Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-11-21
Continued from Page One)


The Governor: Why haven't you seen
them?
Mr.. Brown: | have had no occasion to
see them. / haven't had copies of the pc
ttlons. ! understand the Governor and
the attorney general and Mr.. Crockett
lave copies Of those petitions wherein
tney claim they are fraudulent or forged
or mistakes have occurred. Now at this
period demand copy Of those petitions
90 show me upon what ground the State
seeks 50 it shall down these referendum
petitions
The Governor. Have you made any ef-
tort 20 see these petitions, Mr.. Brown
since they were fled
Mr. Brown ! have not.
The Governor: Have YOU teen here in
the state House since they were fled'
Those "Occasions"
Alr. Brown J have been here once.
have had no occasion or had no occasion
TO- look At these petitions until today, be-
'auso did not know upon what ground
fnc state would take ! knew nothing
rutl yesterday or today what ground
they would take aud what petitions they
Wulld attack How could know? II is
uu impos-.o.Iity. \ man IS never pre-
slraoI - be fpTowacned ll regard 10
something Uc CAN'T have any knowledge
u. ] have un knowledge Of what pro-
,'I4r. MS rp be taken here or what par
ul,r petitions were 10 ha attacked.
ip.r. rad ao knowledge whatever. and
.r0 tu Interested partt.
IH, Governor T}cse petitions have
t',n ON 'ie 20 tae custody %. the secre-
nl. ID state. "lel to Inspection under
l.- -up,rN .-juN H. aus person who asked
Woe pr tilcSs of Inspection.
NJ. Rs"wr po ! understand from tina,
'Uat having had no knowledge as 70
WIat pc's'. ,rs would lie attacked by the
suites attorney D. VIVA; questions h,
v"Iid raise what petitions lie would
.l,.m were invalid or incorrect or forged
tla' is the ruling ~ the Governor of this
s'.,re that am not 10 he allowed a copy
GOV specifications showing what ne expects
Il" prove"
The a.. crunr am here to hear all
ttr 2, dtu,c that auy one wishes to in
'roIlec about tho validity of the sigma
lures Il these petitions. We will hear
,yorythug there Is 70 be presented now
fcu.r is presented. and when such evi-
dru.r as - ready for presentation now
has been presented viii hear YOU as to
anr further opportunity that you desire.
"Compeled TO Submit"
Nr Brown, Just moment, Bro.
crockett That. as | understand the mat
t,r the Governor makes the ruling that
f1..I !, ,I,,,t- ,
while the states attorney produces peti-
ton after petition according to this bun
die here which Is evidence in itself, hun
drcds 10 petitions. not any Of which l
have any knowledge OF as 70 why he at
f'cks Il and haven't had any knowledge
'.ntl this morning. That am barred
from having any copy so that | can know.
what ~ going on within this chamber,
how can | tell as he reads over those
names. | have got no knowledge. T can't
takc those petitions and follow him I
,ouldut do il yesterday. No man living
AN do H. ! Will defy any person In the
state ~ Maine 70 follow the evidence
The Governor | understand that you
made no attempt up 10 the opening OF
This hearing to inspect the petitions or
look them over in any way?
Mr. Brown. II had looked them over,
tnat ts no answer at all, If / had looked
diem over carefully
The Governor Am l correct in suppos-
ing that sou made no attempt?
MIR Brown / say you are correct.
say thus Is no answer to that That Is no
answer at all 70 what l claim now. That
have had no knowledge as TO what Mr..
Crockett would attempt to prove, and
have no knowledge and never have had
any knowledge as to what petitions would
te attacked, and | ask now that | should
hc given the knowledge before we pro-
iced any further, because | am not in a
position to defend myself take care OF
the petitions upon these particular petl-
tions.
The Governor: We will hear all the
evidence that any one has to present now
At this hearing. Then l will hear you
MIR. Brown. as to any further opportunity
that you ask for to be heard.
Mr. Dunbar's Rights
Mr. Oscar Dunbar: In order to protec,
my rights on a hearing that Is coming
later. made a request with Bro. Crock
EFT this morning to furnish mo with a
copy OF the petitions in my case which
lie intends to question. and l am stating
that in answer to your question II Mr.,
Brown has made any effort on that line,
want TO be protected.
Mr.. Brown: l want TO make this In.
auiry as a matter of record as TO whether
or not there are now copies of these va
rious petitions that have been attacked
in tho hands OF the Governor and the
attorney general and Bro. Crockett. and
those copies now exist and have been
made.
The Governor: II copies have been
made by any one for their own use or for
purposes OF this investigation. you will
90 have 70 discover by asking the persons
that made them.
" Mr. Brown: What I wish 10 discover is
whether the State has In its possession
copies of these petitions showing the mis-
take or the error that they claim has
been rerpetrated upon the State IL they
have those copies now In their possession
made by the authorities here in the State
House.