Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-21
a GARNER PROGRESSIVE"
From Aroostook Asks Space for His
Views on Senatorial Situation.


Editor Kcnnebec Journal
Have you space To spare for few
rough hewn ideas of an Aroostook
farmer Progressive. cen though the
flowers of speech grow not readily
FROM his pen?
| have been looking on at the con-
troversy ill the camp and am more
than surprised at the position taken
by some of the Progressive workers.
In the primary no thought was given
To anything but the selection of the
best We we're combined. The
State election was on the same basis
no difference of opinion there.
Now, after taking part in these
things as one body and after our
senators and representatives are
elected and the CHOICE OF THE
PEOPLE in the matter of l.. 5. sena-
tor SO strongly stated, we hear some
one is giving out the impression that
the Aroostook PrOgressiVes deaire to
start out on Il clean slate.
Whose letters gave any color of
foundation for such an impression
Did the answers received by the
Aroostook committeeman give him
authority to state it thus? We, the
rank and file. believe there is not one
man in hundred in this broad coun-
" willing to play the dishonest part
of Reputation!
The former Progressive State COM
mitteeman, Hon. Athill T.. Irving, with
two others, stated the thing about
right and as practically ALL the Pro
gressives of this county feel and as
they will show when they reach Au-
gusta. signed statements by anyone to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
The stalwarts of Aroostook have
not SO soon forgotten that the corner
stone and very raison d'etre of the
new party is square DEAL
The position of reputation is one
which, if pushed too far, is bound to
react upon the party. for ii was sup
posed by us all that just such politi-
cal jugglery was the very primal
cause of its formation.
You will NOT find the men of
Aroostook doing violence to their own
principles by going squarely back on
their word and act, In the election
we all voted together and called Il
halt to the continuance of Democratic
| inefiiciency. We all voted for one or
another of the various candidates. In
the primary was not Mr.. Burleigh a
winner in the U. S. senator class?
Did not the losers, Mr. Powers es
pecially, write him a public letter
eongratulating him and stating that
they would do all in their power to
/ help elect him? 1t was graceful
act but highly proper one.
| Is it expected now of the white men
/ lT hi,
sciences off on a short vacation while
| they ravage their manhood and do
! that which wiilgb a blot on their
character and a reproach TO them
! selves forever? The stain of sin may
be partially washed away by the
/ proper application of right living, but
this foul spot would never take itself
away damn it all you please,
Take not the statements of ire
sponsible parties too seriously, which
would SO lower the character and
honesty of our Aroostook people, Pro-
gressiye or otherwise. We do not
wish you to gather the impression
that the right thinking people of this
great county are blinded and ready to
do so vile an act, We strenuously
deny the proposition, They are not,
They believe in making the party fit
the principle and not vice versa; that
they think too muchsof clean man
hood to play themselves this dishon-
orable trick: that they want the party
to handle itself properly and not be-
gin with knavery too rotten to be
sustained by thinking men; that the
death knell of Progressiveism, as such,
in Maine is sounded if this rank fall
lacy be persisted in.
Can a man, even of known Progress
sive tendencies, take a Republican
nomination, Republican election,
and then go to a Republican Legisla-
ture and be anything elsa Judas?
In all honor there should be but one
caucus, and that Republican caucus,
at this coming session of the Legisla-
ture. What he may do after that
and in future primaries and elections
in boosting Progressive men and
measures would be fair and right but
now he should follow out his tacit
agreement made by his acceptance OF
nomination and election.
Nay friends, be not deluded by the
statements of over jealous, possibly
diseased, minds. Aroostook will play
the game on the square. / believe
the people appreciate the many good
things Mr.. Burleigh has done in the
upbuilding of this new county: thai,
on account of his National strength