Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-26
Maine Senatorial Contest.

NIyGNlSlOn sun. DGIli.l
Progressiveism has come 10 stay, Mr..
Burleigh, Col. Hale and Mr.. Peters
in Maine to the contrary notwthstand-
ing Should the Steam Roller overthrow
what is natural plurality OF o. progress
sives in Joint ballot in the Maine leS1s-
lature-elect, such outrage would but on.
lY intensity the progressive protest OF
Maine against those bent on rule and
ruin They will perceive in 1914 and in
1916, as they have ascertaIned already
that the steam roller is devoid of prac-
teal reason and political common sense Sc
progressive ideas is shown in the fact
that the Bdrleigh-Taft candidate for the
presidency got but about 81 per cent. OF
the country's total vote. More signil-
cant vet, is the fact that after suffering
defeat at the hands of Taft, Wilson CO.
operating, the progressive party and the
progressive platform never stood SO
strong as today, as shown at the ballot
box from Maine TO California where the
piogressives have beaten both the old
parties united.-Lewiston Journal
In June OF this year a primary cleo
ton was held, under the new primary
law adopted in 1911. At that primary
election Republican candidates were
nominated for the Legislature. and a
Republican candidate was nominated
for United States Senator. All the
men nominated by the Republicans at
that primary We're Republicans; or
they we're playing a fraud on the Re
publican party and violating the pri=
maries law.
OF course the theory of the primary
law is that at the primary the voters
of each party express their preference
for Senator. They instruct the eandi-
dates of their party who get elected
to the Legislature to vote for that man
and no other for Senator. That is the
peoples way of electing their senator.
As plainly as possible the Republicans
of Maine, in that June primary, di-
rected the Republicans they noni-
mated for the Legislature to vote fer
Edwin c. Burleigh. They were as much
bound to vote for Burleigh as the Will
son Presidential Electors elected In
November are bound to vote for Will
son.
At the September election majority
of the Republican nominees were elect
ed. Thatis. 1t IS Republican Legisla-
ture 1t Is not permissible to those
men elected as Republicans to say that
since the election they have got con
verified, and now are not Republicans,
but Progressives. No more than the
express company can say that since
accepting your package it has got con-
verted and has decided to turn over
your package to your enemy. The Re
publican members of the Legislature
of 1913-that is, the men elected ON
the Republican ticket in September
are in honor bound to elect Edwin
C. Burleigh to the United States Sen
ate.
Nor do we believe il will profit the
Democratic party of Maine to get
their candidate elected by deal with
the men who were elected as Republic
cans and now choose to call themselves
Progressives 1t was Democratic Leg
islature that passed a primary law
the primary law now in force was
adopted by the referendum winch had
been urgently approved by Democrats.
Democrats have been advocates OF
popular election of U. S. Senators. Ed
win c. Burleigh had the popular eiec-
ton of the Maine voters as near as tue
State law can now provide. Wheh
Democrats Join with disloyal Repubi-
cans to defeat the will of the people as
expressed in the manner the Demo :
Gratis helped to devise, they display
Democratic bad faith to those theo-
ries of popular control they have al
vocated so loudly.
The only way to carry out the pnr-
| pose Of the laws of Maine as they
stand today is to elect Edwin G. Bur
| leigh to the United States Senate.
AS to the Journals reference to the
| November election, it must be remen
| bered that there is no provision IN th'
| primary law for setting aside at tht
| Presidential election the decision
reached by the primary election. Al
| the more ridiculous to claim that th'
results in other States should changt
the decision reached in this State. Th'
voters of Maine have said. in the man
ner provided by law, whom they wan
! for Z. S Senator. Their only authorl
| tative decision on that question Wa'
| given at the June primary. The Presl'
| Dental election has no more TO d'
with it than has the decision of th'
British Parliament as to home rule foi
| ireland.