The Republican journal., 1915-11-04
Governor and Council
Seeking Opportunity to Remove State Off
cials to Make Berths for Deserving Demo-

Gratis.
[trom the Kennebec Journal
At the morning session of the Cover
nor and Council, Oct. eth, there was a
spirited presen tation of facts relative to
the condition of the Bangor Ellsworth
road, and at the afternoon session the
Governor had an INTEREST," ng dialogue
with Walter l. Neal, commissioner of
inland fisheries and game, and also with
DR.. A. G. Young of the State Board of
Health and William 7. Guptill, commits
sioner of agriculture. The nature of
the examination of Mr.. Neal would seem
to indicate that the Governor and Coun-
Gil need his berth for some deserving
Democrat and are seeking an opportun-
ity to remove him ''for cause" as the
law allows. The cause in this instance
is alleged, or presumed, remarks deroga-
tory to the person and Office of the chief
executive, and that he had made any re-
marks such as presumed or anything ap-
preaching them in substance was en-
phatically and constantly denied by Mr..
Neal. Nothing like formal hearing was
given, as no evidence was introduced
either for or against Mr.. Neal; the Gov
ernor simply asked questions and Mr..
Neal gave him straightforward answers.
Neal was appointed by Gov. Haines as
Progressive.
when did | meet you last?" asked
the Governor by way of opening the dia-
logue.
Il think the last time was when we
were in the Senate" Mr.. Neal answered.
| asked Commissioner Neal how many
SrnHau 70 he bod anJ tho
commissioner replied: six parties; two
from Unity and four from Belfast" He
said that the four Belfast men were the
DIR. Lothrops, junior and senior, Mr.. Hill
and Mr.. Head, and he then related the
circumstances of the arrest. He said
that the case did not go to trial, as ne
advised the younger DE-. Lothrop and
Mr.. Hill to settle and allowed a settle
ment at the minimum fine fixed by law.
This settlement he said was arranged in
the back room of store, and that while
he was talking with Mr.. Hill that gen.
tleman said, "Who's to blame for this
Sunday law anyway?"-to which he had
replied that the law makers had formed
it. At that moment, DR.. Kilgore, one
time member of the Plaisted council,
passed the doorway and Mr.. Hill called
TO him, said the commissioner: eff your
administration is to blame for this, YOU II
get itp' And Mr.. Neal then told Mr.,
Hill and DR.. Lothrop that there was no
politics in the arrest or in the law; the
law was on the books and the best that
could be done was to make the best pos
sipe settlement.
DO you remember anything more?"
asked Gov. Curtis.
well, that's about the pith of the
conversation"
You don't happen to know the politics
of these men, do your
mo sir. Governor, | couldn't tell the
politics of them to save my life; In fact,
| don't even know what my own politics
| are"
Suppose" continued the Governor,
someone should swear that you said the
whole thing was Democratic blunder."
ono sir. Governor, | never mentioned
politics or the administration.
| Suppose someone should swear that
you also said the Governor is - fool
anyway"
"Well, poachers will do mean things
when they are caught sometimes, but
these men were fine fellows and | don't
believe they'd go so far as to make such
a mean charge as that
Suppose they said nothing about it
but was informed something about the
matter and took occasion to look it up
myself. -
II never said anything OF the kind,
Governor, and Lyle Bessey who was with
me in that room will come here and tell
you the same thing, and if l can stand
the man who makes such a charge up in
front of me can make him prove that |
never said it."
PERSONALLY" said the Governor, 81
do not resent the allegation, but | feel
that | must uphold the dignity of the
office" Here followed a discussion of
the Commissioner private affairs and
of his duties as warden in addition to
his duties with the commission and then
the Governor asked:
LAS a matter of fact, they were ali
four Democrats, weren't they?
Il don't know"
''And you say there was no politics in
it and you never mentioned my name"
"No, sir. Governor. SO help me God, l
never mentioned your name"
81 want to find out" the Governor
declared, "if you are over-active ir poll
tics and are using your Office for politi-
cal purposes.
Il don't know why you should accuse
me, Governor.
| want TO learn the TactS In this.
swell, poachers will do most anything
to get even, but l tell you again never
mentioned politics. l never mentioned
your nam your office, nor the admins
tration."
eff you had said these things l have
mentioned would you think your be-
hayior was proper"
"No."
"You would not want to be fired,
would you; you would resign right off,
wouldn't you?''
"Well, hope before you decide you
will give me an opportunity to prove my
side of the case, for, as l have said be-
fore, the only kicking that was done
against the administration was done by
Mr.. Hill himself"
Commissioner Neal asked that the
Governor dispose of the case in one way
or another as soon as possible and the
Governor said that he would notify him
when the next move was to be made and
that for the present he was excused.