Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-08-22
The Democratic Campaign Slump.

| only few weeks ago? The most
papers, and the most casual listener at
the rallies where the Democratic SPELL
binders hold forth cannot fail to be i'm
pressed with the change that has TAX
en- place. The Democrats started out
with an air which seemed to assure
| everybody that the victory was already
won and they were simply having lit
tie preliminary celebration. A Demo-
cratic avalanche was to sweep the
State, oversetting the traditions and
policies Of half century. They had
Governor Cobb defeated and Candidate
Davis elected by any majority which
they pleased. Four Democratic con-
gressmen were to be sent to Washing
| ton, where they could vote for free
trade policies which would mean ruin
to Maine prosperity. A Democrat was
to succe ed Senator Frye in the Senate.
| The large surplus in the State treasury,
| accumulated through the economy and
wisdom of successive Republican ad-
| ministration, was to be at the disposal
of the Democratic bosses. The Tex
| travagance" of cutting down the State
| debt and of maintaining the State in
| stitutions and carrying on the State af-
| fairs in way i'm keeping with the
progress and needs of the State was to
| be promptly ended. All the State and
| county Offices were to be divided
| among the hungry heelers without any
regard to their efficiency or honesty.
| All this and more was to be realized
after the September election was over.
Gradually, however, a change has
come over the spirit of the Democratic
dream. and instead of planning on a
clean sweep they soon began to Won
der if they had a fighting chance of a
victory. From that step they began
to speculate upon their prospects Of
cutting down the usual Republican
| throughout the State, and now, with
the election less than three weeks off,
their hearts are filled with terror lest
they will get worse than their usual
| licking. Their editors and orators,
| who started out 50 grandly on the ag-
gressive, are now completely on the de-
fensive
The reason for this complete change
is not far to seek. The Democrats be-
gan their campaign of bluff and mis-
representation too early. They started
out on the theory that a lie would
travel SO fast that the truth would not
overtake it, but they under estimated
the watchfulness of the Republicans
and the intelligence of the people OF
Maine. The issues which they raised
have in many cases proved boOmerangs
which have inflicted their main dam
age upon the Democrats themselves.
The bugaboos they held up to scare
the people have been showed to be
stuffed with straw and the people of
Maine are simply laughing at them.
The many half-truths and absolute
falsehoods which constituted the
main reliance in their arguments and
appeals have been followed up so
promptly with the truth through the
columns of Republican newspapers
and by Republican campaign speak
ers that they can no longer be used to
bamboozle the voters.
Their attack upon the Republican
administration of State affairs has
simply brought out the fact that under
Governor Cobb's administration, as un-
der his predecessors, the affairs of the
State have been managed wisely and
honestly, the State debt reduced, the
State tax rate reduced, the affairs of
every department run in business-like
. fa shion. and the interests of the people
!. safeguardrd in every possible way.
I, They haven't been able to bring a
charge of dishonesty against any
| official, and, in fact, their chief fight
against Governor Cobb is made on the
grOunu that ne is an honest man, anu
that he is true to his oath of office.
They ventured to attack the partial
tax rebate granted the Bangor &
Arostook railroad Is years ago by the
State of Maine. but We're promptly
sorry that they did 50 when it was
shown that the Democrats as well az
the Republicans in Legislature voted
solidy for the measure, and that it
has resulted in a wonderful develop
ment of northern Maine. and in vast
increase in the amount of taxable
property in the State. They then
brought up the PorCupine bounty but
dropped it as promptly as they did the
g. and A. tax rebate. One issue after
another they have taken up and
dropped in similar fashion.
OF course they will fill the air with