Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-05-19
The Position of Gen. Haines.

of fairness, the various candidates
pledging themselves and their friends
to support the candidate of the con-
vention whoever he may be. This is
who approaches a convention in any
other is deserving of no serious con-
sideration by the members of the
party. Let every man in this con-
test be fairly represented. The Jour
nal cheerfully comedies the Individual
strength and good qualities of each
of them. 1t recognizes that any one
of the men now in the field would
make the party good standard bearer.
such being the case, let the position OF
each one of them be stated clearly,
honestly and fairly with no disposition
to nislead or misrepresent. If this
is done the voters will be in position
to pass an intelligent verdict, and one
that should leave the party united in
its fight against the common enemy.
We are frank to say that there seems
quarters to misrepresent Gen. Haines.
in his attitude on the liquor question
The records of an active life should
count for something. AS a member of
the Legislature and the executive coun-
Gil General Haines was an aggressive
and vigorous champion of prohibl-
ton. That is a matter of record, and
must not be overlooked. Mr. Haines
has been not only a temperance man,
but also temperate man. His posi-
ton on the temperance question fairly
stated is this: In January 1907 in a
published interview addressed to the
Republicans of Maine and again be-
fore the Committee on Temperance of
the last Legislature in March 1907. he
called attention to the result of the
last State election as indicating that
among members of the party rela-
tive to resubmission. He claimed
that the Democratic party was really
for resubmission merely as step
towards the license of the saloon, but
that over against them stood large
element which believed in resubmis-
SIGN for the purpose of reaftirming
prohibition, believing that the cause of
temperance would be gamer there
by. The Democratic party asserted
that the friends of prohibition were
afraid to give the sovereign people of
TIE State chance to pass upon the
question. General Haines declared
that he was willing to meet this chal-
'lcnse; bat declared most emphatically
that if such vote were taken he
would be earnestly and actively for
the retention of the prohibtory
principle. Hon. Horace Purinton
Vice President of the Civic League
stated Mr.. Haines' position very clear
" and fairly in a recently published
letter to the Portland Express as fol-
lows:
"As Republican and Prohibitionist
and Anti-resubmission who has
lived in WatervilIe with Mr.. Haines
since 1880 and been associated with
nm during all these years in business
and politics and, knowing well his acts
and deeds all this time, | want to deny
some of these allegations | want to
put you right, and the public through
you. for Mr.. HaineS is entitled wheth-
er we agree with him upon the oues-
ton of resubmission or not, to the
benefit of the truth. He should no.
be msrcprcsented. We were pres
ent at the hearing before the Com
mittce on Temperance at which you
say He asked the Legislature of
Maine by a twothirds vote to con-
denim the Prohibitory Law and
recommend to the people that it be
abroeated and annulled,' and we say
to you and to the public through your
columns that Mr.. Haincs said nothing
of the kind. nothing from which any
such differences can he fairly drawn
His whole arguemnt was based upon
Tue tIItbIy tItdt 1teSUDf1lSS1On would
result in the reaflirmation of the
principles of Prohibition in this State
and also in defense of these princ-
pies and not in opposition to them"
This is the position of Gen. Haines
fairly stated by a gentleman whose
devotion to the cause of prohibition no
one will question.
We trust that those who oppose the
nomination of General Haines will not
deem it necessary to misrepresent the
facts in any efforts they may make to
secure delegates who will vote for
othe~ candidates in the convention
Let the contest at least be q fair and
an honest one so far as all of the
candidates are concerned.
In this connection it must be re-
mcmbered that General Haines has
never claimed to be bigger than his
party. Upon this point he has said:
Personally l believe in party, but a
party must stand for right princi-
pies: ard, in the party. as well as in
the State, majorities must rule. 1t is
the basis of free government every