Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-07

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who. from his geographical position.
his situation, his age. or Tor other
reasons, Is a man who cannot anoFd
to make a statewide primary con-
test.
see no great difference between
the choice of attorney general by the
peopie of the State of Maine and the
same question as it arises IN the
choice BY &C corporation OF its coun-
sci. True. the questions that the at
torrev generals of the State decloe
are more far-reaching, are deeper
more important, than the questions
that are submitted 20 the counsel OF
the greatest corporations that are
doing business II Maine. Surprising
the Boston = Maine railroad shonto
pass a vote that every shareholder
should have a vote in the choice OF
its CORPORATION counsel,-what sort
of business would you call that: Ho"
do they doo Why the stock OF the
Roston & Maine railroad is owned
all over the country. east OF the MIS-
sissippi river: but the counsel Tor the
Boston * Maine railroad is elected by
three. or five. or seven men, the d.
rectors who know about the business
and the immediate future. as near as
a man can know. and the require
nerts Of the Office. There are ar
gIments against this innovation
First. that IL will bar the man who
cannot afford a primary contest
Second. that unless he lives in city
or can group together the interests
of a great many cities, even he, IN
less he is supererninent among his
fellows in the matter OF ability, VIII
be barred from nomination. Third
that as rail splitters. and boys VINO
drive mules along the to'' -path, can
become giants in the field OF law, anc
rise TO the heights that are reached
fy few in Governments such as ours
has been for 14s years, that this sort OF
LEGISLATION will preTeDt men rising 70
positions Of eDllnence IN Name. ana
I am against il, because 1 kno" may
among the people who have not me
money. and the people who may re
situated in remote corners OF the
stare. there are men whose skill. IN
teli:gence and wisdom are oft-tlm
needed by tho State. l am not crying
in favor Of conservative legislation. l
submit to the Legislature that Maine
has had Il fair share Of experiments
in progressive legislation, and l hope
that this change in our constitution
VIII not be suggested by the Hous@
~ this time.
Mr. FORBES OF South Paris: DIR.
Speaker, I had noe thought OF sayir :
a word on his. bat l want 70 ask
the Indulgence Of the House a minute.
I think We ara holding our constitI-
ton altogether TOO lightly when We
propose 10 the people amendments Il
II on all ana various occasions. We
take our Constitution too lightly.
am conservative enough to say to
you that any legislation propose
mere must maintain its rights ~
some good reason before it has an:
standing befor rs. On the general
proposition would rather vote 10
accept the report Of the committed
ought not TO pass" than TIL report
ought 10 pass" When it comes II
amendments to the Constitution I Go
rot think that one should he submit
ted b. this representative body I'M
less for one or two reasonns there is
q general, popular demand, or in ,he
judgment Of tire members Of the Leg
islature some good public interest
Will be served b. such change in
the Constitution.
Nov | have not heard any demand
for this sort of a change. ! have not
heard a whisper in my section Of .le
State. Until I came into the House
THIS morning had not heard Of any
demand ~ all. l happened 10 be in
the Judiciary room the other day
when these matters came up for
hearing. and there was silence there.
such rs we who sit in the back rev
near the rail would be delighted t.
hove IN the House at the present
time. | do not believe in making my
attempt to tinker our Fundamental
law unless We have good reason
on Some demand by the people.
NJ, BTZZFLL Of Belfast: Mr.
Speaker md gentlemen Of tht. House
l. Is with 50 me degree Of reluctance
1h3t ] rise ~ say 2 word IN this sub,
.ect. because ] have neither got .hr
consent # tho Bangor Daily News 10
talk upon this subject. nor have ]
asked '1iers heir apinion; but | 10
want n say j;st a word in defon 20
If rnLN'rosi on this committee. and
inc position I take by way Of hrIp.
arg make that report. 7 do not think
II IS necessary 10 go hack over the
history Of our State for q hundred
years. We are now acting under -hn
provisions nf the primary Iaw. and
while perhaps there is no general
public dmand on the part Of the cit
'Zers IT the STATE Of Maine at this
frne To change our Constitution. IS
IS provided hT these several bills j,
there any reason, gentlemen. why t,c
attorney general, the secretary IF
state ana IN" state treasurer should
nov he elected by the peoplel rs vel
as IN" state auditor? Now this :7as
" DO with our primary law, gentle
men. II WIS but 4 few years ago that
tn" primary law Of the State Of
Maine was burning ISSUE Tho iva
sreta parties of this State both took
1sEue with the proposition. The geo
Pile responded to that issue. and I
wonder how that issue got It's start
Now, gentlemen, we are living today
IN time when there is sort Of n
political l"tharey all over this coI,u
fry--this United States Of ours and
me state If Maine as we'll We ha e
JUST got through with a terri
h!e conflict, the people are TO,
IRON nous" to housc