Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-03

c. Nelson Sparks of Chicago Is
fine appearing. finely groomed gen.
tleman, manifestly a man Of the world
and a close student Of human nature,
an expert in dealing with men. Ac-
cording to the Portland Express and
Advertiser Mr.. Sparks is residing tenn
porarily in Maine. accompanied and
assisted in the lahors which he is per-
forming by several gentlemen sOme-
what less expert in the managerial
capacity, but nevertheless we'll trained
in the work which they have to do.
These gentlemen are Harry b. War
ner of Chicago, H. w. Janson Of the
same city. John Lavender and V. G..
Hoover, also of Chicago.
These gentlemen are at the present
time making their headquarters at
the Bangor House in the city of Ban
gor and Mr. Sparks has been in Maine
a little more than two weeks. He first
appeared at Augusta and was regis
tered at the Augusta House over night
departing the next day for Bangor
| where he has made his headquarters
since. He was joined by his associ-
| ates about a week ago and they are
| a very busy, active bunch Of men, al
| though their activities are not made
| too apparent to the casual observer.
| They keep their purposes very closely
! to themselves and do not mix freely
with the hoi polloi nor attempt to
make friends with the general travel
| ing public.
Ingenious Gentlemen
| They are ingenious capable gentle
men and they know something about
| men before they attempt to approach
them on the business proposition. And
SO it is that they go to the secretary of
the chamber of commerce, as they
| went to Secretary Hennessy in Ban
gor, and explain to him that they are
| representatives of the National News
Bureau Of Chicago, with headquarters
at Transportation Building, that city,
and are preparing to issue pages CT
plate matter relative to industrial
affairs in the State of Maine particu-
| larly Eastern Maine-and interest
him, and Of course any secretary of a
chamber Of commerce would be inte.'-
| ested in what promises to be a fine
| advertisement Of Maine and of the
city.
| But incidentally they proceed %
bring the conversation around upon
the liquor problem. They asked Mr..
Hennessy to what he contributed the
depression in business now noticeable
in Notwithstanding that there is a
depression there-and asked him if he
did not think that the liquor law and
their enforcement had something to
do with it, Mr.. Hennessy promptly
| avowed that his determination was no:
to discuss the liquor question.
So Mr.. Sparks contented himself with
kindly and fraternal sort of leave TAX
ing and came again to see the secretary
of the chamber of commerce with d view
to getting the names of important and
influential members Of that body that
they might be interviewed as the secre-
tary of the chamber supposed, in relation
to the industrial edition that was to be
printed advertising Bangor and Maine.
Talked Politics Then
But all the calls which We're made by
this group of industrious gentlemen did
not contemplate the issuance or an in
dustrial edition. When "a politician of
great prominence in the State received a
call from Mr.. Lavender, that gentleman
did not talk about an industrial edition
OF their plate matter, but he talked poll
tics. What were the prospects and prob
abilities of 1916 in Maine? How were the
Maine Republicans lining up on the ques-
ton of the next national candidate for
President, and didn't the people of Maine
think hof
Idaho was altogether too far west to
be an ideal national candidate? And
eventually by and by after the founda-
ton had been laid. would the Republi-
cans consent to another resubmisson of
the prohibitory amendment and what are
the chances of getting such a resubmis-
sion through the present Legislature?
How did the politician feel upon the mat
ter himself, gradually leading to a gen.
eral discussion of the liquor questions,
through which was obtained all the in
formation which he could adroitly adj
duce as to this particular political atti-
tude toward the liquor interests of the
country.
And when the bankers were approa ched
they were led to suppose that the plate
matter which the National News Bureau
was to issue was to deal with the finan-
cial situation and prospects of banking
in the State of Maine, each man inter-
viewed being met upon some ground in
which his own special interest lies
What Is Their Purpose?
Now who are these men and what Is
their purpose in Maine? 1t. is said that
they have appeared before in the Nation
al arena relative to the liquor question,
and the prohibition wave which is 80
disturbing to the United States Brewers
Association and allied liquor societies
Our information is that Room 1l32 in
the Transportation building is the tenn
porary headquarters for an organza-
ton bearing the name of the National
Association Of Commerce & Labor and
that the permanent headquarters Of this
organization is at 1857 South Michigan
avenue, Chicago There Is a belief ex-
listing that the leading spirit if this Ma
tional Association Of Commerce & La
Dor is Percy Andreae Of Chicago, who
Is a member of the board of trustees
of the United States Brewers Associa-
ton and there is much reason to believe
that the alleged National Association
Of Commerce G. Labor is a liquor deal
ers' association in Disguise and that the