Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-13
County Democrats
Gather in An-Day
Meeting Wednesday
At City HaNaonal and Sta Issues Brought Before Audi
by Governor Curtis United States Senator Johnson
Secretary of State Bunker State Treasurer E. Newber
Prof. Kenneth C. NJ Sils Dean of Bowdoin College

Democratic leaders of the State
fired the first gun of the campaign in
kennebec county at meeting helj
Wednesday at City hall. The attend
ance was not nearly as large as had
been expected for the audience was
made up of only about 140, including
a number of ladies' The meeting was
opened at II o'clock and with the ex-
ception OF a short intermission for
luncheon at noon continued until about
$50 P. NJ. National and State issues
were taken up by State Treasurer Ell
mer E. Newbert, Governor Oakley c.
Curtis, United States Senator Charles
F. Johnson Of Waterville, Secretary OF
State John f. Bunker of Bar Harbcr
and Dean Kenneth c. NJ. Sills of Bow
doin College, candidate for United
States senator to AL the unexpired
term of the late Hon. Edwin c. Bur
leigh
AT the opening of the meeting Leon
o. Tebbetts of Waterville chairman OF
the Democratic county committee, call
ed upon State Treasurer Newbert, who
presided. Upon the stage besides the
speakers were Ex-Governor Frederick
w. Plaisted and Charles w. Mower Of
Nassalboro, candidate for State sena
tor. During the intermissions between
the speeches music was furnished by
Tinker's orchestra of five pieces.
State Treasurer Newbert
State Treasurer Newbert, who deliv.
cred the keynote speech, stated that
the campaign now beginning in the
State is one of more than ordinary i'm
portance. In addition to the many
county officials Maine will elect q
Governor. a State auditor. a Legisla
ture, four Congressman and for the
first time in our history two United
States senators will be chosen by pop
ular vote.
Many issues confront us, even con-
fuse vet these many issues Of State
and national politics all come back to
the issue of the man and of his work.
The hour has struck when Democracy
shall give account of it's stewardship
and the main issue of the campaign
shapes itself out of the record we have
made. Nor are we afraid Of this issue.
We welcome it,
The speaker then raid a compliment
to the work Of Governor Curtis, speak
ing of the governor as "a strong and
able executive" Turning to the matter
Of the States business the speaker
said that Maine is prosperous and is
sound financially. And he stated that
Chairman Frank j. Ham Of the Re-
publican State committee was not we'll
advised and had overreached when he
criticised the financial record of the
Curtis administration Mr.. Newbert
said that today there is a cash balance
of the treasury Of more than S1,700, 900
but the States bills are paid, cash dis
counts are taken, our institutions an J
charities are well supplied and the
building of our system Of State high
ways is going on rapidly.
He then spoke briefly upon national
Democracy and in closing he referred
to the work of United States Senator
Charles F. Johnson at Washington and
spoke of President Wilson as the man
whose name is written over all the
record of achievement at Wa shington.
Dean X. c. M. SiIIs
The next speaker was Prof. Kenneth
c. M. Sills, dean Of Bowdoin College,
who made his maiden speecn In his
campaign for United States senator to
fill the unexpired term Of the late Sen
ator Burleigh. Dean Sills spoke in sub
stance as follows:
We meet today to inaugurate the State
campaign and we meet under happy aus
pices A united party, sure of our own
vote, we dwell with satisfaction on the
excellent records Of the State and Ma
tional administrations and on the SER
vices rendered by Senator Johnson, Con-
gresham McGillicuddy. Governor Curtis
and their colleagues; and we appeal with
confidence for the support Of those silent
and Independent voters who ultimately
have great influence in every election
We Maine Democrats. tried by many
years Of adversely and not swollen by
the fruits Of victory are according to our
best traditions unterrifed and perfectly