Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-05
Editorial Comment.
A Sore Spot.
Bangor NeWS)

of course, one cannot give names. A
citizen of Maine may be Democrat.
loyal TO his party, his nation and his
State and still he may not be a Plais
ted Democrat. The above supposable
case--or. maybe very probable case
becomes very actual case in Knox
county at the present time Ask Oba-
diah Gardner about it, and he will
make emphatic denial. Ask Job H.
Montgomery of Camden about it, and
he will say: "All nonsense-persitiage
and imagination" Ask Hon. Lindley
Murray Staples about it, and he will
light his extiEguished cigar, puff twice.
and smie-a big wide. guileless and
comprehensive smile-a smile that
may mean You can search me-" or
may indicate that he is not letting out
his inward convictions for publication
in the newspapers. If pressed closely
for a candid opinion under promise it
shall go no further, he will cock one
eye up under his SLOUGH hat and advise
you to wait until after election, when
everybody will know all about the sit
uation for two years to come. Mean
time, not one of the handsome and
dashing young men of means who be-
long 20 the Democratic party in Knox
county has solicited place as lieuten-
ant colonel on Governor PlaiSted's
staff. though Adjutant General Dill has
ordered a new uniform for the Cover
nor's ball in Augusta City hall next
February, and the blue broadcloth and
gold braid will be delivered on time
just as if Governor Fernald and his
whole bunch were to be continued
in our next, as the story books say
That is exactly the trouble with the
WhCle argument. Neither Editor Plais-
| TED. or any of his close supporters be-
lieve for a moment that Plaisted is
going to be elected. They may hope
50. but there is wide distinction be-
tween hope aud faith. and none of the
Plaist"d crowd has been able to bridge
the gap.
on the other hand, a majority of the
Democrats in Knox county believe that
| Fernald will be elected in 1910 by more
| than double the majority he received
| two years ago. and not only believe,
but are willing and anxious to bet that
| Fernald will carry Knox county by a
decisive majority in September, 1910.
| The basis for the trouble is that the
Democrats of Knox county are sore
over the shabby way Oba diah Gardner
was used by the Democratic State con-
vention at Augusta. Here was an hon
est and hard headed old farmer from
Rockland, who had been preaching
economy and honesty to the Maine
Grange for 10 years, who had been
preaching so long and so convincingly
| that the Changers believed him with
| out regard to party. This sturdy old
| man, being a Democrat in politics. was
asked to head the Democratic ticket
! for Governor in 1908. He did not care
about holding public office, but he re-
| luctantly consented for the sake of the
Maine Changers. He went about Maine
telling the plain people what he
| thought about things. He went up to
Aroostook, where the Changers were
organized and numerous, and when he
| went home to vote he took along more
Granger votes from Aroostook county
than any Their Democrat ever captured
| in Maine. More than this, he polled
| more Democratic votes than were ever
before captured in Maine. He estab-
lished a Democratic record in vote
getting for all Maine.
The Democrats of Knox county want
to know if it is crime among Demo-
cratic candidates for Office to poll
many votes. They want to know why
Obadiah was turned down. AS the
Waterville Democrats and their Au-
gusta allies are reluctant to make
frank answer, the Knox county Demo-
Gratis are about to carry out some in
vestigations on their own hook They
are sure Obadiah deserved the nomi-
nation. They are equally sure he
wanted the nomination. They are not