Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-18
Wednesday, December IS, 1917
Tn. Communication of N. T. Goodrich.

alive to the United states senatorial
contest. 1t is temperate in tone, free
from abuse or personalities, and is
entitled to a respectful answer.
Mr.. Goodrich. admits the obligation
created by a primary vote of the peo-
pie. He says:
"All Republicans in the Legislature
are in duty bound to vote for Mr.
Rurleigh. All Democrats in the Leg
islature are in duty bound TO vote for
Mr. Gardner"
But he further says;
"AlI Progressives in the Legislature
are no more affected by the Repuoll-.
ran and Democratic primaries than
would a Socialist or Prohibition mem
her. if there were any. be affected by
those primaries 81
That would be true if the PTpgress
siyes had not participated as Repuh-.
licans in the Republican priHiary; or
having So participated. had refused to
accept nomination as Republican, cam
didates for Legislature elected to
carry out the verdict of that urinary.
and had been nominated and elected
as Pregressives. But they deliberate
~. honestly, and very properly de-.
cided to stand for election as Repub-
licans and to fight under that ban
ner against the common foe. And
they just as deliberately and honest
ly announced tfat fact to the people
of Maine. and called upon Progress
sive voters to support all Republican
candidates without regard to their in
dividual positions on the question of
Presidential candidates. - f1fs34.
This appears, from the proceedings
of the Progressive party at the con-
vention held IN Portland. on July 81,
where they not only adopted rese-
luton endorsing the Republican pri-.
mary nominees for the State election,
including two candfdasss for Repre-
sentatives .tosssGonsress,s ssssheFa sssre
svowed Taft supporters, but also vot.
ed down resolution calling upon the
Republican SENATORIAL and Con-
sressionat candidates in Maine to state
their position as to whether they will
support the Republican or Progress.
sive party in Congress If elected"
If that was not a statement to the
people of Maine that they then and
there deliberately decided TO stand by
the verdict of the Republican pri-
mary. what was it?
If Mr.. Goodrich had recalled that
one fact, and grasped its significance,
we have sufficient faith in his honesty
of purpose to believe that he would
have deposited his communication in
the waste basket instead of in the
postoffice.t
Having decided not to run a Pro-
gressive ticket as such in September
the above action of the Progressives al
Portland was the only logical and the
only honest result of the action taker
at the Republican convention in Ban.
gor. At that convention, which wa:
admittedly controlled by Roosevelt
supporters. the following plank wa,
unanimously adopted:
= "We pledge allegiance to ALL Repub.
bean nominees at the primaries ane
with united front count with conf
denee upon the overthrow of Democ
racy in Maine"
In the face of that plank, coult
any honest man run for the Legisla
ture on the Republican ticket with ;
concealed purpose to repudiate, i
elected, that pledge to stand by tn
Republican primaries a11
If Mr.. Goodrich had recalled tina
further fact, and grasped it's signif
canoe. we believe his communicate
would have gone into the fire and nc
into the waste basket.
In line with the foregoing action
Progressives officially accepted the
primary nominations as Republica
Legislative candidates. went on til
September ballot as Republican
shared the benefit of the Republica
campaign fund. invited the support
all Republicans, and were elected b
the votes of Republicans and Pr