Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-16


tangall Of Augusta today eliminated
himself from consideration as the
Democratic candidate for Governor Of
Maine in 1924.
Speaking at the big party pow
WOW at Oakland Park, he declared
that it would be absolutely impossi-
BILE for him to accept the nomination
for the gubernatorial or any other
Office, and he added that he quite
agreed with Mayor Louis j. Brann
Of Lewiston that it would be better
to have a contest for the honor Of be-
ing the standard bearer a year hence
than to have q hand picked candi-
date.
yet, If had my own way" said
Mr.. Pattangall, Il would have the
State committee send out notices to
every town and city in the State
calling for q convention as early in
the year as we are Permitted under
the law to hold one, and 1 would
have the thousand delegates COM
ing to that convention select their
candidate at that time by a preferen-
tial ballot, it would Of course be
merely an advisory vote. but feel sure
they could go home and elect their
candidate governor, unless the Re-
publicans have different man from
any that have been mentioned thus
far"
Mr.. Pattangalls statement Of his
intention not to run formed part
Of a speech in which he criticized the
State and National administrations,
and urged the Democrats to get out
and work, IL they would win in the
next election. Frankly, he said, his
views of the situation we're not as
roseate as those of some of the pre-
ceding speakers, but he felt that
there was an opportunity before the
party.
"There is a gulf between oppor-
tunity and achievement though" ne
asserted, land the only way to
bridge that is by effort"
Mr.. Pattangall at one time referred
to something done by the State ad-
ministration as idiotic, he charged
that the work of the last Legislature
was the worst Of any that had ever
met in the state of Maine, and ne
said that Of the IA weeks OF the ses-
sion IL were used up in a religious
war and the remaining three in quar-
reling with the Governor. In his dis
cussion of national politics while he
warned his fellow Democrats they
must not be mis!ed by straw ballots
conducted by magazines saying that
the election depended not ON street
talk but on whether the people OF
America could support the, partys
principles and its candidates. Ihe
Democratic party is broader ana
bigger than mere opportunist
parfy" he said. at is needed in the
country today. On one side there
are the forces OF reaction and on the
other those of radicalist What Is
needed is a great liberal party DEEM
ing its duty to safeguard the inter-
ests of us who are working hard to
make homes for ourselves and main.
tain an American standard OF living.
Mr.. Pattangall was one Of the Big
Four who addressed the meeting at
the charming resort four miles out or
this city. The others were Mayor
Brann, former Governor Frederick
w. Plaisted and former United States
Senator Obadiah Gardner OF ROCK
land.
One of Col. Plaisted's chief grew
ances against the Republican party IN
the main is that the State committee
chose the Hon. Harold M. Sewail or
Bath as National committeeman.
"They were running true to form
when they elected him." said Col.
Plaisted, Harold changes his clothes
four times a day and he isn't close TO
you. I'd like to see one of you Knox
county Republicans ask favor OF
Harold Sewall." The former COVER
nor, like some Of the other speakers,
told stories of Republicans in Maine
and elsewhere in the country who are
just aching to vote the Democratic
ticket next year, provided 1t is head
ed by the right man and the platform
suits. The woods gre full OF these
people, according to the more opti-
mistic of the leaders heard here today
and after they had painted beauti-
full picture of the Grand Hegira to
their camp from the tents of, the en-
envy, Mr.. Pattangall. toward the END
or his speech, expressed the hope
that by organization they would. be
able to dig out of the woods a lot OF
the Democrats who had been lost
there since the 1920 election.
Former Senator Gardner was the
only one on the platform to mention
the Volstead law and the enforce
ment Of prohibition and in this con-
nection he made some statements
about President Warren G. Harding.
when the latter was a senator and.
Andrew w. Mellon, secretary OF the
treasury. that afforded a mild sensa-