Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-07
CLUB WOMEN QUERY RIVAL
.MAYORALTY CANDIDATES ON STAND
TOWARD QUESTIONS PUBLIC ETHICS
Mclean S ANSWER

To the Members of the Woman's
.cint Committee Of Augusta,
Ladies:
am in receipt of the questions sub
rlitted to me as candidate for Mayor
ty your subcommittee.
If elected Mayor, shall regard the
City as my client and shall serve it
with the same zeal and fidelity that
serve every client. AS an attorney,
il has always been my practice to re-
serve my judgments until / had in
formed myself thoroughly on all the
facts. The affairs of the city are
certainly entitled to the same careful
Investigation. l feel sure that your
respect for and confidence in me
| would only be lessened by hasty pre-,
election promises based. as in some
instances they would necessarily have
to be, on a superficial investigation.
I am serving no interest, faction or
! individual. l am my own boss. and
shall be if elected Mayor. With this
introduction, that you may fully I'M
derstand my position and that there
| may be no misunderstanding, will
answer your inquiries.
While I have never made an inves-
tigation of the uestion, I have felt
! that a police woman or matron would
serve substantial need in Augusta,
protecting from and preventing, per-
haps more often than actually pun
| fishing, crime. l believe, also, that
matron might be used to advantage
at times in cooperation with the Poor
| Department, as truant officer, etc. In
Auburn under the city management
plan, / am informed that a matron
| has proven both efficient and econ
Cnical. l have no appointee in mind
| for such an office. l know of no rea-
son why matron or police woman
may not be appointed under the pres
| ent city charter.
| At the time of forming your Ques-
tions, your committee was probably
| not aware that the term of the Over
seer of the Poor does not expire until
1924, and that in due course a new
appointment would not be made until
that time. While this is unfortunate,
| as | deem it important that the new
Z government should have the power
oe naming the heads of its depart
ments, it is the condition that exists.
| If elected. however, I shall keep in
close touch with this, as we'll as ev-
cry other department. Certainly mis-
management will not be tolerated in
any department. If there is mis-
management or cause for the removal
| of any officials, ! shall welcome
proof of the fact.
| If p1opfaI T will pnoipf noun C;+,,
Marshal; i will also appoint temper
ate men on the police force. i con-
slider drukenness as ground for the
dismissal of a police officer. Ger
tainly police officers should not be
violators of tho law.
| There is no antasonism between
the public and by far the greater
number of the taxi owners. The one
! desires to give and the other to re-
| Ceive good service. While j have for
mulated no plans as to the granting
of licenses, the granting OF an I'M
limited number of licenses must nee
.essarily result in the injury both of
. the taxi owners and the public have
no doubt hut that a plan can be de-
vlsed that will protect both | believe
| lidL tIe lIdIIlC rules should DC en-
forced: if impracticahle. they should
be repealed and workable regulations
adopted: also that schedule Of fees.
fair both to tho public and the taxi
owners. should be adoptei and then
enforced.
l am not familiar with the condi-
tons now surrounding our pool
looms. | do know that some Years
ago, when | was City Solicitor, the
pool room situation was so handled
that | do not think it was in any way
subject to criticism If elected. 7
shall insist that all pool rooms shall
so conducted as not to violate our
laws or to be a menace to our youth
or the community If more stringent
regulations are necessary for that
purpose. I shall cndeavcr to have
them adopted
| Yours very truly.
(siGned) EARNEST J.. MCLEAN
Eircf Of p1.;x,ofo