The Republican journal., 1912-08-29

During the Yes and No campaign the
orators and organs of the rum party
complained that the friends of law and
order were bringing speakers from out
of the State to influence the people on a
purely local issue. That same issue con-
fronts US in the present campaign; and it
is, whether Maine shall be turned over
to the liquor dealers and brewers, to rob
our people of their substance, to corrupt
youth and destroy manhood, or whether
it shall remain a peaceful, prosperous
law-abiding State, controlled by its own
people and not by agents of the liquor
trust. There are other local issues pend
ing. The Pattangall- Plaisted admins
tration has been found guilty Of violating
the most solemn pledges made before
election, of falsely declaring the State
insolvent, to the detriment of its reputa
ton and credit. and the printing graft
has been brought home to it. To meet
these charges practically all the State
officials at Augusta from the Governor
down, neglecting the duties they are
paid to perform, have taken the stump;
and, not content with that, they are
moving heaven and earth to get speakers
from abroad to come to their aid, even
importuning Gov. Woodrow Wilson,
Champ Clark and Bryan to come and
help them hold the fort against the God
fearing, aw-abiding men, and women,
who would free the State from rum rule.
If Wilson, Clark, Bryan and others
knew the cause they are expected to
espouse we doubt if they would consent
to come to Maine on so unworthy an
Grand There are no national issues in
volved in the September election. The
issues are purely local; but the Demo-
cratic organs and orators are not saying
anything just now about importing
speakers to advise our people as to how
they should vote.
John Clair Minot of the editorial staff
of the Youths Companion, formerly of
the Kennebec Journal, has just passed
two weeks in Maine and contributed to
the Boston Herald of last Saturday some
interesting observations on the political
campaign in this State. He quotes from
the leaders on both sides, and gives
sketches of the candidates. Of Obadiah
Gardner he says:
he has very hard job on his hands to pre-
vent the experienced and popular veteran, ex-
Gov. Burleigh, from winning his seat For all
The Maine Republicans of whatever faction
and whether in the grange not, and many
good Democrats, feel that Burleigh will be
far more useful and creditable representative
of Maine in the Senate than Gardner is or
ever can be.
And of Hon. William T. Haines, the Re-
publican candidate for governor: He
is "a self-made man who had good ma
terial to work with and who has done a
job to be proud of. He made his money
honestly and by believing in Maine and
keeping his efforts and capital at home
when too many of his contemporaries
have done otherwise with BOTH" And
as to the liquor issue:
He has taken an unequlvocal stand for pro-
hibition, not only for the enforcement of the
law, but also for the principle of prohibition
itself. And it is plain to the casual observer
that one of the weak spots in the Plaisted
armor is the failure to keep the earlier pledges
to enforce the law against selling liquor. There
lis no doubt that most of the Maine cities are
as wide open as they can well be, and all the
liquor interests, in Maine and outside, are tied
up with Democratic success. One of the
Democratic embarrassments is speech which
Secretary of State Davis delivered before
convention of brewers in western city. 1t
gave away the secret of the big campaign
funds and the Democratic obligations to the
donors. The Grange, of which the Democrats
expect gratitude for the appointment Of Gard
ner to the Senate, is absolutely committed to
the principle of prohibition and bitterly re-
sents its betrayal by Gardner, whose views
have changed much since he was at its head.
7 INC0I NXyJIUE