Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-26
Davies Reply to =
Governor on P. U. II
Craftsmanship

Governor on Z. -. ~.
Craftsmanship !.
The following IL the text Of How,
ard, p. Davies letter to Gov. Baxter
r>lative to the formers withdrawal
a q candidate for chairman OF the
Public Utilities Commissions:
Portland, Maine, Oct 10Th. 1871.
Governor Percival P. Baxter, Houl-
ton. Maine.
Ny dear Governc- Baxter:
I have received your telegram from
Bangor under date Of October il. as
follows: I'm view of the approach
Ing railroad strike 1t 10 imperative
that Maine have q chairman OF Pub
lie Utilities commission. Safety OF our
citizens requires = full board to act
in this grave emergency. I am con-
WINGED that executive council Will
never confirm your nomination but
still believe you ought to be con-
firmed as chairman. am willing to
waive my personal views and would
1t not be well for you to sacrifice
your laudable ambition at this time.
Please wire me at Houlton today II
you wish me to Withdraw your name.
We both should consider only the
public interest and no personalities
should interfere with our duty to the
people Of Maine"
You will permit me to say in reply
that am quite in accord with your
statement that it is imperative that
Maine have a chairman OF Public
Utilities commission. but not neces-
sarily in view Of the contemplated
railroad strike. but because the COM
mission cannot properly function
without a chairman.
4 do not consider that the safety OF
our citizens is in any way imperiled
by the threatened railroad strike, for
in my opinion, Maine men engaged in
the work Of steam railroad transpor-
tation are peaceful and law abiding.
Like yourself, am deeply con-
cerned about the public interest and
I am in no way Influenced by adverse
criticism, neither shall permit per-
sonalities to interfere with my duty.
Previous to August 10Th. had no
fixed views on what my course OF ac-
ton should be in this matter but az
ter reading your statement given out
at Augusta on that day in which you
said. II cannot yield my position
which is the public has the right to
know why the Governors nominee Is
not acceptable to the councillors" my
course seemed perfectly clear. This
position of yours. to me. seemed
proper and logical. am not in &C
cord with a further observation made
by you in your statement of August
10, wherein you say. II want the
people to understand that the coun.
cilors are elected by the members OF
the Legislature and thus are not re-
sponsible either to the people or the
Governor" ..,
The members of the Executive
Council are servants OF the public.
part Of the executive branch OF the
state government. They represent the
people OF our State, and to the people
they are responsible for their acts.
The business of our State government
is the peoples business and they have
a right to know the motives and the
reasons for the conduct of their SER
wants.
Since your statement Of August
18th have written a great many let
tiers stating what my course of action
would be. and I could not withdraw
now without stultifying myself and
laying myself liable to severe criti-
~ OP than 0f1D
people who have endorsed me. I feel
keenly that it is the intention OF the
Executive Council to humiliate and
degrade me and shall not surrender
to the wishes and desires OF seven men
who apparently have no higher sense
Of public service than to do the bid
ding Of a man who declared at a hear
ing before a legislative committee in
Augusta, at which l was present. that
he represented q different corpora
tons. and at the same time he held
the office Of chairman Of the Public
Utilities Commission. and subsequent
ly' in a public utterance he had the
towering, impudence to notify the Gov
ernor Of our State that he would re-
sign his position as chairman OF the
Public Utilities Commission in his own
good time and after hes'was satisfied
that his successor met his demands for
that Office.
should be lost to every sense of
manhood and deserving Of obloquy
and condemnation If l. yielded my
sense Of justice and devotion to prin-
cipic to the members of the Execu-
tive Council.
am under great obligation to you
for all you have done for me. appre-
ciate it more than can tell you, and
I thank you from the bottom Of my
heart.
The great political question which
transcends all others in the State Of
Maine Is. whether the corporations
are to rule and direct the affairs of
the State or whether the government
Of the State of Maine shall be con-
trolled and directed by the people
themselves through their duly elected
representatives.
With renewed assurances of my re.
spect and esteem. am.
e. -."' Sincerely yours.
(signed) HOWARD DAVIES.
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