Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-14
Saturday. December IL, 1912.
The Progressive State Committees
Defense.

the Progressive State committee
Whether they are justly entitled to
that designation is, as they very prop
erly intimate. incidental to the main
proposition which they discuss. 1t is
a collateral issue, which the Progress
sive party will doubtless settle for
itself. Granting the contention of
these gentlemen upon this point, it
merely emphasizes the proposition
that the deliberate verdict of the peo-
pie is superior to an advisory reso-
luton Of a political party committee.
We do not impugn the motives o.
these gentlemen The best of men
who reason from wrong premises will
reach wrong conclusions. They as
seif that until after the Republican
National convention, Mr.. Burleigh
gave the impression that he was
friendly to Col Roosevelt's candida
cy.'
They err in this statement. Indeed,
lilIOuSloul lbt Campaign eatS
Lewiston Journal gave its readers to
understand that Mr.. Burleigh was
Taft supporter. Governor Burleigh
took no part whatever in the contest
between the two candidates. but
awaited the verdict of the Chicago
convention. BY that verdict, whether
for Taft or for Roosevelt, he stood
ready to abide. His attitude was per-
fectly understood by, and acceptable
to, his supporters in both factions of
the Republican party.
Governor Burleigh's position on
both State and national issues was
squarely stated and published broad
cast throughout the State. long be-
fore the June primaries, His record
during II years of service in Con-
gress was not unknown to the peo-
pie of Maine Therefore his decisive
victory al the primaries proved in
contestably that he was acceptable
to the Progressive element of the Re
publican party, and his personal cor
respondenee amply verifies this asser-
ton.
The Chicago convention was held
and Mr.. Taft was nominated. From
June until the November election the
Kennebec Journal ran his name con-
tinnouslys as the Presidential nom
inee. We have never heard that that
fact escaped the notice of Progress
sive Republicans. If they did. not OBJ
serve it in the State wide editions of
the Kennebec Journal during the Sep
TENDER campaign, they were at least
frequently reminded of it by the
taunts of the Democratic press that
the "Burleigh organ" was running
Taft at its mast head. There was,
then. no pretense of misunderstanding
Governor Burleighs position.
Meanwhile, prior to the September
election, the Progressive party, las a
party" was born. Under these. cir
cumstances, did any Progressive raise
the issue that Governor Burleigh was
not member of the new party?
Did any Progressive, or body of
Progressiyes, call upon Progressive
Republican legislative nominees to
either resign, or to publicly announce
that they We're not bound by the pri-
maries and, if elected. should not sup
port Governor Burleigh?
Did any Progressive, or body of Pro-
gressives. counsel the members of
that party to vote against those Re-
publican nominees for representatives
TO Congress. who were avowed Taft
supporters?
No. Quite the contrary. The Repub-
lican legislative candidates. who had
been nominated by the votes of both
Taft and Roosevelt supporters, accept
ed their nominations as Republicans.
They stood for election as Repub-
licans, shared in the benefit Of the
%tSPoOi3@d1 luDus anu were
elected by the votes of both Repub-
lieans and Progressives, without dis
tinction. And without distinction, too,
they stood shoulder to shoulder with
the Kennebec Journal and Governor
Burleigh IN the fight against the COM
mon enemy. They Were in constant
touch with him throughout the cam
paign, appreciative of his efforts in
the common cause, urging him to re-
newed efforts, and loyal throughout.
Moreover, nothing was better I'M
derstood at the September election
than that vote for Republican leg
islator was a vote for Governor Bur-
leigh. Progressives and Republicans
alike cast their votes with that un-
Outstanding. That the personality of
Governor Burleigh figured to a large
extent in the result of the September
election would not be denied, we
think. by any of the gentlemen sign
ing the communication.
y Maxy cttnpaea that fucf .ar.iar 20