lasts
II Wiil-whoever wins will win as famous
d victory. S victories go in Maine now.
as ga casper told the boy about when
IN the o.G-ti.ne fifth reader
There are ~ Democrats in Senate and
house AZ Augusta who are determined TO
carry hoE.s The bacon for their party in
the. selection and election OF State officers
ana the seven members Of Governor Cur
us council. There are S. Republicans
bent OF the same errand. ostensibly: like
getting things for themselves and their
sEmpathlzers, hut with unmeasured
strength for future trays if they can
succeed in holding every man in the tight
little oand 10 his guns. With President
Hersey Of the Senate and Speaker Traf-
ton OF the House paired on joint ballot
the contest has narrowed down 10 49,
votes all told, a majority necessary for
a choice. the Democrats lacking two
votes of the 81 votes NECESSARY On 10 bal
lots already taken; TIE Republicans lack
i've. mystic sy'1nho! Of The Progressives-
and there You have your deadlock
,ps, me hou al ,bs As9ns i snAioHs to know
IN
calm in one section OF the state The
ught little town Of Fairfield is the home
o. the Progressive soor leader in the
Maine House 81 Representatives. B. II
Lawrence, who has been holding his men
together for six ~ the eight ballots with
prospects Ct hanging OFT till the cows
some home. as te has himself expressed
the situation to friend and foe alike Mr..
Lawrence voted for Roosevelt in the
campaign Of 1872 and although a life
long Republican before that ne cas-. his
and furrhered its interests in his vicinity
So far as he could under the peculiar
political conditions which exist in Central
Maine today, particularly in Fairfield
where an exceedingly well creased
Democratic machine steam rolls the OPP
posli-on everE opportunity offered IL. aft
e. the fashion Of the old sIand-pat Re
publican machine which the town knew
in other days The Democratic machine
mas worked with heater dispatch than
the other, when II has worked, because
nc nc t+!SN-44--S VI tax Lell-CCGGIS IS III
GATED AZ Watervil!e. three miles away.
the home Of United States Senator John
son. National Committeeman Jones Hon.
William F. Pa1tangan, one OF the astute
mis- shoulders, using his wits to distrac-
ton TO IT out the present Democratic
snip OF state for two years voyage
over ternpestuous seas al best With op-
posing forces 50 close together. in view
OF the war.ike spirit OF the times. is Il
any wonder, that the fur flies in the ken
) trail Maine? Central Maine is where the
greatest amount OF political fur mas been
grown and marketed in the past % years
OF any section Of the State. II does not
!, require an astute thinker to discover
that the Waterville and Fairfield Demo-
I cratic machines are practically one and
n, ,as sans Wha { course the first
that course the Fairfield machine pur-
sues ass:duous.y. The machines of the
Elm City and the Hub Town are twins
riety remains TO be more clearly seen
after this deadlock at Augusta material
ICES n Patt famous flank attack, as
It Gan best oe called. because as every
the hull in the battles OF Wednesday.
Thursday and Friday are. destined to
. break forth into the chief battle of the
session OF Tuesday. next. Then there will
be charge all along the line by the
combined forces of the Maine Unterri-
fed Democracy. II they do not carry the
VkstS-i4Oil GA lLS leeI fdtt VIII De sur
, prised and who're lot OF other men
| throughout Maine besides who do as he
does.
Representative Lawrence is not the on
} ly man in Fairfield who has finger on
the political pulse at Augusta during this
remarkably hot session Of the Maine
Legislature. There stands out as the
candidate Of the Maine Democracy for
councillor from the fourth district in
Gov. Curtis council. Hon. Silas T. Law
~, a hve-wire worker in the cause for
years. formerly treasurer for Somerset
county: some men say the Best that the
county ever has had: dubbed long ago
by Republican wheel horses in his sec
ton Of Maine as ''one of the most astute
politicians and tireiess workers for party
success in day and out in the whole
Democratic machine: man respected
for his force and briiliancy at the poiiti-
cal game councils Of his party and by
the opposition Of all parties. a veritable
Postmaster in local scraps he has car
ried his talents into the larger field of
, State politics and may safely be classed
as one of Pats chief leutenants in ac-
; ton a, the present time Mr.. Lawry is
accustomed to Go much figuring in the
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