Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-09-03

for 8 conference at Augusta whore the
effect Of this new ruling was ex-
plained to them and thsy were IN.
;tructed to classify their registfsuts
acoordingiy.
II have related this history at some
length In order to make plain that the
Governor and adjutant general were
acting n every Instance under def.
mite orders from Washington. asnsr:
al Crowdef's onice has always said 30
in response to any inquiries upon the
subject and those who spread stories to
the contrary are not only misrepreaent.
ing the facts but are seriously threat
ening the smooth and efficient opera
tion Of the selective service law. They
Lave deliberately exploited for their
own political advantage the natural
constituencies Of the public mind on all
matters relating to the selection Of
men for the military service, and they
have therefore earned the title OF 'po-
litical profiteer'.
For We have coined the word prof
iteer' to describe, the man who COM
meroialiges his country's emergency
for his personal financial. gain, and by
his side we must place the politician
who risks hampering the administra-
ton Of necessary military laws for the
sake of gaining possible advantage
over q political opponent
PRECEDENT FOR AID Law.
These political proflteers' have
also been trying to trade upon the ten
derness with which we all regard the
relatives Of men in the service by
spreading false reports about the at
titude of the Governor and Council to-
ward dependents OF soldiers and sail
ors. The law covering this subject,
Chapter 276 OF the Public Laws Of
1917, WAS one Of the war emergency
measures passed by the Legislature
during the time between President
Wilson's message to Congress the
evening Of April second, 1917, and the
adjournment OF the Legislature April
seventh. 1t was one Of the few prob.
lens which we have had to deal with
where there was precedent to 60 by.
looking back to the records at the
time Of the Civil War, We found that
law providing aid for dependents Of
soldiers and sailors was passed by the
Maine Legislature in 1881, amended
in 1862 and again In 1853 and again
passed In new form In 1864. The
changes made were evidently those
that grew out Of experience and we
took the act Of 1884 as our model ex-
cept that the minimum amount Of aid
required to be furnished by cities and
towns was made more than five times
az great as In the law Of 1854.
This act Is generally known a. the
State aid Law from the fact that Q
certain amount Of money furnished by
oities and towns to dependents Of SOL
diers and sailors Is reimbursed to
them by the State under the provts-
ions Of the act. But In view OF the per-
sistent Misrepresentation lately upon
this point, you should carefully note
that It Is strictly an act providing that
cities and towns shall aid dependents
OF soldiers and sailors. Certain mini
mum amounts are required to be fur
nished by the city or town and no max
imum limit Is imposed upon the
amount to be furnished and no 70
strictions are specified as to the age
or condition Of the dependent Of the
soldiers family. In other words. the
statute lays upon the towns and cities
the duty Of providing for any needs
that may arise in the dependent FAM
i1-y - anldiap oaklnr L., ho oavvfoa
of the United States. The only condi.
ton 10 the existence Of need In the
judgment Of the municipal officers,
and furthermore 1t Is expressly provid-
cd that such aid to the dependents OF
soldiers and sailors shall not be fur
nished out Of pauper funds and shall
not create any pauper status on the
part Of those receiving It.
GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL DO NOT
DECIDE CASES.
"The Governor and Council have
nothing whatever to do with deciding
who shall or shall not receive financial
aid under this act. The decision rests
wholly with the municipal officers and
any failure to provide for the neces-
stiles OF dependents Of soldiers or any
payments paid for that purpose out OF
pauper funds are violations Of the law
on the part OF the municipal officers
and indicate either ignorance or care
lessness on their part.
Tn the interest Of certain candi-
dates for Office and in some instances
by the candidates themselves. II has
been repeatedly stated that the Gov.
ernor and Council had given aid or 70
fused to give aid In certain cases
and that towns could not furnish
aid except under the pauper law.
These statements are absolutely un.
true and indicate either gross
Ignorance and carelessness or q de-
liberate intention to deceive.
"The function CT the Governor ana
Council is solely to determine now
much Of the aid paid to the dependents
Of soldiers and sailors by the cities
and towns uudor this act shall be re-
imbursed to them by the State. The
Question with which we deal Is wholly
a question of the State on one hand
and the city or town on the other. IN
discharging this duty we have done
what any Governor and Council mus
do under the Constitution; that 10. we
have administered the law as we found
It and have complied strictly with us
provisions as interpreted to us BY the
attorney general.
LIMITS OF STATE AID.
There are various limitations as &c