Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-08-26

| word he should utter and he proposed
to leave no opportunity for any mis-
| representation later Of what he did
say. He was listened to with the
| closest Of attention throughout. in
| spite Of the terrific heat and signs OF
a. thunder shower, He was literally
! appiauded when a telling point was
| made and the speech was simply
| succession Of them. His address 1oi-
! lows In full:
Gov. Milliken's Speech
Much has happened since we met
| two vears ago at similar gathering
| In the open air honored then as now
| by the presence Of our distinguished
| fellow citizen of the town OF Wayne
| who is so ably guiding the destinles
| Of the great state Of Pennsylvania.
Then, we were in the midst OF an
active political campaign. Now. the
people rightly feel little interest IN
politics and have little patience 70
hear the claims Of rival candidates
except as the choice of public SER
wants may help or hinder the one
purpose which we have at heart, tnat
is the vigorous prosecution or the
war.
LAS a great American has recently
well said: importantly is not the
noblest price to pay for office and 1T
was never more ignoble than now.
Tho importance Of the personal Tor
tunes of each one of us is wholly
dwarfed Poor time it is to drag out
personal claims into the day ana
shrek out ones virtues for the pass
or-by.'
Il have felt that our election in
Maine. like all other political ques-
tons during the war, should be de-
tcrmined according to the voters
Judgment of the effect Of their ac-
ton upon the war program of the ma
ton, and that in their intense absorp-
ton with necessary war activities the
people might well be spared the usual
political hurry burly and the shout
ings of rival candidates.
False Stories Told
II appears, however, that. relying
upon this announced policy OF the
present administration and oegulled
no doubt by the intensity of their
craving for public office, certain gen
tlemen have been industriouSIy golnE
about the State for the past hVe Or
six weeks spreading stories Which
they knew to be untrue and seeking
especially to foment unrest and DIS
satisfaction in the minds OF the peo-
pie in regard to the administration IN
this State of the various acts Of Con-
gress and regulations of the War De-
partment which are absolutely eS-
sent!al to the recruiting and equip
ment OF our army.
Now so long az these gentlemen
contine themselves to personal at
tack upon me or even to an attempt
at reviving the acrimony and bitter
less of partisanship which have been
forgotten in Maine since the war be-
gan | am reasonably content TO let
them go their way unhindered. In
following such n course they do not
represent the sober good Judgment or
the great mass of voters in their own
party. In raising the cry of PARTISAN
ship at time when the hearts of our
people are strained to the breaking
roint these gentlemen are showing
the same degree of tact which pol
itician would display in Selling upon
the occasion when a crowd had gath
cred for funeral in order to address
the assembly upon his qualifications
as prospective Office holder.
"Apd l have even suffered in ST.
lence their attempts to mislead the
people in regard to the management
Of those activities where the present
State administration represents, not
the government of Maine, but the
War Department and the Government
of the United States. for it is my
duty above everything else to see to
it that the orders of the War De-
partment are carried out smoothly
and efficiently in Maine and no politi
cal danger to myself could justify my
engaging in discussions of the unjust
criticisms Of the administration of
military laws so long as there was a
possibility that tho smooth operation
Of this highly important and delicate
machinery might be better served by
my silence.