Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-11

| advocates OF 1t a chance to make some
preparation to present their side Of the
matter. Heretofore at this session,
matters Of greater or less importance
| have been tabled to give opportunity
for preparation and discussion. Since
/ have been seated here for the las.
few weeks listening to the delibera-
tions OF this House and attending the
committee hearings. there is one thing
that have noticed particularly: that
when any matter Of any importance
came up. we have been asked to pause
and see If the people outside demand
that such legislation should be en-
%acted. Now It seems to me. as I
have sat here and listened to the doc
uments read by our Clerk day after
Gay that there has been q strong voice
| IRON the people in favor Of this
Grange bill. Petition after petition
has been laid on our tables and read,
also resolve after resolve from our
! Oranges; and It occurred to me tina.
| the gentleman who spoke first here
had an inclination to belittle these
| petitions and resolves. though l sin
cerely hope not. I will say from my
own standpoint from my own locality,
| that where these petitions and re-
solves have been presented, they have
been met with hearty approval, and
the people by signing them have voic-
ed their sentiments In regard to this
question. Now. Mr.. Speaker in re-
gard to my own town, and in regard TO
my own county on the present basis.
Figured on the basis Of last year. my
own town would lose a small amount.
1 understand and believe that It only
makes about sl2o difference in the
| whole county. Still, down in the town
OF jackson We are assessing ourselves
annually five mills to support our
schools. while 1 understand that some
of these large cities that oppose this
measure are assessing themselves less
than one MILL You see, gentlemen,
that if this matter could be more
nearly equalized it would create q
stimulus for our smaller towns 20
extend our school weeks and to in.
crease the number Of our pupils.
Those who have taken pains to fig
ure 1t out find that there is whers
! we would be the gamers, if our school
/ money should increase in the ratio
that we increase our school weeks
and our number Of. attendants. Cen
/ tiemen, rise to make these few bro
ken remarks that I may go on record
IT this matter to the people who have
kindly sent me here to represent their
/ interests.
! Mr.. MCINTYRE OF Waterford: Mr.
! Speaker: l would not feel that I had
done my duty if did not stand I'D here
and be counted as a Granger, if nothing
more. Now j will not take five minutes
OF your time l can tell You w.aat it
costs to educate children in the country
: Tor have educated two. 1 could tell
you of the abandoned farms that have
been abandoned from just trying to ed
ucate the children back in the rural
sections. You know it, and / do not
nave to tell you about it. I can tell
You that if you do not give some relief
and help them out ther will be more
! ahanooned farms. A large per cent
have had to so without the advantages
OF education; am going to take this
stand, gentlemen, that our principle Is
TIght. 1t was ably set out by my good
friend. Mr.. ST. Clair 1t is the principle.
that We are working on, gentlemen. and
that principle is right and right in time
VIII prevail. Let US rise above this lit
tie petty matter of what our town is
going to lose or what it is going to gain
Let us look at the principle of the
tang. You all know what a turtle will
do if You touch him with a stick. His
head disappears-lis feet his tail, are
gone; there is nothing but the shell
Let US stand on our feet and look at tn !.
principle of this thing and keep outside
| of the she'll
Mr.. THOMBS Of Lincoln: Mr.. Speaker
and gentlemen OF the House: l have
listened with a good deal Of interest to
the discussion regarding the matter un-
der consideration this morning, and /
am somewhat surprised at the ability
and the detail with which it has been
discussed by the various speakers.
must acknowledge that / am not fami-
liar with the details of our existing
school laws. To me they are rather
complex. Now If there are others in
this hall this morning like myself who
do not understand these matters in de-
tail. taking into consideration the argu-
ments pro and con that we have listened
to, what then becomes our duty respect
ing our decision in this matter? 1t
seems to me that my duty is plain. 1t
seems to me hat l cannot conscien-
tiously go against the report of the
majority Of our educational committee,
which committee, as you know. is COM
posed OF men of ability. men Of long
experience in school matters, and whose
decision, ] think, is entitled to a great
deal of respect and consideration from
US. In addition to them long time that
they have given the matter at this ses-
sion. a number of the gentlemen COM
posing this committee have had expert
ence on the same committee In previous
legislatures, and they have had the ben
eft Of the detail and fact that has been
worked out by their predecessors: and it
seems to me that a committee composed
of men coming from tine CITY and from
the country as well that they ASve
arisen above the consideration OF any
Iloarticular locality and have given to
this House this morning the benefit OF
their judgment as to what they deemed
to be best for the interests of the whole
State. Now, gentlemen, it seems to me
that that is true, and ] feel for one
that this House this morning-unless
some gentleman is satisfied in his own
mind beyond conviction otherwise that
he is right in this matter-that our duty