Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-19

erendurn OF this bill. as th;s is q matter
which concerns the people Of the rural
Sections Of our state. and which. "
lieve. if given a change. vii! vote - re
pea! this bill.
Mr. SCAAiMON of Hancock: Mr.
President ana fellow senator's. ! !.aTe
been very much interested in TIE re-
marks OF the senator from AndroscvS-
gin. and wondered Il the reporters so;
these names right when they wrote them
Down. Some OF his objections are Wei
taken, but the horor&t.a gentleman
must remember that the Senate .s.l'i
making laws. or changing them, for An
droscoggin county alone: that the COM
plexion OF this LEGISLATURE. a. vel.
known is rural. is noJ - be disputed,
and a specific complaint IS no ground fof
change in a great and good law.
Going to another committee room the
other day l happened incidentally iato
discussion where the argument vas
going on in regard 10 this proposed
change and I would say 10 Won ~ al
canGor that there wasn't enthusiasts
enough in the audience nor the commit
tee nor tie proponents Of this change.
if all gathered in one motor, to move
the wings of mos quito.
When there is any great demand for a
change in any law YOU are going 70 hear
something from it. There will be a great
and general demand, from old York coln-
~, where the waters of Maine ming,e
with the waters Of New Hampshire; from.
faroff Ranseley, the home of my poli,i-
cal opponent and honored friend the
senator from Franklin; from Fort Kent
the lone sentinel oi the north: and from
the lookout where b Brother Peacock
looks out on the waters o the Old Do
minion-you would get such an indica-
ton of sentiment that no senators or rep
resentative would be in .uty as to his
duty.
1 am free to admit that there were
some pleasant things about the old
system. The old clan got together
and talked over their old battles: they
renewed the old acquaintance and
made new ones; they got together the
night before and made thir nomina-
tons for thir offices. and sometimes
made them for two or three terms
ahead; and George would be norinat-
ed, perhaps. for county attorney. and
was told if he would be good and obey
the mandates of the party leaders that
in another two years they would send
him to the Legislature, and warned
him that il he just continued to obey
the party behests that he might go
everywhere, that everything was be-
fore him.
Now 1 dent say that the real acts
OF those conventions were corrupt, but
1 do say that their influence was cor
rupting and their influences We're VIC
ious. They kept from nomination the
Independent class Of voters who might
come out for Office, men who would
not obey the behests Of the party lead
ers, Just such me mas we need to make
our laws and, thank God, we have a
lot Of theme here this minute,
But that is all a matter Of history,
and I think, Mr.. President, that the
good Judgment OF the people of Maine
will make il Il matter OF history fo~ q
very long time.
What are the people going to do
with this question? are they going to
work ard have q long series OF strUg
giles, after embCdyias in this law the
best possible features? Are they. 60
ing to take a step backward" What are
the people of Maine roing to Go" Ne
state in the union has been in tie
limelis,it, fer many reasons, as much
as Maine--Na:nc. the playground Of
the nation: Maine, WHO has 4 Septarn-
Der election the results Of which nave
been almost prophetic in the national
elections: Maine. who had a repre-