Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-01

and the women Of the State of Maine
are behind this Bill. but beginning in
my own small town of Fairfield. I
want to say that do not known of
| one Women's organization in that
town that Is In favor Of that Bill.
The real responsible women's club OF
that town has passed a resolution
against the Bill. That resolution has
been sent to me and numerous wom-
en- from my town have spoken to me
against it.. Now. going into it little
further. Miss Robertson of Oklahoma
was the only woman member in the
House OF Representatives when this
Act was passed. Was she in favor
OF this Bill? She said. If the pitiless
lights OF publicity" were brought to
bear on the methods which has
brought the Bill thus far toward en-
actment Its most ardent proponents
would In all fairness be compelled to
allow time for the as yet unheard
majority OF WOMEN who know moth
Ing Of the proposed legislation tc
learn the facts and to speak for
themselves" al
In Massachusetts til. wng a
hearing which the women largely at
tended to see II Massachusetts would
accept the provisions Of this Bill. A
poll was taken Of the women men,
bers present and ninety per cent. of
the women who crowded the Audi
torium at the State House recorded
themselves in opposition to the Shop
pard -Towner Maternity Act. Now,
in addition to the women, the doctors
| have the interests of maternity and
the children in the State of Maine
very much at heart. Consult your
own physician or consult any men,
Der of the medical profession and
you will find that almost to a man
they are absolutely opposed to this
measure. For they know that litera-
ture does not have the effect that
personal contact with the women and
children does, and they will tell you
that the personal contact is of more
advantage to the women and children
OF Maine than any literature that you
can possibly get out. Now, the real
~ vital point in this matter is not as
10 whether we are getting something
for nothing. 1t Is whether or not
we want to surrender the State
rights. which we have to the Federal
Government. 1t is true that We have
already accepted provisions for Fed
eral aid for 'ederal Forestry Preser-
Walton ami I. n so-called Federal
Aid bills. but !. seems to me that the
time has come when we must STOP
we must If we want to spend our
own money as we want to and as we
know in our own locality it should be
spent. Then we should get away
from this doctrine of Socialism and
Paternalism and Bolshevism that ex-
lists in a bill of this nature. Save us
from beaureaucratic state! Save us
from a~concentration in Washington
of numberless bureaus for the regu-
! lation of human affairs, from mater
nifty to ST. Lawrence navigation.
! from cold storage to patriotic
| poems. Let us as a people, do some
thing for ourselves, and remain mas
tiers in our own homes.
Mr.. MAHER of Augusta: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen, wish to
make a few remarks, not as an
apology for my views, nor with the
hope that 1 will persuade any mem
Der of this assembly to my convic-
tions, but l am heartily, thoroughly
and honestly In favor of the major
, ity report upon this measure, and for
this reason, that / have yet to hear,
despite the responsiveness of the
gentleman from Fairfield, (Mr.
/ Weeks). despite the eloquence, de-
spite the learning and unQuestioned
ability of all who took part at the
hearing before the Governors Council
last summer which I attended and
listened to attentively. l have yet to
hear a single argument that does not
answer itself. In fact, the position
OF the minority on this bill. the posi-
ton of the gentleman from Fairfield.
his entire argument, resolves itself
in the last analysis to this: 1--WE VIII
not accept this particular money in
this particular way. we Will not &C
cept this particular agency, but We
will pay you an equivalent or lar
ger amount" admitting at the very
outset the premise either that out of
eXpediency in desire to placate
somebody or in an admission that
there is worth in the principle itself.
one of the two. either that the prin-
ciple itself of maternity aid here is
advisable or s1se that they will vote
away the peoples money as meas
ure of expedlency to placate some
body who thinks it is advisable.
Now. which is it? Is the principle
advisable and is it proper? Upon
that / will not assume to pass. 1 will
say this much. that the arguments
! against this particular form OF aid
| under discussion here resolve them
selves. IL 1 understand them, into
this; into technical. economic and
polite objections. The technical OBJ
lection is if ! get it. that no matter
what Is the act of this Legislature it
! Will be entirely futile because it will
not come within the purview of the
+ Act because of the referendum pro-
vision of our Constitution. In other
words. that the fiscal year of the
Federal Government will not coincide
with our 90-day provision under the
! referendum.s 1t seems to me that Sec
ton that the gentleman refers to
completely answers that,-that there
rs no provision until six months fol-
lowing the Adjournment of the Legis-
lature. We are permitted to avail
ourselves OF the provisions of the
Federal Act. He states that there is
some sort of workable understand
ing that has been reported to him.
| l know not of that but we are not
losing anything and the gentleman's
argument again reverts and destroys
it's position because if this Legisla-
ture, by anything that it does can
not come within the purview of the
National Act then we lose nothing by
having it. unless you would say that
we do not get the advantage OF the
state appropriation, which is pretty
obviously handled by an alternative
proposition. The technical argument
does not seem to me to be sound.
have heard the constitutional obiec-
ton made. l have read the opinion of
distinguished law officers of neigh
boring states. l have heard this con-
stituttonal controversy with refer
ence to progressive legislation of this
type from the time that the people
commenced to take an interest in
these things / have seen it work with
reference to the Federal legislation