Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-18
MAINE EDITORIAL COMMENT.
For Maine Voters to Consider.

NfOrtland EXpTeSS)
Ihere are good many Things 10 DC
thought OF by the citizens as they APP
proach the campaign Now Just opening:
The greatest issue, of them all is. OF
Gliding how he shall vote in September the
citizen, whether he has been animated
with the Republican or the Democratic
party, or il he be a first voter, coming 70
ship for the first time should ask him
self on which side of this great question
he desires to throw his Influence. WIN
which idea he prefers to be ldenthled.
only theoretically what the saloon is IN
its relation no politics. 1t has peen an
outlaw in Maine SO long that few men
who have always lived in the State, hayo
ever had practical experience win Inc
saloon as the political dictator. VINO
wishes 1t to take control of the AFFAIRS or
Maine? He who does will vote that tho
policy OF 30 years be abandoned ana Inc
untrled but much to be dreaded expert
ment he put into operation. Under our
form of government the citizen has Il per
feet right to register his opinions at Will,
and none may question him, none put ms
own sense of responsibility, to this he
must answer. If he honestly desires to be
good citizen and to give his vote and
influence Tor the welfare of the cOmmun-
ity, how can he face his own conscience if
he votes to establish the saloon in Maine
and cause the people to become subject TO
the degrading influence of the rum traffic
WHICH, ltlioWS anyways Ill us tTiDiH.
SOphistry should not be allowed to
cover up the great issue of this cam
paign. The Democrats who do not APP
prove of the open licensed saloon must
not be led astray by the arguments and
clever receptions of the party press.
They will harp upon the declaration, and
many democrats believe that in the past
the Republicans have not been sincere in
their devotion to the law prohibiting
drinking houses and tipping shops. Such
an allegation is baSeeSS, a miSunder-
standing on the part of the masses, a dis
tinct effort to miSlead on the part of
some. The misunderstanding arises from
Il confusion of ideas On the part of the, in
dividudls who have cherished this notion.
They have held in mind certain spromi-
nent and INSCRIPTIONS politicians, and
have laid at. the door of the people the
political sins of these. There has never
been a time when the great mass of the
Republican party in Maine has not been
loyal to the Prohibitory idea. x
If Republican politicians have juggled
with the law that was dear to them, they
have still remained loyal, and have bided
their time, nwaiting their opportunity to
deal with party treachery. The most con
spicuous of these mfaithful ones have
more than once felt the displeasure of an
aroused outraged people. At last even
before they were fully aware what had
happened the people were led to eXalt to
the position of leader a man true to con
viction. true to his word, true to the peo
pie who had trusted and honored him.
from the farms of far Ar ,oStOOk to the
fishing villages along the coast the peo
pie. aware that now they have 4 fearless,
honest, conscientious man as their leader, |
are fiockng ITO his stranded knowing that
Principle Is his watchword and that 10y
atty to Principle controls his every pub
He stands for what the people of Maine
want, official rectitude and obedience to
the will of the people. the will which has
repeatedly declared against the saloon,
that will have none Of its interference in
its affairs that means that all the mil
lions of the licensed saloons in other
states, the organized, INSCRIPTIONS. self
ish. wicked and unhoy rum traffic shall
not corrupt thsseshiEight citizenship of
Maine. This attitude. We repeat, has al
MANS 6esn he the hna issv Of shS Rs
mined now that they have a leader whom
they can trust. to show to him and to
the world where they stand upon this
question.
To the support Of Governor Cobb in the
right position he has assumed in this
controversy. the Republican masses in
wife their former political opponents who
are and always have been in sympathy
Democrats believe in outlawing the sa-
loon. They have not cared to act with
the Republicans in the past because they
have mStakngly felt that all Republic
viduals among them have been proven to
be. They now may know, If they will
take the trouble to inform themselves.
that the great Republican party in Maine
is fully aroused to keep out the traffic |
seeking to destroy their homes and bust
ness Its present purpose is to destroy
the works of the Devil, as men were
taught of old to do. And to their aid in
this work of Righteousness should come. |
and we believe will come many thousand |
Democrats, who. dissatisfied with the ap-
parent alliance Of their own leaders with
the saloon interests. will cut alOOf. for the
time being at least. from the old party
connections and vote for the leader who |
would protect the people of Maine. the
churches of Maine, the schools of Maine, |
the purity of Maine homes and social life, |
the prosperity of Maine. joining hands |
with their fellows in the labor of casting
out the devils. of intemperance. disregard
for law and the arch fiend of them all, |
the Self-seeking saloon.