The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-09-23

by sophistical reasoning. to mis-
lead the Democracy Of Maine in
to thinking that 1t had chance
TO carry the State but We do not
see why any large body of strong,
sane, close-reasoning patriotic
members of the party should re-
sent our optimism in that respect.
Perhaps they do II SO we beg
their pardon and especially crave
the forgiveness of that portion OF
the Democratic party for which
the Independent is authorized to
speak
We realize that the Republican
party was in pretty rotten con-
dition in 1908, although We did
not expect the editor OF the In
dependent. who labored hard in
1906 and 1908 to conceal that con-
dition from the voters and urged
the State to continue to trust the
same old corrupt leaders. to ac-
knowledge the fact. We also
realize that many Republicans,
probably 10000 voted for Gard
ner in preference to Fernald. But
we fail to see wherein conditions
have changed or why those same
men will not vote against Fernald
again. The same reign of ex-
travagance, the same rule of the
machine and the same hypocriti-
cal attitude on the liquor question
obtain now that obtained in 1906
and 1908 and which caused the
detection from the Republican
party of a great body OF indie
pendent voters. We have seen
nothing in the Fernald admins
tration to call them back. So far
1t has been the weakest admins
tration which this State has ever
seen. Its prominent features are
an increase of over a million dol
lars year In State expenditures,
the vetoing of the Hastings bill
and the retention of the Sturgis
law. Does the Independent ap-
prove them? Does 1t dream that
the voters approve them? Does
1t see in them that measure of re-
form which will cause Disguised
Republicans to return to the
party after once having broken
away from 1t?
This kind mentor Of Democracy
after Gliding us for attempting
to delude our party associates by
holding out to them false hopes
of success, and after admitting
that the dominant party had
reached, in 1908, climax OF dis
honesty and corruption, tells us
why we failed to win last year.
He says that the State was lost
to Democracy last year because
such ones as the editor OF the
Democrat, branded that party
with the stigma of resubmission."
Isn't that too bad? We ought not
to have done 1t. And wasn't 1t
mean of our young friend that he
had not told us about 1t in time?
Resubmission beat us In 1908, did
it? Let us see about that. In
1902 the Democratic vote was 49,
900. In 1904 the party was brand
ed with resubmission. That year
the vote was 10000. In 1905, the
same old brand appeared. The
vote increased to $4,000. In 1908,
branded again, and the vote was
$1,000 Not such a bad brand af-
ter all. 1t Is reasonably likely to
appear In 1910 Notwithstanding
the kind advice of the Indepen-
dent.
And the editor of The Independent
eporter has never acknowledged tina
lie Republican party was rotten" II
,0S, any more than 1t could conscien
ously acknowledge that the editor
! the Maine Democrat Ia capable o.
loting another's editorial truthfully
Never having believed the Republic
IN party rotten" and never having
ade the statement attributed to him
le editor of The Independent-Report
could not we'll have labored through
,06 and 1908 to conceal the rotten
ess of any political party.
Now IL the editor of the Maine Dem
,rat is disposed to beg anyone's par
IN, let him make his best salaams
the good Democrats OF the State
Maine. And let him bow down anC
ow down yet again; in truth, he can
ot bow down too often. 1t will take
'ur thousand of his best bib-an(
ECKER salaams to due pennance fol
aving insisted that the resubmissior
Iank be inserted in the last Demo
ratio platform. AS we have stated
efore, but for that plank the Demo
ratio party of Maine could have VOL
lie State election. 1t Is all wei
nough to talk about next year" ant
bout what 10000 votes" would do
ut this kind of political SUFFERING,
ever yet won an election and neve
ill, the Waterville spell-binder not
The Democrat asserts that tn
same reign OF extravaganza" etc
VI ofo spOw No In 1Q06 ond 1Q02 Th