Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-13
later to tell the complete story of his
understanding of the matter.
HincklRY,s Statement

Hinckley's Statement
Sen. Hinckley arose and asked the
floor on a question of personal
privilege. He then addressed the
Senate as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: I
arise at this time to a question of
personal privilege and ask to be
heard.
A veto was this morning read in
| the House of Representatives con-
tanning as part Of said message the
| following:
The Senator then quoted that part
OF the Governors veto message on
the railroad tax bill in which refer
ence was made to the activities of
a certain member of the Legislature
in making statements concerning one
man whose name had been used in
connection with the barrage of tele-
grams which had been laid down
upon the Legislature.
This unwarranted attack was
aimed at me as everybody must have
recognized and the client referred
to was Eugene r. Farnsworth, for
merly head of the Ku Klux Khan of
Maine but now not a member of that
organization. 1 shall not indulge in
in innuendo but shall briefly state
| facts.
ION Thursday of this week while
the r. r. excise tax bill and social
ed Quoddy project was before the
Governor awaiting his action, I am
reliably informed that his personal
| secretary telephoned several mem
bers of the Ku KluX Khan organiza-
| tion asking them to send kilograms
| tn tho (ynUarn0ys eli In h{v,1 ta k~
these messages and to further send
Geographic communications to the
several members of the Legislature
asking them to sustain the Governor
in his position.
1t is my opinion that such me-
thods are fraud upon this Legisla-
ture as attempting to reflect a state
of opinion that did not exist. In
| other words manufacturing senti-
ment apparently in support of a
| proposed veto concerning which no
| member of the Legislature had the
least information SO far as l can
| learn.
AS to Farnsworth, q short time
ago while this Legislature was in
session, l received a telephone call
from Mr.. Farnsworth, advising me
that he had opened an Office in the
Chapman building in Portland for
the purpose of conducting a public
ity campaign in connection with
Governor Brewster's Boom Maine
, movement. He further stated that
In connection with this campaign he
was selling Boost Maine buttons for
III each and that he proposed to
have a button for an automobile for
50 each. He stated that police from
the police department of Portland
had been to his Office and had stated
that he had no right to sell these
buttons unless his organization was
| incorporated. He said that he was
satisfied that this police interference
head of the Maine Publicity Bureau
in Portland.
He said that Governor Brewster
and he had gone over this matter
and that he, Governor Brewster, was
| much interested in this plan and
that he was anxious for him to con-
tinue and asked me what / thought
in regard to the legal aspect of the
matter. told him that it was an
| absurd position for the police officer
to interfere with him because of the
fact that he was not Incorporated
| and told him that he could speak to
my brother, who is my law partner,
concerning the matter, and that l
was sure my brother would fully ad-
wise him.
Il returned to Portland at the
close of the session at the end of the
. week and during the first morning
that l was in the office, Mr.. Farms
worth came in. He told me that
after talking with me, he had decid-
ed to come to Augusta to see the
Governor; that he had spent the en-
tire evening at Augusta and that the
Governor was in complete accord
with this proposition and stated that
he would do anything to assist him,
and asked him to have me call the
Governor in Augusta.
II called the Governor on the
phone while sIr. Farnsworth was in
the office. I thereupon told the
Governor that Mr.. Farnsworth was
at the office with me. that 1 UNDER
stood that the Governor wished me
to call him and asked the Governor
il that was correct, and he replied
that it was.
II then asked him in regard to
the matter and he said that of
course he could not do anything dir
and see that Mr.. Coe received orders
to keep his hands off Mr.. Farms
worth.
l. when returned to Augusta the
first of the week l met the Cover
nor that he had taken the matter up
with certain parties and he thought
it would be all right but that Mr..
Hiram w. Kicker would be in Au-
gusta within few days and that he
would take the matter up with Mr..
Kicker to see that Farnsworth was
left alone.
4 have had no conference with
Mr.. Farnsworth, Governor Brewster
or any other person since that time
in regard to this matter.
Il made no charge for services
i'll connection with the matter and
never received a cent and d. not ex-
pect to get cent for such legal SER
vices.
1T was never my suggestion, dir
ectly or indirectly, that Mr.. Farms
worth approach Governor Brewster.
On the contrary. Mr.. Farnsworth
professed such a degree OF ac-
quaintance and friendship with Gov.
Brewster and seemed to have such
immediate entree to him that it oc-
casioned mild surprise on my part.
Veto OH Electric II. X. Tax Bill
The Governor returned to the
House late Saturday afternoon a veto
message on the electric street rail-
road excise tax measure, saying the
plan would reduce the States reve-
nue. from $4,000 to $4,000 and for
similar reasons to that expressed on
the railroad excise veto of the
morning, he vetoed this bill.
On a yea and nay vote the House
failed to override the veto, the vote
being 81 for the bill, 60 against.