Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-27

nified until 1t represents a stroke at
educational, .charitabl and agricul-
tural institutions as well as against
a few schools and institutions of sec
tartan nature. Properly the amend
mend coming before the voters in
september cannot be called a sectar-
| Ian amendment. 1t should be termed
a blow at education, at charity. at
| agriculture. at progress; conceived in
ridfcule and nourished in ignorance.
Il am glad that my questioner
| asked the third question: If elected
governor what would be your atti-
| tude toward the party workers. For
several years in my opinion there has
been a growing tendency toward au-
tocraoy by the heads of the State.
There has also been an increasing
tendency to disregard the claims of
the party committees and workers.
In the present administration there
has beer constant recognition of
certain wing of the Republican party,
an organization within the party
that has been able to envision but
one single issue, to Judge the ability
and qualifications of persons for Of,
fee upon their membership or non
membership in this inner organiza-
ton which is not Republican and not
American.
"Should It SO happen that the
! power of making appointments for
| state office comes to me, l shall base
those appointments upon character,
ability. and then true party service.
And in any action that cd Icerns the
Republican party of Maine, shall
consult with the leaders of that party
and be grateful for their advice.
/ II believe in all proper forms of adj
vertising Maine, and 1 am sincerely
interested in its development. The
| fact that l own over three hundred
acres of Maine farm land ought to be
evidence that l believe in Maine. 1
often wonder how much of the soil of
Maine some of these people own who
make such weird statements about
the agricultural advantages OF Maine.
was born and brought up on a farm.
| 1 know what a lot of work it requires
to make a living on a Maine farm.
have a profound respect for the men
and women of Maine, who, in spite of
the handicaps of farming. are making
such a splendid success in their chos-
en- vocation. 1t is from the farms of
Maine that the men and women have
come who have helped to make this
nation what it Is today.
Replies to Or. Thomas
Last night listened to DIR. Angus
| tus o. Thomas, State Commissioner
of Education explain away the evils
of the Maher amendment. He was
speaking before the Augusta League
of Women Voters. Were it not for
the fact that DIR. Thomas occupies
position of honor and trust in our
state, his arguments in behalf of the
amendment would not deserve atten-
| ton. Because he does occupy one Of
the most Important official positions
in the state, people have right to
| have some confidence in his state
ments. Therein lies the danger.
| 1t Is hard to conceive how any man
while in the employ of the State of
| Maine, under oath to protect and
abide by the laws of the State. can
deliberately and publicly advocate
the adoption of an amendment to our
state constitution which necessitates
eve now, before it has been voted
upon. a discussion of suitable man
ne rof evading the plain wording of
the proposed law.
| To my surprise, Dr. Thomas was at
loss to find any way by which the
| fair associations could secure assist
ance from the state If the amend
ment became law. He did not seem
willing to adopt the governors sug-
gestion, made in his recent Rockland
speech, to the effect that the provis-
ions of the law might be evaded by
paying to the fair associations each
year lust before the fairs were held,
a sum of money to be used as premi
ums, instead of waiting until after
the fairs were held and the exact
amounts to be paid determined. Pro-
badly DIR. Thomas can see very little
difference in the legality of paying
money to be used as premiums be-
fore a fair is held or after. when the