Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-06-21
Democratic Promises.

Bless you, the Democrats don't believe
half what they profess to say when, in
convention assembled, they resolve that
the politicians have exploited Maine "to
the incalculable injury of her citizen
ship" and call upon men to vote with
them for the purpose of bringing about
"tbose changes which shall enable this
state to take that place among its sister
states which it once held and which of
right belongs to it," They don't believe
that Maine is such whole lot worse than
the other states, or that its citizenship is
debauched and debased TO an incalcul-
able degree. Indeed, you'll find that
most of them are really rather proud of
the state. Their platform statements
are of course for political effect. But it
is rather unfortunate that political
eA.gency should require them to set
their state before the world in such a
light.
The Democrats of course promise, il
given the chance, to repeal the hated
Sturgis law and resubmit the prohibit
tory amendment. The mass of the party
undoubtedly disapprove of both the
Sturgis law and prohibition, though the
party is by no means unanimous on
either point. They further promise, if
entrusted with power, TO enact corrupt
practices act, endorse the income tax
amendment to the federal constitution,
and demand" (uot enact a direct pri-
mary law and election OF United States
Senators by the people. Singularly
enough, although the convention was
given a chance to name candidate for
United States Senator, and thus at least
exemplify one step toward election by
the people, il declined to do so.
That is all there is of specific promises
In the platform. The rest of it, consti-
tuting the bulk of it's wording, is in
general terms, and in such general terms
as could be employed only by minority
party. In general terms it promises to
''reduce the state expenditures and read
Just our tax system" so that only such
amount shall be raised by direct taxa
tion as is necessary, etc. Also in general
terms ii promises to remedy the exist
ing conditions" which have brought our
good state to such pass.
A promise TO remedy existing condi-
lions is sufficiently vague to be perfectly
safe. To readjust the tax system is
something that sounds well, but in
practice is well known to be one Of the
most difficult things connected with
government.
AS for reducing the state expenditures,
that might have cheerful sound If the
Democrats had ever shown any real dis
position 10 do what their position allow
ed in that direction. State expenditures
are regulated mainly by the legislature.
For a number of sessions the legislature
has had good minority of Democrats.
Those Democrats have joined in the
large and increased expenditures of the
state, over which the party is now max
ing such howl ltIis matter of COM
mon knowledge that only single Demo-
crat in the last legislature made any
protest against large appropriations, and
he did it in such way as to make it APP
parent that IL was done without expect
ation<of effectiveness, and solely for po-
litical purposes. Furthermore, one of
the Democratic members was father of
the "bridge BILL" which, whatever its
merits, would IL passed enormously in
crease the expenditures of the state
treasury, and one of the leading Demo-
Gratis OF the body was sponsor for the
Aroostook Railroad tax rebate bill,
which il passed would have saddled
more direct taxation on the people than
was involved in any other measure before
the legislature. What reason havewe to |
believe that a party whose representa- |
tives have made no use of the opportun- |
ity afforded them to keep down expend-
lures, would change their plan II en-
trusted with full power?