Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-25

Foxcroft.
sagadahoc-L. Eugene Thebeau of
| Bath, Mrs. Horace Whitney Of Tops
ham.
Somerset-Clayton e. Eames Of So
| lon, Mrs. Frank Madden Of Skowhe-
| gan.
waldo--Mrs. Ethel M. Twombly Of
Monroe, Roy l.. Fernald Of Winterport.
Neutrality-suspicious. Chase of Bar
| ing, Mrs. Herbert II. Allan Of Dennis
Vile.
York-John Mccourt of Biddeford,
Mrs. Blanche p. Boisvert of Biddeford.
Cong. Oldfield
Not since the days of the Wilson
administration have Democrats had
a better chance to win control of
| Congress than in the next election,
Congressman William A. OIdfield of
Arkansas told the delegates to the
biennial Democratic state convention
here today.
"The people," he declared, "are
| becoming sick of the present pluto
| cratic administration, with its I'M
filled promises and pledges. They
are tired of seeing favors traded for
big campaign contributions to the
Republican party. They are disgust
ed with the do-nothing attitude and
| record of this administration and
| congress.
. mo longer Is the public being
| misled by false claims of prosperity
and economy which have been and
are being disseminated by a verit-
| able army of propagandists. I'm.
| rest and discomfort Is not confined
to the western states, whose. repre-
sentativeS recently were sent back
home by the administration leaders
and rebuked for having dared to
| come to Washington demanding full
fillment of the Republican campaign
pledge of the passage of legislation
| to aid the farmer.
"The purchasing power Of the
J farmers dollar has decreased under
Republican reule until it is worth
only 6l cents, at least 20 cents lower
than 1t has been at any time during
the last 30 years. And the value of
the average citizens dollar has de-
creased correspondingly.
| II deny that the country Is experi-
encing general prosperity. / deny
that the administration Is practicing
the strictest economy. | tell you
that business is not good except in
spots. Here in Maine and the rest
or New England many of your tex.
tile mills and shoe factories have
/ been running only part time, while
on the. other hand, the agricultural
industry Is being destroyed.
The outstanding issue of our par.
ty is the tariff. We advocate a down.
ward revision of the Fordney- Nc.
Cumber rates to point where we
Will have competitive-revenue tar.
III. We insist that in doing this we
VIII not only aid agriculture, but will
help business conditions generally.
| Other issues upon which we shall
go before the country include the
do-nothing attitude of the Republi.
| can congress and administration: the
abuse of his appointing power by
! the President and the complete dom.
ination of the administration by the
ultra-rich and heavy campaign con.
tributors to the Republican party
The anthracite coal strike could have
and should have been stopped long
before it was"
Chairman Starbird
A plea for harmony within the
ranks of the Democratic party il
Maine and the Nation was made to-
day by Charles NJ. Starbird of Au-
burn in taking the craftsmanship OF
the State convention here. Mr.. Star
bird saw new day in political life
for his party.
After assailing the Republican ad-
| ministration for increased taxation
Mr.. Starbird declared a complete re-
vision Of tax legislation has lone
been necessary. Transportation prob
lens and rates, the development and
export of water power, state adver-
Using for all industries. and the re.
Mobilization of agriculture were other
topics touched.
For years the Republican party
has promised tax REFORM" he said
"A Republican tax program has beer
before the last two legislatures yet
the rate of State taxation has re.
manned high.
While problems of purely public
nature are the primary interest N
our State government, one cannot ig-
more problems affecting our business
interests.
Maine industries have been ham.
pered and discouraged by high
freight rates. The Maine farmer. too
Is constantly facing conditions tina,
are scarcely encouraging. While oul
legislatures continue to regulate rig.
idly nearly every commodity he pro-
duces, they fail to give proper atten.
ton to his marketing problems. Ht
is forced to pay high freight rates tC
place his product in competition with
products of other states. His farm
and stock are taxed to a point OF
difficult to bear. In the absence OF
organized marketing he must sell his
product for a low figure, but high
prices prevail on the commodities
he must purchase.
CLOSELY linked with our future in.
dustrial development and expansion
Is the problem presented by our ma
tional supply of power. About one
fifth of our potential horsepower has
been developed. The development OF
power now being wasted, is delayed
by the formula ton of sound policy
For years we have prohibited the
expectation Of our hydro electric
power. The advisability of this pol.
Icy has been seriously questioned but
the problem Is not one for party poll.
tics.
1--WE have no quarrel with a pro.
gram to advertise Maine but the
present program Is not sufficient
We must advertise not merely the
advantages of our State as a summer
resort. Until we advertise all of oul
products we are not dealing fairly
with all industries.
| Maine needs a change: a rea
change both in the personnel Of ad.
ministration and In policy of State
legislation. Our opportunity for pub