Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-29
THE CASE IS BEFORE THE JURY

THE CASE Is BEFORE THE JURY
There is before the public, which
Is in the position of the jury, a case
Of much political interest and Of
some importance. Governor Brews-
ter made charges respecting what he
termed "a clumsy piece Of political
blackmail as we'll as a threat Of be-
trayal to the Republican party in the
midst of an important campaign"
These referred to a letter that he
claimed had been written and to re-
quests and suggestions that had
been made to coerce him. His
charges were published in the press
under date OF Sept 20. No copy of
the letter referred to accompanied
the charges.
On Sept. 20 the news carried q
statement by Chairman Field Of the
Republican State Committee declar-
ing there was no conspiracy or threat
IN the letter he received from Col
Fred N. Dow Of Portland. This let
ter. which Colonel Dow assumed was
the one to which Governor Brewster
referred, he had given to the Port
land papers the previous day. In
this, as readers will recall. he ex-
pressed approval of Governor Brews-
ter's administration, but also ap-
prehension lest some, Of Senator
Hale's friends. uncertain respecting
the Governors attitude toward the
candidacy Of Hale in 1928, might not
give the Governor their support.
This is hardly a high tribute to
the republicanism of such persons;
however their number does not ap-
pear to have been large. all things
considered, including hostility arous-
ed over the Kennebec sheriff and
prejudices that may have existed
relative to the xxx. Manifestly 1t
was not a letter which could be ex-
pected to be entirely pleasing to the
Governor. especially if he entertain
ed an idea of figuring in the Sena-
torial contest Of 1928. as appears to
be the situation. On the other hand
one may unders nd why 1t
might have excited his resentment
had he no further political ambi-
lions. But whatever Of resentment
he may have felt he refrained from
giving public expression to until
after the election. a
On the 9th inst, there appeared
a statement from the Governor in
which he called in question the
loyalty Of Ex-Governor Baxter to the
Republican ticket, charging that
gentleman with assuring him his
(Baxter's) support would not be
Forthcoming unless should sign my
name to a written statement, which
Mr.. Baxter prepared and submitted
to me through Mr.. Field. The state
ment was so widely at variance with
the facts that it was impossible to
consider the action that they propos-
ed for the full Republican ticket re-
ceiving his support" This was not
by a copy Of the state
ment, which Governor Brewster says
he was asked to sign.
Sept. 2Sth Mr.. Baxter makes reply
and gives to the press what purports
to be the statement Governor Brews-
ter was asked to sign, but not the
statement he says Governor Brewster
was willing to sign. He says he as
sured Chairman Field that he would
contribute and would support the
says he did support and
vote that ticket in full-but that he
could not, in view Of what the Gov
ernor had said about the condition Of
the finances, discuss that subject in
the campaign, or words to that eff
feet. Mr.. Baxter, it appears, also
expressed his Indifference whether
Governor Brewster did or did not
sign the statement.
Those who recall Governor Brews-
ters criticism at the beginning of his
term of the situation in which he
said he found the States finances
will not find it difficult to understand
why Mr.. Baxter on the stump would
hesitate to discuss the subject or say
about Governor Brewster's
Of them. On the other
hand. careful reading of the state
ment cannot leave the reader in
doubt why Governor Brewster should
hesitate to sign a statement that in
effect would approve Governor Bax-
ter's handling of the contingent
fund, such reluctance not necessarily
rejecting on the purpose or honesty Of
his predecessor.
The Journal has withheld COM
ment on this unpleasant controversy
until such time as the essential evil
dence might have been made public.
Such evidence seems now to have
been submitted to the public, the
fury. Nor would we assume to argue
the matter before the jury. It does,
however, seem to be permissible to
express the opinion that personal
ambitions should not be allowed to
becloud the welfare Of the Repub-
lican party or Of the State. As we
see it, Governor Brewster was right
in resenting what he deemed dicta-
ton IN the interests Of certain
candidates. AS to his discretion in
making public what he has, at the
time he has chosen. whether his per-
sonal ambitions with respect to the
future Influenced him in his decision.