Evening star., 1923-06-10
FLAG HONOR TO DOG.
R0USES CITIZENS
Maine Governor Defends
HaIf-Masting Emblem for
Faithful Friend" :"
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

Special Dispa tch to The Star.
PORTLAND, Me-, June 9.-To this
story of Names famous deceased dog
there hangs a political tale. Gov.
Percival p. Baxter Of Maine, who PAID
the same honors to his dead favorite
Irish setter that is paid to a soldier
who gave his life for his country, by
ordering the American flag on the
capitol at Augusta half-masted as
aroused considerable resentment in
military and patriotic circles by his
act, but his political opponents de-
clare that it will be used against him
If he should be candidate for re-
election in the fall.
When the residents of Augusta
awoke the other morning and no.
ticed that the flag on the state house
was half-masted they assumed that
some state official had died, but some
of the more curious made enquiries
and learned that the national en-
Garry" the governors pet dog, who
was as well known and as much
liked by Augusta people as Presi-
dent Hardings Laddie Boy is In
Washington. As soon as the reason
for half -masting the state house
flag was known word was passed
around and soon the entire state
knew the story.
Protests Pour In.
Protests began to pour into the
statehouse, but Gov. Baxter was not
there to receive them. He had gone
to Portland, the chief mourner at
Garry's funeral, and personally took
charge of the burial Of the dog on
the governors palatial home. on the
shore of Casco bay. where the dog
was inferred with the same reverence
that one would pay to a human being.
Among those up in arms over the
lowering Of the flag in honor Of the
governors dog was George r. Gay.
department commander of the G. A
r. He was unable to get in touch
with Gov. Baxter to personally pro-
test over what he believed a sacri-
lege to the flag and an insult to every
member of the organization.
The local legion post also was up
in arms over the incident. Finally
at 4 pm. Gov. Baxter's office reached
him at Portland and told him of the
protests lodged at the state house.
The governor then ordered the state
house flag hoiSted to the top Of the
staff. Later in the day the COVER
nor's office issued a statement re-
garding the incident. containing an
obituary notice of Garry and his
masters tribute to him, which read
III pdil db
Calls Dog His Friend.
Garry, Coy. Baxter,s faithful
friend and companion. died Thurs
day night after a long illness. Last
September a swelling appeared on
Garry's jaw and ii failed to respond
to treatment. Two trips were made
to the Angel Memorial (animaD
Hospital in Boston. all to no purpose.
Garry and his predecessors have
fa mil
thirty-seven years. and since coming
TO Augusta in 1921, Garry has lived
at the Blaine. mansion. the govern
or's official residence. once the home
of James G. Blaine. He visited the
capitol every day and had friends in
every office where he called In pass
ing by. In the executive chamber
a special couch was provided for
him, and he stayed there hour after
hour waiting for his master to finish
his work and take him for walk
over the hills and through the woods
back of the state house.
Garry was an Irish setter with
a wonderful coat like dark polished
copper, unusually intelligent and
friendly to everybody. especially to
children, who daily passed his resi-
dence on their way to school. During
the legislative session, notwithstand-
ing his illness, he kept faithful
guard over his master and never
seemed disturbed at the goings and
comings at the governors Office.
Like Governors shadow.
During his long illness he was
cared for like a. human being. for he
was like the governors shadow,
always with him. Garry had a spe-
ciaY pass on the Main Central rail-
road by President Mcdonald, and he
was not obliged like other dogs to
most unusual dog and when matters
at the state house became trouble
some last winter, his master found
in him q true friend.
family in the governors little dog
cemetery. Garry's son. one-year old
now, takes the place of the father
dog in the affections of Gov. Baxter:
During the controversy over the af-
fair, Gov. Baxter said that Garry
was unlike some OF his political
friends. in that the dog was always
faithful and ''he never betrayed me.
This reference to betrayal is thought
to refer to his own party opposition
to the governor at the last session OF
the Legislature when house and SEN
ate took the keenest delight in pass
ing important measures over the gov
ernor's veto. One of them was his
veto of the water power bill, which
gave a private corporation control
for all time without any considera
tion of the state. The governor
vetoed the bill and the Legislature
passed it over his veto by big vote
Act Was Repealed.
The governor then prepared to ar
range for a referendum Of the mea-
sure and had started a wide cam
paign for that purpose and was
gathering the signatures to put the
question on the ballot at the state
! election in September next. He
promised to tour the state and de-
nounce those responsible for the
measure, but suddenly the Legislature
about faced and repealed the water.
power act. Gov. Baxter is regarded
as too radical by the Old Guard. He
| is a bachelor, handsome, well edu-
Gated and has added to his culture
by world travel. He is one of the
rich men Of the state and in Senator
Fred Hale's legislative days at Au-
gusta was one Of the latter's cronies
Gov. Baxter's dog love has alst
aroused the ire of many of the womer
! of Maine, particularly those wht
favored the maternity act of the las
Congress. The governor took the
| ground that the act was unnecessary
and a further infringement on the
sovereignty of the state by the ma
tional government. The proponent!
of the act now come back at him, say
ing that all his dogs, bearcats and the