Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-02
Concerning Obadiah.
Ea stport Citizen.)


T,here couldn't be a better time Tor
II than now. right after we have seen
and heard Patt, the dictator of the
Democratic party of Maine. his opiit-
ions concerning Republicans were re-
eeived so happily by his local ioiloWefs'
that we take pleasure III quoting ms
opinion of a Democrat, Obadiah CARO-
ner. 1t is true that he wrote II Two
years ago when Obadiah was Trying
10 get nominated for Governor, a
much less important office than that
Of a senator, for which he is now
candidate, but he wrote it, Obadiah
hasn't changed any, and IL must be as
true now as il was then. Here II is as
ii appeared in Pats paper, the Maine
Democrat, under date OF February II,
1910:
THE REPUBLICAN PRESS, lead
ers and party, are unanimous in de-
string Mr.. Gardeners denomination
why? Because from the day the
campaign opens to the hour of the
closing of the polls, they can keep
him on the defensive. Ii he is nomi-
mated the campaign will be one of ex-
PLANTATION, and judging by the reports
OF the Grange legislative committee
of explanations which do not explain.
Perhaps Mr.. Gardner looks for
ward to such campaign with pleas
ure Some Democrats do not. Some
former Republicans do not. If the
party desires such a campaign 1T can
have IL. The way 10 get it Is plain
IL can end in nothing but disaster. 1t
would not be q defeat. 1t would be
rout 1t would set the party back 10
years. 1t would end, for a while any
obnoxious Republican annoying Mr.
Gardner by coming over to Democ-
racy, Very likely the party may de-
eide to try the experiment. We shall
find no fault If such is the case. We
can stand 1t IL Mr.. Gardner can.
Should he be nominated he will have
our loyal support. We can eheerfnlly
accord that to him for Two reasons,
should prefer him to a Republican.
and second, because knowing that he
was sure to be defeated, our support
of him and voting for him. could work
no possible injury to Maine. Should
he be nominated, so far as the plat
form goes. i may as well be omit
ted, for nothing in the last platform
appeared to be regarded by him as
in any way binding upon him, or. per-
hapR 1t would be as Well to adopt an
elaborate and most enticing platform
for nothing in it could lose us votes.
The public would understand that 1t
was meaningless and it would look
well In print. In any event Demoera-
cy IL not going to die. 1t may suffer
from temporary illness, but 1t Will sur
vive. Democracy is a great, big, i'm
portant affair. while Obadiah Gardner
the Maine Democrat and the editor
thereof, might alb pass away tomor-
row and the world would hardly no.
tice the difference"
We commend this to the thought
full consideration of the voters of both
parties. 1t is the opinion of the un-
questioned leader of the Maine De-
mocracy, written at time when he
had no motive to be other than frank
and sincere; 30 that it need not be
subjected to the keen inspection that
his political opinions will usually
bear. Urged by those motives, he
counselled his party against the MIS-
TAKE of nominating Gardner for
Governor. What must now be his
frank and sincere opinion of Gardner
az candidate for the greater office of
United States senator?