Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-21
Wednesday, November 81, 1917.
Referendum Revelations


formed no greater service for the
State. for the people of Maine, than
in bringing out in all its devious ways
the Wholesale manner in which a law
OF high purpose has been made the
political plaything Of selfish interests
careless officials and sign any thing
citizens.
On the face of the petitions fraud
was apparent. Even a superficial ex
animation would convince the investi
gator that they were peck ma rked
with violation of the laws intent.
Briefly outlined. the Governor asked
the advice of the Supreme Court On
the courts reply he has proceeded,
with the counsel of the Attorney Cen
eral. Careful investigation has re-
vealed the crooked methods suspected,
in volume that is amazing and sensa-
tional.
The first days testimony in the pub
lie hearing at the State House showed
conclusively that no attempt had been
made in securing the petitions to COM
ply with the spirit or the letter of
the law. Everywhere was strikingly
shown the nobody will ever know the
difference procedure.
The names of men had been signed,
without authority, to petitions as GER
tiiying. under oath, to witnessing the
signature Of every signer on that sec
ZION OF the petition.
Clerks had hurried petitions
through" without verfication of
names on their voting lists, as they
certified. because the petitioners"
were late in reaching the required
number.
Petitions bore the names of men un-
known on the voting lists of the pre-
cincts where signed.
In at least two cases certifying petit
TONERS we're in Jail at the time the
petitions show that they swore to
have witnessed the signatures of all
the signers on the petition with them
Where a list of names was mani
fcstly written by the same hand, one
witness testified that he wrote for the
others hecause they had dirty hands"
\ most laughable incident at the
hearings was the attempt on the part
OF the defenders of the petitions to
make out crooks some of the men
who had been used as tools, perhaps
innocent tools. Indeed the defense up
!" Tuesday noon, is characterized by
delay as shown in the stenographic
report; an attempt to clog and muddle
without regard to the ends of Justice.
and alike insulting to the Governor,
the Attorney General and others act
ms under instructions from the SUI
prcme Court.
All IL all conclusive evidence has
already been shown. regardless of the
success or failure of the present petit
methods adopted to overthrow any act
Of the Legislature which treads on the
corns Of greed or political exigency.
In other words, if YOU don't like the
laws enacted by the peoples repre-
Sentati-es. secure petitions, by buying.
by hired canvassers, by false certifi-
cation. by forged names. by any
fraudulent means, to overthrow that
law.
That is the referendum laws re-
suits, as invoked without stern de-
mand for compliance with the law. 1t
vas worse than a farce: it was a
tragedy. But we predict that in fu :
ture. as result of Governor Mill
ken's determination, referendum petit
lions will he handled in a wholly diff
ferent and vastly more respectful
and respectable manner. The present
hearings at the State House should
either make OF the referendum law
what it was intended or put it out of
business altogether.