Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-11
the votes and the party would be de-

The county ana district C0nNen-
lions also gave the people a chance
to get acquainted and to determine
who was the logical choice for q pub
lice Office.
That the people have not always
had voice in the nomination of
their candidates was dismissed as
absurd. The idea that the conven-
tons were run by men who were the
choice Of packed caucuses' was also
exploded. In large cities where the
caucus is held in a ward room 1t
might be feasible to pack the room
| to the exclusion of those opposing
the delegate, but in city such as
Augusta where the caucus is held in
City hall it would take the whole
voting population to pack the caucus.
The faults of the system. he said,
are that it departs from the system
which was laid out by the founders
of the country. The candidates for
any. Office are more apt TO be- unht
! for the Job, and the man must seek
| the Job as the job cannot seek the
man as formerly. Mr.. Pattangall
|
ton has nominated some man who
felt would be the proper man for tie
| Office, when he had not entertained
| the thought of seeking the office.
| This happened many times when
! there were avowed candidates for the
! position, but when they were not
| considered to be hit for the office.
Another thing against the primarS
| law is the fact that the voters now
| split up into cliqucs or factions IN
stead of into parties. There may he
| many more factions and so any min
ority group has much more power in
/; the primary than in the convention
system of nominations.
| The primary also tends to make n
! personal issue of the contest instead
of making it a contest of issues. Even
! when two candidates maN be on IN"
| best of terms, their followers are sure
| to throw mud"
| Because of this faction" vote the
members of Congress have almost
stopped legislation. Mr. Pattangan
mentioned the statement Of Chairman
| Fordncy in regard to the bonus bill
! Mr. FordIey recently stated that the
bill would come before the House
yesterday and that it must he voted
| upon without any amendments af:er
| but 40 minutes of debating. The speak,
er attributed this 10 a bid for the Nots
Of the war veterans. In the conNen-
! tion system a man could vote as he
thought best and then he would have
! a chance to go before the convention
! and explain his stand This he is un-
able to do with the primary law and
so they are careful not TO vote in n
way that would be against the wishes
of the largcsI faction i'll his district
The corrupt practice act which WAS
| passed 10 limit the amount of money
| which could be spent in primary
election was then taken up. This act
| requires that each candidate file
| sworn statement that he has spent not
over Il certain sum for his primary
campaign. This he does probably in
good faith. but the act does not limit
the amount that his supporters spend.
as was shown in the Newberry case.
Finally. Mr.. Pattaugall said that
he would not advise that the legis.a-
| ture repeal the act. but that il should
be referred to the people, giving as his
opinion that they would surely re-
peal it.
This. fine address came after the
round OF merriment which is always a
feature of these Rotary meetings. ~
| fine banquet was served to one Of the
largest crowds that has attended
meeting for a long time. The hall
was filled to overflowing and all joined
| in with vim to make it worth while
| meeting.
After the banquet, committee
consisting of Wilbert Wilson. Fred
| Perry. NJ. r. Cunningham, Nelson
| Gordan. George Weber. Perley
| Lawrence Frank Tracey and
| Charles Bilodeau was named on
motion OF Blaine Niles, to take
| charge of the Rotary Clubs part in
the Baseball Carnival which is 10
| held this spring.
| Other business was also discussed
/ and then a number of men were
| called before President Elmer r..
! NCwbert These men weregreatly
mystfed and they came forward
! :athcr slowly. fearing that there was
&c be some fun at their expense.
| President Newbert then pinned lit
| tie American pin upon each OF them.
| explaining that they had each and
| every one been at every meeting for
| the past three months and that this
| was their reward.
Musical Director J. Francis Mac
| Nichol then organized bell ringer
chorus" Numerous persons i'm the,
hall had been mystified by the small
bells which certain members were
wearing upon their coat lapel. These
men were called to the piano and
after some had been presented with
bells which closely resembled the
bells which are given to small chill
dren to amuse them, they were in
structed in the technique OF bell
ringing. After they had thoroughly
mastered this art they were called
upon to give the BELLS of st. Mary's'
with variations. After this little con-
cert the serious part of the evenings
program was taken up.
Do You or Don't You?
Here is bit of wisdom printed