Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-28
THORNDIKE
Charles E. Smith
Legislative Candidate

me 1OuoWlnS AToA e"~ $500
lican Journal respecting . Wen
known citizen Of Thorndike - OF m.
terest to the many friends OF MT
smith, who Is candidate from THIS
class for the Legislature:
AS Mr.. Charles e. Smith, who 10
candidate for the Legislature in the
Thorndike Class, No. 104 to a COM
parative stranger in some OK the
towns in the class, q short sketch OF
his activities may not be amiss.
When but 16 he enlisted In the
"a Me. Cavalry and on the final
examination in Augusta was re-
iected for under age and weight,
Some 20 others were sent back AT
that time for various reasons. After
getting through school he studied
law. but instead Of making q poor
lawyer, he decided he would try and
make u good farmer. at which pro
1sss,Sn he has been V0rs than
The year he took the chairman
ship OF the Rep. town committee in
Freedom the Democrats had just
100 majority. At the end Of the IL
years during which Mr.. Smith held
that position We were beating them
half OF the time, q gain Of some 130
per cent; q gain, which Sen. Billings
said was greater than was made by
any other town in the County dur
ing the past 20 years."
Some 25 years ago Mr.. Smith was
doing some work for the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture. He did
not consider one phase Of the work
expedient, and called this to the at
tention Of the Chairman OF the Com
mittee on Agriculture Of the H. r.,
ali nj
The work was dropped and as II
was costing some $4,000 a year,
and was stopped some Is years ago,
1t has meant a saving Of about half
q million OF dollars.
1t will be remembered that when
the late Cyrus w. Davis was maxi
ing his campaign as a candidate for
the office of Governor he made the
wild lands" question his chief
slogan. At that time Mr.. Smith
delivered an address before the
County Grange on the wild land
question. and the state committee
published 1t as a campaign docu-
ment. 1t was also published in
every daily paper in the State. II
was a very thorough resume Of the
question. and the state committee
said that 1t made over q thousand
votes different in the result OF the
campaign.
Again when Hon. Arthur I. Brown
was CHOSEN Secretary Of State Mr..
smith was surprised to receive A
telephone message requesting him 10
go TO Augusta to assist in that Of !.
nee. While there Mr.. Smith put up
the Australian ballots 4 different
times. and although there were
some $500 changes in the printing
ana the packages were sent to over
4,ooo addresses. not one mistake In
the PROOF reading got by, and no
package was sent to a wrong ad :
While it was Mr.. Smiths duty IN
scrutinize every law before ito f,ns
passage through the Legisia ture
though there were mistakes. NOT ons
ever got by and crept into Tire
statute. This the Secretary OF Sta ts
said was unusual.
mere was one law passed which
Mr. smith thought was uncalied for
ne took 1t to the head OF the he.
partment who adopted the same
view. The bill consisted OF nm an
preparation $4,000, and "a az
Legislature was to adjourn In 4
n noap'e OF days prompt action was
hhssc,essary. So Mr.. smith drew 4
Dnl repeating the law. and had II
r''is unoer suspension Of the
r a.ss. although money may not be
aaeeoed, public officials can easily
san ~ use Tor 1t. At least that
s'y;yVo was saved in this instance.
when the late Cyrus w, Davis
81 democraO was Secretary OF
ntate ne Got Mr.. Smith to put I'm
the Australian ballots for the proe
nipitory amendment as there ws.
no one In the state so familiar with
Mr.. Smith was in Augusta wbys
TINS country was engaged in the re.
tent world War. He took part In
every drive and raised severai
nunared dollars for the Red Cross
ano other organizations. He was q
member OF the Kennsbec Count ;
Legai Advisory Board in conn ection
WIN the Ad1utant Generals once.
ana after the war, when a carlos 4
oI army provisions was sent 10 A.
gusta for disposal, the Mayor tsis-
pnoneo TO Mr.. Smith to take cha rSs
OF the sale in the City buildinS
Inis ne did. and disposed Of nss IL,
az OF 1t In one afternoon, All ~
ms emis work was voluntary, and with
out remuneration. "'N"@
On account Of the foresoinr hahn.
Iui activities Mr.. Smith's frianS.
mink ne Ii well entitled 20 the am
port OF the voters in this leeislatiy.
CLASS. Surely no one who N 80
Quainted with him auestions ID.
aoliity to meet the reauirements -