Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-16
He Urges the Progressives to Dis
regard the Peoples Verdict and
Vote for Him for United
States Senator.
Claims That for Twenty Years He Has Been an
Exponent Of Progressive Doctrines.
MR.. GARDENERS GENIUS.

The spotlight once more shines on
Obadiah Gardeners ability to blow hot
and cold in the same breath.
He coolly assumes Democratic 10y
atty to the primaries, while holly in
vokilg Republican disloyalty thereto.
10 the average man, this feat would
present some difficulties. He would be
confronted by the following Obstacles
1.-The fact that he was nominated a
straight Democrat at the primaries,
that he officially accepted that nomina-
ton, and participated in the Septem-
Der campaign as a Democrat, in oppo-
sition To the combined forces OF Repub
licans and Progressives.
2-The unenviable position of a loser
in a fair fight before the people. who
asks for the Reputation of the popu-
lar verdict against him, at the hands
of a Legislature elected to carry out
that verdict.
TO a gentleman of Mr. Gardeners
ton presents no difficulties. Mr.. Gard
ner says: For the last 20 years have
advocated certain progressive meas
ures in Maine that have been opposed
by all that Mr.. Burleigh represents"
He further says: I think l am JUS
titled in saying l have stood for some
ii
ship"
This furnishes the key to the solu-
ton of the apparent difficulties point
ed out above. Mr. Gardner's barrel is
not a pork barrel 1t is a receptacle
for principles. To gentleman who for
20 years has been filing that barrel
with what Mr.. Gardner terms the
ruins of privilege and plutocracy" it
is surely an easy task to add a newly
discovered ruin for good measure He
therefore frankly invokes the aid of
the Legislature in the ruin" of the
primary lava brilliant addition to
his 90 years collection Of principles"
The ruin of privilege, plutocracy
and primary elections Surely here is
a slogan worthy of Editor Dngley
himself.
Mr.. Gardeners announcement has
been made none too soon, for he must
view with alarm" in the columns of
the daily press, the communications
from Progressives from every Section
of Maine, who still cling to the old
fashioned notion that there is such a
thing as honor in politics, and who
have not yet lifted the lid of Mr.. Gard
ner's barrel and gazed at his assert
ment of principles.
This latest addition 20 the barrel is
indeed a species Of principle" which
has been opposed by all that Mr..
Burleigh represents
Would it be unfair to suggest that
Mr. Gardeners ear is we'll attuned to
the sounds of martial music proceed
ing from the band wagon of recent
ly suggested reputation of the pri-
maries? Surely not. For of what
utility is band wagon if an aspiring
statesman is to be denied the oppor-
tunity of hopping on?
To be sure, Mr.. Gardner announces
that special privilege is expressed in
every means whereby one man secures
more than his fair share from the
common assets"
Il have stood for something besides
pork barrel craftsmanship" says Mr..
Gardner. This relieves us at once
from the suspicion that Mr. Gardeners
allusion to the fair share from the
common assets has reference to the
peoples pork barrel.
1t follows, therefore, that Mr.. Card
ners doctrine of special privilege"
as the means whereby one man Sc
cures more than his fair share from
the common assets,' has no applica-
ton to the appropriation of legislative
votes pledged by the peoples verdict
to another man. Such votes are as
suredly not common asset as they
have already been awarded to a par
tieular individual so far as pri-
mary election by the people can
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