Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-06-08
The Governors Scattering Gun.

SAAO
Democratic party manager" (select-
ed by the convention as a strategy
board for the State comn1ittee) will not
advise the Governor to stop talking;
but for the sake of the dignity of His
Excellency's high Office we regret
Tuesday evenings and Wednesdays S
explosions from the executive offices.
We cannot conceive Of any previous
Governor Of Maine inviting a citizen
Of the opposing party to the executive
Offices to debate with him his executive
acts. If Governor Curtis has any real
answer to the statements which Chair
man Ham is making through the pub
lie press, the same avenue is open to
him. We are confident that Republican
papers would gladly give him space;
they would as soon publish facts, as
meaningless buster that avoids any
tangible statement.
So far as the Governors challenge
to Mr. Ham being a reasonable prop
osition, Mr.. Ham might as we'll invite
the Governor to Republican headquar-
ters to defend himself 1t is joke.
The Gov ernor first stepped out from
the position of dignity and respect with
which the people Of Maine had honored
HIM, to demand an opportunity to
wrangle with the head of the organ
ization opposed to the organization
which nominated him. And then, be-
fore reply could have been received
to his challenge, assumes that it would
not be noticed and issues a state
ment' that is a prize winner in ver-
biage and coherency.
We agree with Mr.. Curtis that Mr..
Ham is too much of a gentleman to
over facts which are entirely obvi-
Gus. If the Governor is, as he declares,
too much of "lunkhead" to under
stand the open records in the offices Of
his administration, it is not Mr.. Hams
fault, nor should Mr.. Ham care to fur
ther excite the executive by reviewing
the facts in a face-to-face debate"
We assumed (without interviewing
Mr.. Ham) that he would ignore the
Governors challenge.
1t would have been an excellent ex-
cuse for Mr.. Ham to again get before
the people of Maine the facts which
have so disturbed the Governor, but
we should have been disappointed in
him If he had not remembered that to
his own position is attached a degree
of dignity that is opposed to such as
street wrangles, or personalities
in which excited partisans are
apt to indulge, and especially should
We expect him to maintain an outward
respect for the governship, regardless
of the incumbent
The Governors attack upon the
Kennebec Journal is an incident of
politics; we welcome it as an oppor-
tunity for showing to the public the
caliber of a man to whom Republican,
ism is opposed. We need not analyze
his Statements" they speak for them
selves.
In quieting the buster of the Port
land Argus. a short time ago. we
proved that the present administra-
ton had been digging its own grave
and had net single answer to all the
charges which we have made against
it; that the only Democratic reply
must be bluster, bluff and pretense.
The same is applicable to both the
Governors ill-advised communication
He offers not a single statement of
fact in explanation or defence-read
his challenge and his Statement" We
have given prominence to both; will
the Democratic press proudly display
it? Will Manager Pattangall throw
up his hat in his "enthusiasm"?
The Governor has frequently in.
dulged in attacks upon the Journal and
we are always glad to carry his mes
sage to our readers. If we reply to
his utterances, it is because we con-
slider him a good sport" and expect
to find him ready to take as he gives.
We cordially invite him to come
back" the oftener the better. for that
is what makes the campaign lively
for our readers. Personally. We have
no bitterness toward the Governor, bur
we disagree with him and we are glad
to keep him talking.
Even as we write comes third blast
from the Executive Chamber at the
State House. This last, we are in
formed, was sent cut for evening
papers Of Wednesday, but its meaning
is Greek TO us. We do not know to
what +bo coyerpor hos reference We