Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-27
WHY PIaisted Must Lose.

election is 2 good straw, and an lnNes-
tfgaticn has been made. this week, to
find out what the expression is in re-
gard to the sentiment for and against
Governor Plaisted. From u travelling
men who go into all parts of the State
from time to time, who have given their
expressions, only one said that he be-
leved Plaisted would be reelected.
Everyone of the other 20 has emphati
cally said that Haines surely would be
elected. one man from Portland, who
goes into all of the big cities and
towns, stated that even Democrats say
that Plaisted cannot be reelected. He
said that over in Penobscot and Pisca-
taquis counties he heard many people
in the hotels say they knew of great
many who voted for Plaisted and
would not do it again. He said that a
prominent Democrat in Augusta said;
We cannot possibly re-elect Fred"
1t is not safe to sit down and count
toe much on this sort of hearsay. The
present administration has a great
force in the element to which it's entire
appeal has been made-the personal
liberty clement. There are thousands
of people in our State and particularly
in our large cities, who are determined
to have their own way, indulge their
appetites and passions and escape
earthly penalties. regardless of the
feelings and interests of others. To
this class the Pattangall- Plaisted bid
has been made. In its strength it is a
serious menace to the moral, intellectu-
al and financial welfare of the State.
Personal liberty is particularly
strong card with newly made Ameri-
cans of foreign birth, who have exag-
gerated notions of American liberty
and bring all their Old World retro
gressien. moral blight and degeneracies
with them.
But we still base our faith and
make our predictions on the bedrock
character of Maine citizenship If
Plaisted had made good" with the
heads of the most respectable homes in
Maine, he might, perhaps. have been
reelected in spite of the well known
popularity of Hon. William I. Haines
He has not the open lawlessness of
the Plaisted administration. from the
day of its inauguration has alenated
the support of those who believe in,
and wish to stand for, better things.
Republicans who voted the Plaisted
ticket on the strength of the promises
of Democratic candidates and the crit
icisms of Republicans for years, were
previously disappointed. Democrats,
who have chung to the old party in
spite of its adversely, at last saw a.
greet hope-a turning to Democracy to
test its claims, and a chance to make
good" Thousands of these honest
Democrats are disguised They have
been betrayed and their protests sneer-
ed at.
Here is the sentiment, voiced this
week, by one of the most prominent
Democrats in Kennebec county 1--WE
would not confuse his prominence"
with the "notoriety'' of certain others):
"For years we criticized Republican
administrations because they failed to
Anfprra tha IL
dates who would promise to do better.
We received the promises insthe cam
paisn of 1910; but no Republican ad-
ministration in recent years MAS so
openly defied moral sentiment and so
brazeny dealt with interests ready to
purchase our public welfare. All the
ten years against liquor and social
evils has been lost. The number II
dealers who pay U. S. revenue tax to
handle intoxcants has been doubled,
and dives and bootIesgers have quad
rupled.
There can be no question that Gov
ernor Plaisted and his close associates
who are in control of the fortunes of
the Democratic party in Maine, have
united with the liquor interests in
| determined effort to give booze legal
status i'm Maine. Enforcement was
definitely promised in the Democratic
platform of 1910, but in several of the
cities and throughout the most of the
counties deliberate notification, mani
testify under the protection of State
officials high up, has been openly and
defantly arranged for the purpose of
discreditng the prohibitory law, and
to build up local sentiment against
the law.
"These are hard things for me to
Isay against my party, and J claim that