The Republican journal., 1912-08-22
THE ISSUES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Discussed by Hon. w. B. Shelton. Some
Illuminating Remarks on State Issues.

Discussed by Hon. w. B. Shelton. Some
Illuminating Remarks on State Issues.
At recent Republican rally in Wiscasset
Hon. William B. SHELTON of Lewiston.
candidate for representative to Congress
from the second district, gave an Illuminating
address national and State issues After
devoting considerable time to discussion of
the tariff question, MIR. Shelton said:
Gov. Wilson's theory OF dealing with mo-
nopoly is drastic reduction of protective
duties, wherever he finds monopoly. If he
really believes protection is unconstitutional
he should repeal it anyway. This entirely
loses sight of the fact that trusts and monop-
olies exist just as truly in free trade countries
as here. But even it this were not SO. other
conditions exist which this remedy does not
take account of. None of these monopolies
occupy the entire field, and many of them
much less. While they are being crippled the
lines will be killed. And while you are Grip
ping or killing the industries great and
small, those employed in them will not be the
last to suffer.
"Forced dissolution by law suit or other.
wise is not the true solution. Nor is the i'm
position OF hnes on the corporations. The
former will be evaded and the latter must fall
upon the stockholders, the innocent as well as
the guilty, and upon the public. l believe
that they should and can be regulated by ma
tional legislation. just as the railroads and
public service corporations are now being reg
uiated. Then when they attempt to evade the
law the guilty officials should be personally
and individually dealt with as criminals. The
penalty Will then fall where it belongs. and
the innocent will not suffer.
Inc ouslness-hke way is to treat existing
evils according to their nature and need. and
not at one fell swoop to reverse the entire
policy on which our industrial system is based.
iro Ii,,l oGo l
the vicious. One experience of this sort ought
to suffice for more than 20 years"
Mr.. Skelton said that the Democratic papers
objected to making State issues prominent in
this campaign. although their speakers on the
PLATFORM were already trying to answer the
charges which they knew would be made. If
there is any one thing more obnoxious to
Democratic statesman than all others, it is a
discussion of his public record
The Democrats charged two years ago that
the State was collecting and disbursine too
much money. They proceeded to collect a
Gus administration and made appropriations
aggregating more than those of any other two
years since the Civil War.
"The present administration deliberately
sought to win its election by openly promising
most rigid enforcement of the laws to influence
one class whlle the other class secretly under
stood that Democratic success was its plumber
The result has been complete surrender of
the State to outside interests. The Demo-
cratic platform promised enforcement of the
laws. Mr. Plaisted in his letter of acceptance
endorsed the platform. In his speeches he re-
peatedly told the public that he would enforce
them, that they should not vote for him if thew
didn't want the laws enforced.
After election. and to keep tn, support of
honest thinking men in both parties until
resubmission resolve could be passed by the
Legislature these promises were repeated by
the newly elected Governor and by his party
associates. MIR. McGiicuddy told the people
at the Court street Baptist church in Auburn
the law should be enforced and the Democrats
propose to do it. The Sentinel said that 'anv
other course would be anarchy The Argus
said: "The dictum has gone forth that any
man or woman who sells liquor after JAM /,
(191D does so at his or her peril, and they will
be regarded as enemies to the public order and
dealt with wherever and whenever they are
! found
These strong words had the desired effect
in keeping the friends of law and order in line
until the resolve was passed. Then the dis
guise was thrown entirely off Just four weeks
to day after the Governor signed the resub.
mission resolve he approved the repeal of a
law which authorized him to remove county
attorney who has persistently failed to per-
form his legal duties' Then he told the State
Pathological society that 1.-THE reason why he
did not enforce the law was that it had no
ICcti. faHu ldot MATCH Hc puDuCly declared
that he did not promise to make Maine dry,
because to have done so would have been to
win his election on false pretences."
The administration, Mr.. Shelton said, had
betrayed Mr.. Gardner, who had vouched for
its sincerity in the campaign. if he believed its
candidate sincere 1t had betrayed MIR. Nc
Gillicuddy and the Sentinel and Argus, if they
were sincere in their prophecies. But not a
word of protest have we heard from any of
them. They all now endorse, not the promise,
but the performance. Did they expect any
thing else? Are they really disappointed?
"And then they withheld the announcement
of the result of the special election until the
secretary of the State could take counsel with
the United States Brewers association in Chi
cago. He may have been called there on ac-
count of his reputation as an orator don't
believe it. He may have gone to represent
some lawful business of Maine. l don't be-
ileve it. He may have gone there to take
further orders from the wholesalers Two
weeks after his return the Governor announced
the September vote and his intention to call an
extra session of the Legislature to try to get
liquor laws which are capable of honest en-
forcement' And that is the kind of enforce
ment some people thought he meant when
/ they voted for him in $780,"