The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-03-19

| Belfast by r. H. Moody.
man in neighboring town who appall-
ed by the unceasing cry of six young
children for bread sent bullet crash
ing through his brain. Poor fellow; too
proud to apply to the relief office, with
out money, credit or work, he gave up
in despair. But multitudes are facing
the issue bravely in the assurance that
after the darkness will come light, and
after the night day will dawn. Weep
ing may endure for the night, but JOY
cometh in the morning, and in this
great country the financial furry must
eventually pass away. In this great
section of the southwest, with its broad
expanse of territory, with its vast
mineral resources, with its large tim
Der area and broad, fertile plains, no
one need permanently to despair. If it
should drive multitudes of the city
| population out into the country and
back to the farms it may not prove to be
altogether an unparalleled misfortune
and in the case of many it may prove to
have been a blessing in disguise. To a
very considerable extent farm life is one
of the most interesting, enjoyable and
| remunerative occupations within reach
of the masses. The telephone and the
Free Rural Delivery have brought the
farmer into vastly closer relations with
the world at large To the man or woman
I who for many a year has been used to
the interests excitement and turmoil
of city life, life on the farm may APP
pear to be monotonous and dull, but
under the existing conditions of things
as they are to day life on the farm,
especially farm near to a city,is not to
be despised, and the return to it of large
numbers of our present city population
would be blessing to themselves as
we'll as to others.
Up to the present time the weather
has been quite mild for the winter. We
have had few cold days and one snow
J storm of about six inches, a quantity In
excess of anything known before, but
we have had no sleighing so far, and
probably will not as we are nearing the
month of March and spring weather
will soon be upon US. Last year the
early warmth and the later cold killed
: nearly all our fruit, but we are hoping
for good fruit year and from present
indications we have reason to expect it.
| THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The city election will soon take place
and already candidates are coming to
the front. Some old ones; some new
ones.
The present mayor has probably
meant well, but his business interests
have absorbed too much of his time
and attention to leave enough for devo-
ton to the duties of his position. He
is not candidate for reelection. For
I tunately there are others who are will
ling to sacrifice themselves for the good
of the city. The salary of the mayor
has been recently raised from $1,000 to
81, 800, hoping to find good man who
can afford to give his attention largely
to the duties of his position. The pub
lie utilities question, particularly the
telephone privilege, is likely to come to
the front Immediately. The matter has
been in litigation for two years, and
now the Bell people are asking for 25
year franchise with an increase in rates.
Missouri will instruct her delegates
to the National Republican convention
to vote first of all for Taft, probably; al
though many are as willing to vote for
some other candidate. Taft has been
in Springfield, and made good impress
sion on the minds of the people. But
good a man as he is, honest, capable,
and in every way worthy and deserving,
somehow his candidacy fails to awaken
the enthusiasm of the people as did that
of Roosevelt. With the Democrats
Bryan is an idol in Missouri. They
swear by him first, last and all the time.
If his election to the Presidency were
contingent alone upon the attitude Of
the Democratic voters of Missouri he
would be elected by an overwhelming
majority.
Governor Folks term of Office expires
this year and it is probable that the
present Republican attorney general
will be nominated by the Republicans,
but the two great parties in the State
are too nearly equal in point of num-
bers to make any mans success GER
tainty. Gov. Folk is a candidate for
the United States Senate in opposition
to Senator Stone. The contest is likely
to be warm one. If we are to send a
Democrat to the Senate there are not a
few who will pray that Folk may be the
man. w. H. W.
! EOIEYSHONE Y4x6IAR