Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-11
Democratic Campaign Material.

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If the Democrats have such an
abundance of good material why
don't their campaign orators and ed
itors use some Of IL? To be sure, the,
have brought forth several issues
but each in turn has been so promptly
and completely demolished that even
its originators could not recognize their
offspring. They have presented "argu-
ments' which were without any sem
blance of logic, reason or TRUTH and
which the people have promptly laugh
ed out of commission. If the Demo-
cratic orators and editors are so well
stocked with good material as the
organ of Candidate Davis announces, it
is great pity that they do not use
some of it. 1t would make the cam
paign much NOR. interesting. Cand-
date Davis might add variety to his
program by using little of it in
Democrats are deceiving themselves
and are putting an unwarranted value
upon the material which they are US
ing. As their only hope of success lies
in deceiving others It is not at all un-
likely that they frequently deceive
themselves.
There is the resubnis%i"n issue
| which, as everybody has long since rl-
| served has become under Democratic
treatment nothing but an appeal for
free rum and the open saloon. This to
be sure, is good material" for the
Democrats in the sense that it furnish
es them with an abundant campaign
| fund out of the Golfers of the rum
| trust. but as an issue upon which to
win the votes of the people of Maine
Then the Democrats have brought forth
the issue" of State expenditures.
This was the bugaboo which they used
in 1901 campaign with results that are
very painful 10 the Democratic mem
DRY. AS an issue il can amount to
nothing more now than it did then. al
though Candidate Davis and the other
Democratic orators juggle the figures
dodge the facts, and insult their hear
ers with half-truths. The people Or
Maine are not frightened at the fact
that State Expenditures have increased
in the past generation. The increase
has been at their own request and is
only in keeping with the increasing
needs and progress of the State. 1t Is
only in proportion to the growth and
development of the state. and is for
the welfare Of the people as a whole.
If it is true that state expenditure;
have increased, it is also true that the
people are getting their moneys wOrth
and that every dollar is honestly ex-
pended. But the greatest weakness IF
this Democratic issue" lies in the fact
that the increase is nothing like what
the Democratic orators and writer's try
to make the people believe it is. a
few Of their lies in this line are eXp.od-
ed in another column on this page this
morning.
The Democrats probably flattered
themselves that they had discovered
some good material in the fact that
j. years ago the Maine Legislature
granted what amounted to partial
rebate of the taxes of the Bangor &
ArooSt"ok Railroad for a term of years
in order that this line might be con
Structed and the northei n part of Maine
developed. That issue also has proved
a BOONE rang. and the more the Bangor
e. ArooStook matter is aired the more
sorry the Democrats are that they at
tempted to make political capital out
of it, The action of the state in 1891
was just what scores of Maine cities
and villages have done in encouraging
new industries. and what has been re-
pcatedly done in this State and else
where in the matter of railroads The
action is amply vindiCated by the res
ults. and when tn" Democrats seek out
this matter for attack They arc not on
~ attacking the Democrats of the 1851
legislature who voted soidly for tn
action. but they are also taking the
ground that it was a mistake to de
velop northern Maine and make posi-
bic the abundant prosperity which it
is enjoying today. The time of the
partial rebate is now nearly expired,
and as a result of the action Of the
1871 Lc-iSla turc the state treasury will
soon receive a large added inCOm"
yearly from the railroad which is doing
50 much for eastern Maine.
Wher" is this good material which
the Democrats have on hand on which
to appeal to the people? Dare they at
tack the administration of Governor
Cobb or the personality Of the man
who now occupies the highest office in
the gift of the people IF the state?
Everybody knows that their OPPOSE