Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-31

bility rests upon capital and labor
alike at this juncture and a proper
appreciation. by both groups of their
respective rights and duties and the
path of justice and right action
1t seems anomalous in America to
speak Of the Subyersion OF personal
liberty. yet. an impression obtains
among the people that their personal
liberties have been abridged and
they SEEM to sense a spirit Of gov
ernmental' restraint. Restrictions
We're neco ssary and obedcntly sub
mitted to during the war but some
how the citizen seems TO feel that
the freedom Of life has been cast
aside and there is a feeling OF irr-
tation among the people. If the ten
dency is to create an autocracy of
Government il should be stoutly re-
sisted. America must not tolerate
any autocracy of class or of group,
not even Of Government. The SOW
ereignity Of the citizen so aptly pic
tured in the following paragraph
must not be abridged.
The poorest in his cottage mhy
! bid defence to all the forces of the
crown. 1t may be fral, its roof may
shake, the wind may blow through
it; the storms may enter, the rain
may enter. but the King OF England
cannot enter; all his forces dare not
cross the threshold of the ruined
/ tenement" =
! There is also well defined feeling
that the Federal Government is
gradually taking over the peroga-
: tives of the States. The States in
some instances have voluntarily sur
rendered these rights. The rights of
municipalities have also been in some
instances taken over by the State
! thus DESTROYING local self Govern :
ment. The path of safety DEGREES an
adherarcc to the old and tried prin-
ciples, the old foundations.
! There is battle that is worth
fighting and that is the battle for
| the rights of the people under the
constitution ard the bill Of rights. To
make mankind free in fact as well
as in theory.
Treaty of Versailles
l
1t now seems certain that the
Treaty of Versailles will not be rati-
| fed by the Senate and this bitter
, controversy must be fought out in
, the next National Campaign. The
platform of the Democratic Party on
! this great issue will be written at
San Francisco. 1t has no place prop
erly in State Conventions Tho
/ State also faces problems no less i'm :
| portant. l mention briefly some of
| them. The custom of the Governor
annb Council in expanding the funds
OF the State without appropriat ton
and Legislative warrant has within
the last two or three years assumed
serious proportions. There is a recll-
less and prOdigal spending of the
t public funds by the most autocratic
Governor Maine ever had. am Off
cially Informed that the Governor of
Maine has expended from State
funds, all without appropriation. the
large sum Of substantially S175.O 900.
In altering and making additions to
the Blaine homestead in Augusta so
generously given to the people of
Maine by the Blaine heirs. Its ex-
terror architecture has been spoil
| ated and defaced. l cannot speak of
its interior, only the elect proceed
therein. ! has cost the people of
| Maine more to alter the Blaine house
than it cost to build and furnish
complete the first State House. An
act should be passed by the next
Legislature prohibiting the expendi-
ture of money without an appropria
! ton therefor, The great mystery of
the ages is the contingent fund of
the Governor and Council Its items
| nave never been scanned by human
eyes other than state officials.
Asked to produce the items Of ex-
penditure he gives totals, makes a
temperance speech and SAYS that
only the forces Of evil could make
| so impertinent a request.
A solemn obligation Of the State
is deferred while the Governor
makes these large unwarranted ex-
penditures. On April z, 1917, Gov
ernor Milliken signed resolve au-
thorizins the payment to each Ma
tional Guardsman Of Maine indicted
into the service of the United States
q sum not to exceed one dollar per
day for every day Of service. This
was 4 solemn and binding contract
made by the State with each men,
ber. Of the National Guard. What
move has the Governor of Maine
made TO make payment under the
resolve to these Maine soldiers all
Of whom were members of the i'm
mortal yankee" division. What is
the attitude Of the Governor in re-
gard to this resolve ? We have a
right to ask the war Governor of
Maine how far the money expended
on the Blaine house would have APP
piled In paying these patriotic boys
the> amount due them from the
State. We have 4. right further. to