Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-11
Editorial Comment
A Despicable Act.
portland Press.)

(1OFlldnu 9IeSS.t
Whether a number of members of
the Legislature, who We're elected as
Republicans, will follow the advice of
the new Progressive State committee
and make an Independent nomination
| for senator, remains to be seen, but
| il they do it they will bring upon
! themselves the reproach of a most de-
spicable act, which must needs react
upon them and their organization. 1t
is a plain affair of honor, and no
amount of sophistry can make it 9TH
erwise. The State primaries were held
on June Il. This was on the eve of
the Republican national convention.
The national committee had already
been in session for week and by it's
action on delegate contests had caused
excitement and muttered threats of
bolt Col. Roosevelt was already at
Chicago, making heated speeches, and
it was but three or four days before
he made his announcement that he
was through" with the Republican
party Under such conditions the
State primaries were held. At these
primaries candidates for the Legisla-
ture were nominated and also candi-
dates for United States senator. At
the primaries Roosevelt men and Taft
men united in support of legislative
candidates who, if elected, were to
support the man nominated by the
same party for senator There Were
three candidates on the Republican
side. and Mr. Burleigh received
large plurality of the votes and the
nomination The campaign proceeded,
on the basis of an agreement that the
Roosevelt men and the Taft men
should stand together as against the
Democratic party so far as the State
election and State issues were con-
cerned, regardless of what might take
place afterwards. The agreement was
kept in good faith. and there was not
until recently hint that it would not
be carried out altogether in all that it
implied. This combination prevailed
in the election. carrying the State
ticket and a majority of both branches
of the Legislature. The men elected
to the Legislature understood that
they were under instruction to carry
out the will of the majority and elect
Mr.. Burleigh. Furthermore, to meet
the necessary expenses of the cam
paign the Republican national COM
mittee had given a large sum out of
its fund for use in this State. 1t was
used and the benefit of it was re-
eeived equally by those, if there are
such. who now propose to repudiate
the primary.
How men with a sense of honor can
think twice of doing such a thing
passes comprehension. They could
not unless their understanding had
been clouded and confused by cum
ming arguments to make the worst APP
pear the better reason. 1t is not a
matter of personality. Mr.. Burleigh
is the same man in December as he
was in June. He has done nothing in
the meantime to justify the proposed
1t is simply a question
the primary law is worth the
paper 1t is written upon, and whether
men shall fulfill their honorable obli-
cations. The primary is on trial. If
of men who have the power
have also the will to defeat the advis-
DRY nomination, there is no law to
prevent them-nothing but possibly
the force of public opinion; and it is
Dldlu tUdt llGit Is utNlSIOh dIHcliS liic
so-called Progrsssives themselves and
that a part of them are opposed to
1t is an ugly word, and
If Reputation is carried out the con-
will be on the heads of the
None need doubt how the
lamented Herbert NJ. Heath would
nave stood on this question if he We're
alive. He was a Progressive Republic
can, and he was a candidate for the
nomination. But he bowed
gracefully to the will of the people
and in q letter to Governor Burleigh
rendered his loyal support and said
that he, Burleigh, was entitled to the
support of all Republicans throughout
the State, And so ne was and is. The
majority of the members of the Legis-
lature were elected as Republicans,
and they remain SO. nominally at least
as regards State affairs and without
reference to the presidential election,
which was another matter.