The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-09
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1910.
FL Ients Of the Imagination

Maine Republican papers are now
appealing to Maine Republicans to get
together and work In harmony for Re-
publican victory. 1t Is an appeal that
will not have convincing force this
year. The trouble with 1t is that
there are now two kinds Of Repubil-
csns-those who desire to see the
rerty's alliance with special privilege
continue, and those who would have
Is severed, and severed promptly and
effectually. The division between
these two elements OF Republicanism
l.. too wide to be bridged by partisan
appeals to get together; too antago-
nistic to permit OF united effort toward
a common end. They have no common
end. Their convictions lead them in
opposite directions in party policy.
The number of Republicans through
out the country who feel that they
h, We been "buncoed" by the Payne
Allrich tariff bill Is legion. Maine as
well as Massachusetts, has its full
share of them. Will an appeal to party
loyalty and united effort go far witt:
Maine Republicans who honestly feel,
and with ample reason that their
party has buncoed them" The Maine
standpatters ask them to forget this,
sink their grievances and get togeth
Ell for victory" But what sort of VIC
toy are these buncoed Republicans
asked to win? Why, victory for the,
very policy they repudiate and the
veiy interests and special privileges
they distrust and condemn A Repub-
lean victory In Maine this year woul
lean a victory for the old Republican
regime. The election OF Republican
candidates for Congress would mean
triumph for reactionary policies
There can be no doubt about that
Outside OF this district the Congress
Iaen now representing the State in the
national House will all be renominat-
er. They are all standpatters who
supported and voted for this bunc)
Psyne-Aldrich tariff. They will work
and vote on the same standpat lines
Il they are reelected. In this district,
the Republican nominee for Congress,
whoever he may be. Is pretty certain
to be In harmony with the others. AS
between Mr.. Kinds and Col. Hale, for
instance. there Is nothing to choose on
this score. A Republican victory in
Maine would mean a standpat. reac-
tionary victory. Will Republicans
earnestly opposed to this policy stand
for such a Victory? In Massachusetts,
In New York, and elsewhere, as recent
elections proved, insurgent Republic
cans are eager and ready to vote for
Democrats who represent genuine re-
form. Are Maine insurgents to be d.
verified from following their example
by appeals to work for a standpat
victory?
The above Is from the Portland Ar
gus. 1t is very interesting reading
because 1t Is we'll written. 1t Is per-
suasive but hardly convincing. And
tie trouble with 1t is that 1t Is not
sincerely written. 1t Is colored green,
green with envy. The spirit back of the |
pen that wrote 1t Is stepped In Demo
cratic dye. 1t is prejudiced matter OF
the worst kind.
Are the Republicans of Maine in so
bad way as the Argus sets forth ?
Hardly. AT least, we see no indica
tons of revolt or discomfort among
the rank and file of Maine Republi
cans. Just how the Argue man hap
pens to discover so serious a menace
tc Republicanism here In Maine Is a
mystery to many.
So far as we are concerned, we
should not count 1t calamity III
Maine goes to the Republican column,
as usual, this fall. Everything indi
cetes that it will go so in September.
We appreciate the fact that a splendid
spirit of reform Is at work among the
n embers of all parties, and that this
reform is bringing about greater