Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-09-06
The Coming State Election.

Before the next issue or the democrat
reaches the readers the Maine election of
1910 will be under way or already de-
cided. As far as the Republican side of
the campaign has been concerned, it has
been brief, but doubtless the issues have
been well considered by the intelligent,
thinking voters.
Up 10 this time the discussion of State
issues has been somewhat different from
that of recent previous campaigns. For
some terms the burden of the song of the
Democrats, in advocating a change in
the order of things, has been resubmis-
sion. This year resubmission has been
used very sparingly. In the rural
regions it has hardly been mentioned
This avoidance of the issue is in the line
of political sagacity. ResubmiSsion is
not much of vote getter, this year.
Our Democratic friends, the enemy,
instead have chosen to base their cam
paign this year principally upon the cry
of extravaganza, an issue always, under
any circumstances, open to the party
which has been II the minority, and can
therefore disclaim responsibility for
what has been done. Without going
into particulars the Democrats point out
less than a million in 1882 TO something
like four millions last year, and hold up
their hands in holy horror.
Well, the increase Is there, there is no
denying that. 1t has been due to the
acts of the legislature, and, as this paper
has before pointed out, party lines have
never been drawn in the legislature on
these questions. Democrats have Joined
with Republicans in voting for and ad-
vocating the measures which have made
these much larger disbursements from
the state treasury. Still, there has been
q Republican majority in the legislature,
and the party has no disposition to shirk
any responsibility. 1t accepts it will
ingly.
The gross increase in the disburse-
ment of the state is something that at
first glance looks large, and ii would be
disconcerting if it was an increase In the
expense of running the state government.
But, as Mr.. Haines pointed out in bis
very clear and informing speech at South
Paris the other night, the expense OF
running the state government is only
about one-twelfth of the total expendi-
lures of the state. The other purposes
for which the money Is paid out have
been enumerated often in the discussions
of this campaign. By far the largest
item is for school purposes. Then there
are the care of the insane, the feeble
minded, the blind, the aid of hospitals,
and other such uses, which give the
afflicted and the poor an opportunity to
receive the care which they might not
otherwise get, at the expense of the
state. There is aid to good roads, one
of the best investments, from pecu-
mary point of view, that the state could
make, and other uses of money of direct
and indirect benefit and profit to the
people Of the state.
And yet, with all this variety of uses
to which the revenus OF the state is sp-
piled, our Democratic friends, while
shouting extravaganza and pointing out
the enormous increase in expendi-
lures, make nc attempt to name one ap-
preparation which they would abolish or
reduce, or specify one which Is not wise
ly and well expended. Until they do
something of that sort, their cry of ex-
travagance must fall fiat.
Two years ago the Republican party
nominated and elected Governor Bert
NJ. Fernald, who has been an able, pro-
gressive and business-like executive. He
is now again the nominee of the party,
and ought to be reelected next Monday
by an increased majority.
Good county and legislative tickets
have also been named by the Republi-
cans, and there is nothing that should
cause any one to hesitate in giving hearty
support to all the nominees Of the party.
Next Monday, Sept. u, is election day.
Don't let indifference or inertia inter
fere with your performance of your first
duty as q citizen, but get out to the
polls and register your vote for Governor
Fernald, Congressman Swasey, and the
rest of the Republican ticket.