Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-04-12
JUDGE MAHER SEES
PERIL IN PLUTOCRACY
AND IN "MOBoCRACY"

THE danger to the government
is not in revolution but in evolution
not in the red radical or the high
browed socialist, but in the cold
blooded sophist who noisily parades
the prospect of class war, while sub
thy he himself is seeking and shaping
class distinctions said Hon. Bene-
dict F. Maher in his address at the
City Opera house Sunday afternoon
where he was the speaker at the
Open Forum meeting, which is the
last, of the season.
/ Judge Maher characterized twin
pillars of freedom as protection of
property and protection of the pro-
: ducers of property and in the sense
/. of labo. he said that the Safeguard
ing Of the interests of the latter and
the guaranty of their rights is beset
with more difficulty than the pro-
lection of property, because the pro-
ducers of property are largely the
owners of some property and in the
production of capital are protecting
themselves.
And today when unrest is ram.
pant, when the radical furnishes
pretext when the great consuming
public pressed with high costs, high
taxes and high living. has attention
, focused on high wages in this or
tina industry there is danger that
labor shall be taxed with faults
charged with folly and heaped with
disrepute, and the result is quickly
noted of this perverted propaganda,
which is singularly unfortunate, as
those forces which dade for orderly
procedure appear to be Offering a
premium to disorderIy conduct
While the public tolerates or en-
courages either the radical agitator
who aims at the disruption or the
self-centered. selfish, gold plated up
start, who puts dividends above de-
votion, employer and employee will
wage war on each other instead of
on waste. We wont have any mobo-
cracy in this country. let as refuse
to have any plutocracy."
Judge Maher referred to the at
tempt to repeal what he character
ICED as one of the most progressive
pieces Of legislation which puts par
ties and candidates under the per-
sonal test of voters, the direct pri-
mary law. "At a time when women
are about to vote. at a time when
candidates and measures are Of en-
gaging importance, this bold bid to
return to log-rolling conventions and
back Office politics is significant. He
said that should the primary law be
repealed this would be followed by
the repeal of the initiative and refer
endum. He placed the blame for
this on both parties as he said there
were as many in one as in the other
who would favor these movements
He spoke of the hue and cry be-
cause labor is endeavoring to enter
politics and cited many of the con-
structive measures which had been
put through because of labor as a
reason why labor should take an ac-
tive part in the great issues before
the country. And knowing what has
been done by organized labor to adj
vance the common lot Of all, it IS
prepared to keep on with vision and
courage.
The meeting was well attended by la.
Dor men, who selected the speaker for
the occasion. James E. Mcmahon pre-
sided for the afternoon and announced
that this would be the last forum meet
ing of the season but that next year. It,
was expected. committee will arrange
for another series of meetings which
it Is hoped will be as successful as
those of this year. Judge Maher was
frequently interrupted with applause
and was given hearty resnonsa for
his efforts at the close Of his speech.