Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-21
Editors Letter Box
Qualifications for Governor,

Qualifications for Governor.
Editor kennebec Journal:
In view OF the coming nominations
in June and the elections in September,
take tho liberty-without any con-
ceit or presumption on my part-to
suggest few qualifications necessary
Tor a Governor to govern the State OF
Maine as it ought to be governed.
The first requisite for q candidate, or
one In the chair is to have supreme
confidence in himself; mean, in his
ability to govern the good old State
OF Maine wisely and economically; for,
without that confidence. he would be
weak indeed, as weak as was the
Dauphin Of France who had to be
crowned King by a woman and then
left her to a horrible fate after he was
crowned. Better a courage and con-
fidence of a Napoleon or a Grant. to
shoulder calmly all responsibilities and
a faith to overcome all difficulties.
The next requisite for a good Cover
nor is to be broadminded. to govern,
not sectionally. not for any special in
terest, but for all the people from the
northwest corner of Aroostook to the
southwest corner of oxford: the inter-
ests of every county should be i'm
partially considered.
Again a man who aspires to be gov
ernor should have a pretty good idea
of the needs and resources Of the
State: it's educational needs, its in
dustrial needs and its commercial
needs: all of which should be we'll con-
si6ered, well guarded from selfish in
terests and generously. but not ex
travagantly provided for. The natural
resources of the State should be es-
pecially we'll guarded from undue in.
fiuence by capital from without the
State, although proper encouragement
should be given to capitalists both
within and without the State for the
development of all our natural re-
sources. Moreover. he ought to have
if possible-a personal knowledge of
all the varied industries in the State
and see to 1t that no wrong TO any one
is committed therein. He need rot
necessarily disguise himself to find out
AS famous man of history did: that
tells us he poked his nose into every
corner and crevice OF his kingdom:
and. when he had learned the situation.
he returned home and wrought out Il
method and scheme. of administration
of domestic and public affairs which
proved so successful that it has been
handed down from father to son: Il
system so unique, simple and yet so
scientific that it has become the Won
der of the world. and the people are
so in love with it. they PROSTATE
themselves on the ground and say.
William, dear, ride right over us. we
are willing to sacrifice our lives for the
good of the Fatherland."
That sort of thing works we'll in a
monarchy, but in a republic like ours
it could not and would not work.
know of but one man in this country
to approve of such system: that's
George Fred; he seems nightly
pleased; says Germany will win ana
the result will be a blessing to all the
other nations. But then George Freu
is on off OK anyway.
A few more qualifications and I'm
done. 1t may not be imperative out
it is very desirable that we have a
man in the chair who will govern on
strictly non-partisan basis: that ne
will appoint no man to Office except on
the ground of ability and merit, ana
that he will remove no one except on
the ground Of ineficiency That's
pretty stiff proposition, l know, but II
can be done, for it has been done.
But say, here is a proposition or
SUGGESTION that will require more sand
in a mans back than all the rest put
together: we want a man for governor
who will make no promises he cannot
carry out in the enforcement OF the
prohibitory law: one who will make 1t
distinctly understood that any re-
missness in the prosecution Of the law
by high sheriff or deputy will be pun
ished by removal If found guilty.
Lastly. here is suggestion but not q
requirement. 1t would be wise to the
fair sex to have a governor favorable
to female suffrage, and he might
placate their anxiety by saying, La
dies, if I am elected to that high and
honorable Office, will speak a good
word for you in my inaugural adj
dress and recommend to the Leg1sla-
ture to mass a female suffrage law
that shall do away with all delay OF
any watchful waiting.
w. p. A.
P. S. Will any Of the aspirants for
the Governorship-after reading those
amazing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES fright
ened and withdraw? Not on your life.
How many Of the delegates to the
great Portland convention think they
are oualifiedo Ninety mine per cent.
W. p. A.
E~a1..~A:~~ A>knA