The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-05-30
HON. VIM. T. HAINES.
In Collision With an express" Trail

Ill SOli1SIUu w ALL al hpAOSo LIAM
Mr.. William T. Haines of Waterville
saws that he is not a Democratic candi-
date for Governor, although he does ap-
prove certain vital portions of the
Democratic platform. But we contend
that Mr.. Haines is mistaken. He is
honest in his belief that he is a candi-
date for the Republican nomination,
the Republicans having honored him
when he was atone with them upon the
political issues of the hour, but he fails
to recognize that he has changed at all,
and so supposes that he is still a candi-
date for its honors. Men have been
known to cherish as curious illusions as
that before now, and the public, with
its charity for mental misfortune, will
doubtless not lay up any grudge against
MI. Haines since his illusion is likely to
lead to more discomfort for himself
than for anybody else. We are not at
this time basing our conclusions that
he is radically wrong in his belief that
he is candidate for the Republican
nomination upon any outworn state
ments which Mr.. Haines made last win
ter when he first gave publicity to his
mistaken belief. He is reported in a
paper whose truthfulneSS we cannot
bring ourselves to doubt, as having re-
Gently said: THE economic and bust
ness interests of the State demand more
careful attention than they nave had"
We shall have to go over the files of the
Democratic papers to find parallel for
that statement.
William 7. Cobb, John F. Hill. Lew
ellyn Powers, Henry B. CleaveS, Edwin
c. Burleigh, we might keep going back
over the lists of Republican admins
trationS to the time of the ascendency
of the Greenback idea, without finding
from Republican source any such con
demnation of the Republican party as
this which Mr.. HaineS has made. Citi-
Zens generally and Republicans i'll par
tlcular have been well pleased with the
business administrators of the affairs
of the State. If some Of the Democratic
papers have tried to make it appear
that the business and economic interests
of the State have been neglected the
Republicans have been able, and still
are able, to confound them with the
facts of these Republican administra-
tions.
Friend Haines was himself a part of
two administrations as member of the
Governors Council, which has to do
particularly with the business and eco
monte affairs of the State, and for two
other terms was at the head of an i'm
portant business department. These
were recent years, at that. While he
held office at the hands of the Republi-
cans he was not heard making any
breaks about the neglect of Republican
utficeholders. He would not do so now
were it not for the delusion, over which
we are asking his fellow citizens to
draw the broad mantle of charity.
In this connection, although not strict
ly germane to the subject, we happen
to have in this office letter over the
signature of William T. Haines, written
in May, 1904, announcing his candidacy
for the Republican nomination for
Governor, i'll which he says: "If lose
| shall try it again. | have always vot-
ed in favor of prohibition and spent
four years of my professional career as
county attorney in enforcing the Pro-
hibitory Law, and | am against resub-
mission. =. | have made so many
statements against reSubmission and
for prohibition that l do not know why
anyone should need to ask my view" -
Portland Evening Express.