The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-05-14
Current Political Comment
THERE ARE MANY REASONS


ton for governor was Initiated those
who are in close touch with political
conditions propheSied that Mr.. Haines
would receive the nomination, although
to many it seemed as if Mr.. Fernald by
reason of his early start could hardly
be headed. Events however are prov
ing that the prophets had a correct
view, for Mr.. HaineS certainly has the
voters with him. The progress of the
campaign shows that Mr.. Haines is
being generally recognized as the most
feasible candidate by reason of his SUI
perior ability, experience, tried Repub-
iicanism and his undoubted popularity
with the people of Maine. But while
all these are good reasons for the sue
cess of Mr. HaineS it seems to us that a
very cogent factor in the Wide extent
of the HaineS movement, which now
seems to have extended all over the
State. is the method III which his cam
paign has been carried Cd. Inc Repub-
iicans of the Pine Tree State like fair
plav and they hate gutter Thus it
is that the threats that have been made
in the interest of another candidate
that the nomination of Mr.. Haines
would mean the nomination of a third
candidate have fallen upon barren
ground and have reacted in favor OF
Mr.. Haines. The Waterville candidate
has PLAYED the game in very upright
manner in his campaign. He has placed
himself fairly and squarely before the
voters, being frank and honest and CIV
ing his views on the political topics OF
the dav. He does not attempt to coerce
others but simply wishes that all may
know his opinions. He frankly says
that no man is as big as his party and
when all is said and done it is the dele
gates of the party who frame the party
platform. Mr.. Haines does not in the
least attempt to dictate to the party.
The fact that Mr.Haines will, If elected,
be his own governor is another thing
that tells heavily in his favor. He Is
bound by no campaign pledges, nor is
his canvass being managed by any who
wish to become dictators to the party.
All these things have made the can
didacy of Mr.. Haines very popular
one, as was evidenced at the recent
State convention at Portland, when 1t
was Haines all the way, delegates from
every section of the State wearing but
tons and working for their favorlte
with an enthusiasm that was as marked
as was the lack of it for other candl-
dates.
AS TO RESUBMISSIOS.
Is the governor an executive, or is he
the law making branch of our govern
ment, or is he the whole thing? Shall a
political party select man for govern
or who shall decree its policies, or shall
it build its platform and invite man.
by nominating him, to stand thereon?
Some papers argue as if the selection
of candidate committed party to a
policy. Sometimes it does. 1T is fire.
oueutIy the best way of securing the
expression of party sentiment, but not
ALWAYS. Mr. Haines believes that the
Republican party cannot afford, as a
party in popular government, to OPP
pose resubmisslon. HIS asSallants
therefore call him rum candidate
and kindred titles. Hei far from that.
Mr.. Haines does not attempt to dictate
to the party its course on the temper
ance question, but he has stated what
he thinks is wise course of acton,
and we think be is right. When can
the temperance forces Of our State get
this matter of resubmisSion out OF the
way at the present rate? We do not
want resubmission. We desire no part
of it. We want it eliminated from our
political issues, but as long as one party
declares for it and the other against it.,
it is likely to remain an issue. In our
opinion it would be good strategy for
the party to pass resolution declaring
its unwavering support of the present
temperance policy and its Willingness
to leave that policy in the hands OF the
legislature, where the constitution re-
poses all authority in the matter. Then
when it comes to electing our senators
and representatives, put only safe men
| Vi b1 Chrnniolo cta n1c AGAINST
saloons, against license system in any
form, against this nefarious express
business in liquor, and it will forever
stand against resubmisSion whenever
that issue comes before the only body
having constitutional jurisdiction over
it, namely, the legislature. But party
convention has no such authority and
it does not seem to us good strategy to
assume that it has. - Pennington
Chronicle.
A DEMOCRATIC CHARGE EXPLODED.
The Democrats charge that the ex-
pense of G.; frying on the session of the
legislature of 1901 was in round num-
bers S75, 900 and that, in 1907, the expense
was SOL 900, an increase of $4,000.
No items are presented to prove this
charge, but, for the sake of the argu-
ment, we will assume that the figures
are correct. 1t appears that $4,000 of
the increase is accounted for in the
legislative printing which cost twice as
much in 1907 as in 1901, or $23, 3sS.S1.
This is accounted for from the fact
that in the latter session, more print
ing was done, documents were more
numerous and of larger size. 1t is the
tendency of all legislatures to increase
the printing bills. The pay roll of the
last legislature was practically the
same as that of 1901. In 1907, however,
a bill was passed to double the compen-
sation of future legislatures. If this is
an extravaganza the Democrats are
equally guilty with the Republicans, as
ali voted for the measure. There was
a printing deficiency in 1905 and 1906
which amounted to something like
$1,000 This the legislature of 1907 had
to supply. In 1907 the contingent ex-
penses were $4,000 more, and there
were several thousands more paid for
postage, books and stationery. This is
explained by the fact that prices were
much higher for books, stationery, etc,
in 1907 than in 1901.
In 1907 there were 80 Democrats in
the House of Representatives, and yet
no one of them made the slightest pro-
test against what the Democrats are
now pleased to say was extravaganza.
In the Senate, Hon. Lindley Murray