Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-03-28
Correspondence.
Recent City Elections.
MT. DESERT, March Is, 1905.

The question frequently asked is:
What will be the effect of the recent city
elections on republican voters generally as
regards their attitude toward resnbmis-
sion?
So far as can learn the effect on repub-
licans in the small towns is simply to in
tensify their determination to tight for pro
hibition maintained and enforced. But in
the cities certainly some of the republic
cans are urging upon republican leaders
the necessity of making compromise
with the rum element by making it
the promise that resubmission shall be
inserted in the platform of our next State
convention. This is practically propo-
sition to scuttle the ship to save the
pinnacle Tor barnacle) with not very
good prospect of saving even thatappend-
age.
The substance of the proposition is
this: A movement to make resubmission
an issue in the republican caucuses of the
small towns with the expectation of Sc
curing delegations in favor of that
measure, but putting all the responsibility
on the people of these places.
Where did this movement originate?
Certainly not among the people of these
small places; it was started by resubmis-
sionists in the cities, and is really move
to have agents from the cities invade the
small towns, equipped with rum and
money with which to ''carry the caucuses".
Certainly rum and money are powerful
instruments for electioneering purposes,
but probably in most cases the invaders
would not be successful ir accomplishing
the object sought.
1t is much more likely that wherever
they put their work into caucus they
would be very successful in splitting the
party into bitter factions at once, and
harmony, mutual confidence or united
work in the future. For everyone who is
at all familiar with the methods and con-
duct of caucuses in these places will fore
see something of what will occur. In
stead Of the peaceful, quiet gathering of
dozen or two philosophical men who
have the confidence of everyone, and who
select delegates in a way to promote party
interest and good fellowship, it will be a
large caucus of excited men, divided into
two factions, each intent on beating the
other. And men having their feelings
wrought up, and in some cases their pas
sions inflamed by drink, are not likely to
be very discreet in their language or con-
duct.
So there is little prospect that caucus
of this kind will settle anything. The
side defeated will certainly feel disap-
pointed, and probably disguised. And in
many cases the experience in this kind of
caucus will be such as to dispel the last
ray of hope of persuading honest prohi-
bitionists to vote for republican candidates,
provided the party were standing on a
resubmission platform.
The discord and distrust engendered
would no doubt be continued in the eau
Gus nominating candidates for the legisla-
ture, and be the cause of much boiling in
some cases, and the nomination of pro-
hibition (third partly candidates in
others. 1t requires no great amount of
sagacity to see that the effect of this move
ment will be general and Lasting
decentralization of republican interests
wherever it goes.
1t seems to me that any thoughtful per-
son should see that to encourage, sanction
or connive at this movement is simply
making trouble for misunderstanding
suspicion and distrust Of us in the minds
OF those on whom we must depend for
success.
But is there any certainty that the
promise OF resubmission will secure the
return Of all, or even the greater part OF
the prodigals? No doubt the rum element
is against us. And no doubt it would
have us believe that it constitutes the
bulk of the revolt; and that it has the
power to return to us the whole crowd.
There is much reason to doubt Its
ability to do this For where party is a
long time in power in large place, there
will always develop jealousies, rivalries
and conflicting interests which will pre-
pare many persons to join any opposition
movement which shows reasonable signs
of success.
So if the republican party were to
promise resubmission, hoping on account
of such promise to make gains, it would
be simply paying an enormous price for
an uncertain quantity of very untrust-
worthy article. say paying an enormous
price. For believe that for every vote
saved or gained on account of this prom
Use we would lose twice or thrice that
number. And believe that the only safe,
seIf-respecting and common-sense course
for our party to take, is to make square,
honest and aggressive fight for what it
always has been advocating.
1t is folly to suppose that we can offer
the rum element as much as the opposing
party will promise it; and so to Hturn
round' or shack down" is not only in
consistent and cowardly, but is simply
useless and worthless as vote-getter. Sc
| it is much more expedient to stand firm
by our accepted party principles, for the
average republican believes in prohibition.