Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-16
Waterville, May 1i.19C4.

Editor of the Kennebec Journal:
We submit to you the following cor
| respondence, which passed. between
Hon. William T. Cobb of Rockland, and
Rev. C. L. Owen of Waterville, month
| ago. The letters explain themselves
| without further Introduction. The cor
respondence was never intended on
either side for newspaper publication;
but it seems to us that the intelligent
| understanding by the people of the rel
alive position of the candidates for
Governor warrants the correspondence
beng given to the press. 1t is proper
to state that this publication is made
without the knowledge Of Mr.. Cobb.
| but it is our conviction that a candidate
| for Office becomes not altogether his
| own property and we claim the right
| ernnent.
(SigneD C. Z. OWEN.
G. c. PURINTON.
HORACE PURINTON.
Waterville, Me-, April Is. 1904.
Hon. VIM. T. Cobb,
Rockland, Me.
Dear Sir-I have, today, received a
letter from stanch Republican in
your vicinity betraying a feeling akin
to distress on account of the uncer-
tainty he feels in regard to your at
titude as n candidate for Governor
whom he desires to support. He says:
1.-The temperance question is now such
a prominent one in our politics, that
1 must know whether candidate
who seeks my support believes in en-
forcing the prohibitory law, and stands
firm by our State constitution as it
now stands, or not" Speaking of you
he says: He is very reticent on the
subject. Yesterday I was much en-
couraged by a prominent business man,
a Democrat, who told me that he had
attended a business banquet with him
a few years ago and his glass was
turned down and that he expressed
himself as a total abstainer. Today,
had a set back when another business
man told me that when the Governor, a
few years ago, appointed special con-
stable to enforce the liquor law, that
the officers of Rockland rendered no as
sistance. and that he (Mr Cobb said
to him that they did not want the law
enforced, as he believed it would dam
age the trade of Rockland.'
lHe HAL WIN WIllcS HE, Willie IOI
prominent in politics, is man held in
high esteem in his own town, and is
not without recognition by some of our
State institutions. He represents
class of Republicans who, while not
wishing any candidate to be playing to
different classes for support, feel that
in a matter of this kind. where silence
may with equal force be interpreted as
playing to both sides, they should be
relieved from all doubt in the matter.
Your friend was happy to draw ia
forabIe inference from the statement
of his Democratic neighbor, but that
inference was quite upset by the equal
ly reliable statement bearing directly
upon the point by another neighbor
l hope you can give to such men the
comfort they need, not for publication.
but for straightforward. honest treat
ment to loyal Republicans. The organ
iZation which have the honor to repre- ]
sent is maintained by very large and
very worthy element Of our citizenship.
We are not extremists by any means,
but desire to act intelligently concern
ing the responsible duties resting upon
us as citizens Of great State.
: Very respectfully,
(SignedD C. Z. OWEN.
Rockland, Me-, April 49, 1904. !
Rev. c. f. Owen, Waterville. Me-: /.
My Dear Sir-I beg to acknowledge
the receipt of your very courteous let /.
ter of the 18th of April. From that
quote as follows:
Il hope you can give to such men
the comfort they need. not for publica- s
ton. but for straightforward, honest 4
treatment to loyal Republicans"
l do not know how much comfort 4
my views upon the particular issue