Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-18
A Suddenly Changed Campaign.

that the attack upon Colonel Roose-
Welt will have wholesome effect on
the conduct of the campaign in the
three weeks remaining. They agree
there will be less personal abuse and
utilization on all sides and that the
arguments will have to do chiefly with
the principles involved Many Demo-
Gratis and Republicans have@bewailed
flor ,glohg time the tendencies ofgsfe-
cent years to resort to personal abuse
sEnd Sensational personal charges. saa :
most to the exclusion of the discus
sion of party pledges and principles.
Politicians who have ventured to lift
their voices against modern tenden-
cies have been called old-fashioned,
but several of them said today that
they mad hopes that the attack upon
Colonel Roosevelt would prove a pow
erful influence in turning the tide.
We believe these men are right;
that the breaking point had been
reached, and when the act of de-,
generate mind nearly cost the life of
one of the eountry's most distinguish
ed men, the bitter filings of the cam
paign were swept away for good
President Taft promptly wired his
sentiments TO Col. Roosevelt. and Prof
Wilson as promptly curtailed his cam
paign activities. Thus a political truce
has been declared and is likely to be
maintained during the rest of the
campaign.
How many of us, OF all parties, will
regret the omission or tine usual whiri-
wind finish? In this age of intelli-
gence and weighing of evidence, the
sIam-whang methods of appealing to
voters is having less and less effect.
1t is fact, we believe. that the aV-
erage voter of any party is more like
~ to take the offerings of his own or
any other party with more salt year
by year. He does not know whom to
believe he distrusts them all, and he
has right and cause to do so.
Perhaps that is why national politics
in the determination OF municipal
questions are receiving less regard.
Nom partisanship is growing and the
number of politicians who can arouse
the enthusiasm of the public is becom-
ing beautifully less Stump speakers
cannot command the crowds and the
respectful attention of old. The peo-
| pie who once could be carried off their
feet by platitudes OF praise and full
some fattery are now apt to turn
away in disgust. Clinton Rogers
Woodruff says;
s~asPhiladelphia affords striking .ex-
| ample of a great city disregardlng
party lines in the selection of its chief
magistrate. All through the late may
| orally campaign there was general
| disregard of the party appeal, and the
| advocacy of candidates was based on
merit This is as it should be and as
| il is coming to be. Party lines have
set very lightly in most communities
during the past year; and very large
number of cities have emancipated
themselves from the shibboleth of par
tisan politics in municipal elections
| This independence has manifested it
| self only in the matter OF the seiec-
| ton of officials. but in the votes upon
various questions submitted to the
| electors for determination. NeYerthe-
| less few people realize at its true value
| the growth of the municipal move
| ment in this country and the develop
| ment of sound municipal public opln-
ion.'
The New York Globe and CONNER
cial gives the following as indicative
of the times
"a few days ago some six or eigh
men We're taking luncheon. They were
talking politics all the time, and they
did not agree Some We're going t.
vote for Wilson, others for Taft, 9th
ers for Roosevelt. And yet, strang
to say, they did not disagree as t.
facts. They agreed as TO what wa
| llkeiN 10 ne NpIlt tbOut the III az
about the trusts if the Republicans o
the Progressiyes or the Democrat
should come into power. They dl
not interrupt one another yet every
body had chance to say his say
, Strangest of all, perhaps, was the wa
! in which each of them was ready
| admit that his party was not equal
~ strong at all points. Again and agai
t somebody would say, Yes, that fat
: does count against us, or L don
!, deny that your argument has weight
n From this one might suppose tn;
. these men We're not in earnest, thu
r they We're playing with the ideS
o | which the campaign of 1912 hi
y quickened into living forces, that the
a cared more about exhibiting their oW
p openmindedness than about makif