Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-03
Bottling up Obadiah.

6ottlln9 up Opaoiah.
For reasons which are easily ap-
parent to those who have watched the
progress of the campaign, the Demo-
cratic bosses are now bottling up their
gubernatorial candidate to prevent
him from making any more breaks as
the campaign draws to a close. AS a
campaign speaker Mr.. Gardner has not
proved a success, and his numerous
indiscretions in dwelling upon matters
which the Democratic managers die
not want discussed upon the stump,
have repeatedly got him into trouble
with the men and the interests be-
hind his candidacy. Thus, it has come
about that at the rallies where he
now appears he is reserved as the last
speaker to be heard when it is pretty
certain that the crowd has largely
thinned out, and his speeches are
now limited to few minutes each
where they were from half an hour to
an hour in length at the opening Of
the campaign. Moreover, the Demo-
cratic managers are carefully keeping
Mr. Gardner away from the large
centers as much as they can.
Politically and as a gubernatOrial
candidate, Mr.. Gardner has emphatic
ally failed to make good in
his crusade over the State.
AS an individual citizen and as
a former master OF the State Grange.
the people have all respect for him and
have been glad to greet him. but he is
running on the wrong kind of a plat
form and his shoulders are not broad
enough to hide the men and the i'll
terests behind his candidacy. His ut
terances as master of the Maine State
Grange were so absolutely at variance
with his talk on the stump that his
record has come up to plague him at
every turn. For instance, it was only
few years ago that he was praising
in the strongest terms the work of Mr..
Fernald then member of the
Legislature, in behalf of the farming
interests of the State and especially
in behalf of the tax reform. More
over. it was only two years ago that
he said in his annual address before
the State Grange. 81 wish here to go
on record as being entirely and unre-
servedly in favor of the prohibitoly
law in Maine" Yet this fall he is
travelling the length and breadth of
the State denouncing that law in un-
measured terms and trying to lead
the farmers of the State into the camp
of the liquor interests!
SO inconsistent is Mr.. Gardner In
these matters, and so lame is he in his
ATTEMPT to set himself right and make
explanations, that the Democratic
managers are now keeping him as
much in the background as possible
and allowing him to be seen and heard
only where he will do the least posi-
BILE damage to their cause. The
candidacy of Mr.. Gardner, by which
the Democratic bosses hoped to bluff
and confuse the Republican voters Of
Maine, especially in the country dis
tricts. as to the real issues of this
campaign. is petering out into the
most complete fiZZle.
And this fizzle is all the more en-
phasized from the fact that wherever
Mr.. Fernald is seen and heard
| throughout the State his cause is
| thereby strengthened. He is a far
stronger candidate now than he was
when he was nominated, for the people
know him better and realize more
fully his strong personality and his
exceptional qualifications for the
governorship 1t is not too much to
say that no Republican gubernatorial
candidate for many years has ever
added so much strength to his own
campaign as Mr.. Fernald has within
the past few weeks by his appearance
and speeches in every section Of the
State The more the people see him
! and hear him, the more convinced they
| are that he is just the man they want
in the governors chair