Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-28
Editors Letter Box
Mr.. PattansalPs Letter.

Editor Kennebec Journal.
Augusta, Maine.
Dear Sir:
Noting the fact that you refer to me
by name in your editorial concerning
the Democratic state Committee letter
to Mr.. Milliken, 1 have no doubt but
that you will be willing to publish this
brief note. If you really desire to give
your readers a fair idea Of the COM
mittee letter, do you not think it
would have been as we'll to have print
ed it as to have misrepresented it as
you did?
You say in your editorial that want
to know
IF Mr.. Miliken will loudly proclaim
that he is helpless to serve decent peo-
IF Mr.: Miliken will declare that the
fpeople who demand safer city streets by
| the closing of brothels and bar-rooms are
hypocrites and liars" Also,
IF Mr.. Milliken will lose no opportuni-
ty to tell the citizens that the only means
of enforcing the States laws are too ex-
pensive: that the States bank balance
tiers and save ten money that would be
used in enforcing laws against booze
holes, houses of designation and gambl-
ing places" Also.
the public that he cannot be expected to
cast his influence toward reducing the
number of drunken thugs who insult
women, assault children and make public
places disgusting to men,"
1 presume you read the committee
letter. If you did, you know that
there is nothing in it that warrants the
statements above quoted. 1t is hardly
possible that you believe that the Dem
ocratic party, or its leaders, or any
other political party that ever existed
or ever will exist in Maine, or the
leaders of any such party, desire that
and candidate for governor should
proclaim that he is helpless to serve
decent people, or advocates opening
brothels, booze holes, houses of as
signation and gambling places or in
creasing the number of drunken thugs
who insult women, assault children
and make public places disgusting to
men.
You have from time to time in your
paper seen fit to print some extremely
insulting things in regard to me per-
sonally / do not care very much
about that, because l am inclined to
think that the men and women in
Maine who know me, and 1 have a
reasonably large acquaintance. have as
much respect and affection for me as
they have for an anonymous writer
who insults me in the public press.
But whatever your opinion may be
Of me, hardly think that you would
wish the public to believe that men
like Governor Curtis, Senator Johnson,
Dean Stills, Leonard A. Pierce, John Z.
Bunker, D. J. McGillicuddy and La
mont A. Stevens are running for Office
for the purpose of encoura ging any
such program as your editorial sug-
gests.
Among men Of sound mind and rea-
sonably well-balanced intellect there
are differences of opinion as to pub
lie questions, and such men can make
allowances for such differences of
opinion and indulge in debate in writ
ing and speaking with regard to them
without expressing their ideas in bill
,ingsgate.
1t is not my purpose to advise you
how to conduct your work as editor Of
the Kennebec Journal. You are I'M
doubtedly more competent to fill that
position that I would be. But l would
suggest, in a spirit of pure friendli-
ness, that your comments on your op-
you couch them in the language of
sensible gentlemen.
Yours very truly,
w. r. PATTANGALL.
Augusta, Aug. 20, 1916.