Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-02
Waldo County
Coming Back.

=
ty jumped the Republican traces and
landed on the Democratic side of the
pole. There was nothing half way
about this jump The county went the
whole thing. 1t gave Plaisted a ma
jority, turned down the republican
candidate for sheriff, as we'll as that
partys nominee for county attorney
sent a democrat to the State senate
and elected three out of the five MEM
hers OF the house of representatives. 1t
was complete flop over
At this time the indications are for
a flop the other way at the election of
September 3.
The situation which exists at this
time is considerably different from
what it was two years ago. Not only
was there the general unrest so prev
alent throughout the State and the
general acceptance of the Democratic
campaign cry of extravaganza and
bankruptcy, but there We're local
county breaches which tended TO bring
about the result. Today these condi-
lions are changed. The loads which
the republican party of Waldo county
were toting on its back in 1910 have
disappeared. People as whole
throughout the county. now, to use
common sporting phrase. are wise to
the campaign of misrepresentation
Which the opposition is depending
upon TO win with this year.
In 1910 Sheriff Carleton had been
renominated by the Republican coun-
ty convention. 1t proved losing
choice. scores of Republicans had OPP
81 as.~f
him and they did not for he was de-
feated by a substantial majority.
on the Democratic ticket the can
aidate fer State senator WAS Capt. w.
s. Pendleton of Islesboro. He was n
retired sea captain and well known in
most parts of the county. In addition
he had a bank account of proportions
which counted. He was anxious to be
elected, as in the Legislature OF 19os
he had served in the House as the
member from his class. To go back to
the Senate would be to round out his
term of service to the fullest extent
and. besides il would be considerable
of a feather in his cap to be elected TO
the upper branch as a Democrat from
Waldo. a thing which was unusual,
This sent Capt. Pendleton into the
eampaign good and hard. He canvass
ed the county from one end of the
other. Nothing which could secure his
election was left undone. He was anX-
ions 10 win. The work which he did
proved etHeacieus He was elected.
Then. as said there was the general
unrest. the idea born of Democratic
instrumentation that the State had
4I,,f fI1n mix
which would save it would be Demo-
cratic administration. All these things
entered into the situation and served
to turn the county to the Democrats
column. Plaisted carrying 1t by apoul
200.
Voters Have Learned Something.
In the time which has elapsed since
the election of 1910, the voters of w al
do have learned q number of things.
Among other things it has cope TO
their knowledge by observation, that
the Democracy of Maine IS aliflred
long on promises and ducedly short on
keepinp them. 1t has further come to
understand that some whom they ae-
cepted as great prophets two years
ago. We're false ones and close to being
in the joke class.
Senator Pendleton died suddenly
about year ago and it was necessary
to fill his place in the Senate by a
specfal election. The Democratic cam
didate. Hon. Edgar C. Hanson. was
elected. Mr.. Hanson had been con-
spicuous in the politics of this city
for a number of years and somewhat
OF figure in the county. He had
= niSs oft "
several years and had come to be re-
garded as a man of the leadership
type He had rousing majority the
Republicans making practically no
canvass and this city casting the ma
jor vote Of the county.
The mayor went to Augusta we'll
advertised. He was touted by the
Democrats as the man who was go
ing to startle the State. Hanson was
going to skin certain Republican
members of the senate and send them
back TO their homes, soundly spanked
and suSdued men.
He succeeded in startling everybody.
There was no question about that, but
the startling was OF a different kind
from what had been expected. 1t
started the Republicans 10 think the
Democratic leaders would permit that
sort of floor leadership, while it start
led the democrats to see that Hanson
could founder around and take such a
bad position. 1t certainly was a start
ling proposition. He was proven a
big mistake.
When the present campaign started,
the senator took the stump. He made
several speeches and then the party
leaders gently but firmly withdrew him
from the speaking program. He was
costing the party votes each day.
In the meantime many people of the
county We're well aware that no effort
whatever was being actually made to
enforce the prohibitory law. Occasion
al raids were made here in the city
and at a few places outside, but they
were apparently for the purpose of
fooling the people and not for actually
enforcing the law. The people have be-
come thoroughly Disguised. The farm
ers OF the county, too, have been ex-
aiming the subject matter of taxation
and have learned that the democratic
hullabaloo about a great reduction in
taxes is only noise; that in truth. the
tax rate under the present State ad-
ministration is the highest which