Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-18

= sertion that he sought to convey tn,
> impression that he was a Roosevelt
= partisan is rather amusing, in view oil
the fact that throughout the primary
T contest the Lewiston journal sought
to convey the impression" that he was
, a Taft supporter. Governor Burleigh
was nominated as Republican, and
stood ready to abide by the verdict
of the Republican National conven-
ton, whether it should be for Taft,
Roosevelt, or some other strong man.
Taft was nominated, and the Kenne-
bee Journal ran his name as the Pres
lidential nominee continuously, from
iJune 25 until the November election
tainted meanwhile by the Democratic
press as the "Burleigh organ with
Taft at. its masthead
The voters of Maine. then, were an
Ider no misapprehension. Governor
Burleigh through his paper was sup
porting Mr.. Taft as the Republican
| nominee. That fact was served up al
most daily, from the time of the Chi
cago convention until the September
election by the Lewiston Journal and
the Democratic press of the State
1t was then, prior to the September
election, if at all, that the Republic
can primary might have been hon
testify repudiated by Progressives, run
lining for the Legislature on the Re-
publican ticket.
If they had decided upon repudia-
ition, there were two, and only two,
honorable courses open to them. First,
| to- resign as Republican candidates
land go on the september ballot as
Pregressiyes by nomination papers
under the Australian Ballot Law. Or,
second, to- cali a. Progressive eenven-
ton and resclnd the action at Port
land.
That action had ratified the Repub-
| lican primary verdict, and voted down
resolution calling upon the Repub-
liean senatorial and congressional
candidates to state their position as
to whether they will support the Re-
publican or Progressive party in Con-
gress if elected" and consequently had
squarely pledged Progressive support
to all Republican nominees without
regard to their attitude upon the Pres
Iidential question. Having e}reseinded
! this action, the next step would have
been a resolution calling upon Pro-
gressives to refuse their support not
.konly to governor BarIeigh, but to the
Republican candidates for representa-
ltives to Congress and all other Re-
publican candidates not supporting
ICoL Roosevelt.
Even then it might be urged that
they would have no moral right to run
upon the Republican ticket while re-
/ fusing to abide by the primary plank
| of the Republican State convention I'M
less they could perform the seemingly
impossible feat of bringing their action
to the notice of every voter in Maine,
so that none might be misled
But was either course pursued? No.
On the contrary, there was not even d
4 suggestion made by any candidate for
the Legislature that he would, if elect
ed, repudiate the Republican primary
to which the Progressive party stood
Eexpresslyy pledged.
Republicans and ProgreSsives fought
under one banner in the September
campaign to enforce the verdict of a
primary. to which they both stood
pledged In that campaign Governor
Burleigh was called upon to contrib
ute and did contribute literally. He
exerted all his strength and influence
in the common cause. He was in con-
slant touch with Republicans and Pro-
gressives alike. 1t was iterated and re-
iterated in the public press through
out the State that vote for a Repub-
lican legislator was a vote for Gov
ernor Burleigh. The people of Maine
voted with that understanding There
was no suggestion of subsequent pri-