Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-22
Davies Not the Man
No Politics in Rejection

ANU OAllSS Ill XtCJCCtlOl
The Lewiston Journal, June 20.
has the following respecting the at
titude of the executive council in re-
fusing to confirm the appointment of
Mr.. Davies:
Hon. Howard Davies of Yarmouth
was not confirmed Friday by the
executive council as chairman of
the Public Utilities commission of
| Maine for the reason that the seven
mem bers of that body did not re-
gard him as temperamentally fitted
| for the position and secondly be-
! cause they felt that he was other
wise not suited to the duties of the
position.
That is the statement made today
to the Lewiston Journal by a man
( in close touch with the council and
who is in a position to know the
facts.
This man went further in his dis
cussion Of the refusal of the eXecu-
tive council to confirm the nomina-
ton of Mr. Davies by Gov. Baxter.
Said he:
LII tlC SOohNi . oNSioi NHNiS -
| not the slightest reflection of the
water power proposition. That had
no bearing upon the decision of the
council. The one cause which ac-.
tuated them was. as I have said.
the belief that Mr.. Davies was not
the proper man for the position;
that ne was not suited to head one
of the most, if not the most i'm
portant, commission in our State.
Many of the members of the coun-
Gil had had dealings with Mr.. Da-
vies during his service in the legis-
lati,e work for many years. 1t was
the concensus of their opinions that
he was not the man for the job and
SO they unanimously refused to vote
for his confirmation.
There are men in that council
who are in accord with the Governor
in the greater part of his water
power program. so the fact that M.
Davies takes the Governors position
on this issue, could not have influ-
enced them to vote against him. Had
there been nothing but the water
power question. those men would in
all probability have voted to con-
firm"
Did politics enter into it" he was
asked.
mo, sir" was the prompt reply,
THE reasons are exactly as I have
/ set forth to you"
II might add further" said he,
| that during the week which inter-
vened between the announcement OF
Mr.. Davies nomination by the Gov
ernor. and the meeting of the council
at which confirmation was refused,
practically every member of the
council was urged by people in his
district that the appointment be not
confirmed. Wherever one went in
the State he heard the same senti-
mcnt I am told by one man who
travels the State extensively that in
the week he did not meet a man
who did not take the same position
as did the executive council on Fri
day"
There have been reports in circu-
Iation to the effect that the Gov
ernor took the matter of the naming
of Mr.. Davies up with members of
the council before he made the.
nomination, which indicated that he
had assurances of confirmation at
the time the appointment was made.
The gentleman here quoted says en-
phatically that such is not so. 1.-THE
governor may have indirectly hint
ed that he was considering Davies
says this man. but he did not dis
cuss 1t in a serious manner. I can
say with great certainty, for had he
done so, he would have learned how
the councillors stood in the matter
and this present situation might
have been averted."
Asked If he thought the council
would adhere to its former action
when the second nomination of Mr..
Davies came before it. the man said
he did; that he could see no way
of changing the councillors minds.
Discussing the statement which
the Governor gave out Saturday in
this city to the effect that he thought
the people would demand a public
hearing in the matter, this gentle
man said that he did not look for
such a course; that he felt the pub
lie generally was satisfied and then
he said:
What an absurd proposition.
Councils in the past have refused
to confirm men appointed by the
governor and the people have not
reached a state of excitement where
by they have sought public hear