Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-05
The Situation
In Our KennebeC.

Chairman Philbrook has said, 1.-THE
towns throughout the county are ours;
we shall largely cut the Democratic
majorities in the. cities with a good
chance of carrying them, and Mr..
Philbrook knows the situation in his
home county as does no other man.
Waterville with its $50 Democratic
surplus, the home of the great leader
Pattangall may not yet be competent
to throw off the yoke of bar-reom rule,
but it's going to put up fight.
Gardiner and Hallowell chances are
believed to favor the Republicans,
and in Augusta the Democrats are
desperate in the face of defeat.
The capital city, real leader of the
fall from grace has been coming back.
slowly but irresistibly- In the last
municipal campaign despite the plead
ings of His Exeelency that if his
home city turned over he would be
shamed before the State, Augusta
nearly did it. The Democratic major
ity was so cut down that the Demo-
Gratis have weak hopes for next year.
The city which was so anxious to dis
cover the Democratic prodigy" is
NOM dS dB8souS 10 DuFs Hiui
AS Augusta goes so goes the coun-
try" may not apply this year but
Augusta is going TO show 'em the
right path and if they choose to dis
regard it they cannot turn blaming
eyes this way. 1t is the third time
this city has been beguiled by Mr..
Plaisteds Establishments and undoubt-
eddy the last. He has been defeated
after terms as mayor and as sheriff
and after next Monday his titles will
show up stronger ex-shefiff
and eX-governor--it is enough. Au
gusta has seen it all-the meetings of
the Democratic hosts and the vaude-
vile of a Democratic legislature; the
special session and the almost over
powering desire to turn Maine to the
Yes" column in last falls outrageous
exhibition; the building and the up
keep of good roads" and the bonds
which remain to he paid The
''Plaisted Republican. has crawled
into his hole and pulled the hole in.
after him. Haines will carry Augusta
by 100 votes.
With Chester BeaHe, ore Of the most
popular men in the city out for Legis-
lature. an up-and doing Republican
club, the disgruntlement of William
Frost over the treatment accorded him
in his primary campaign for the NOM
nation as county commissioner, the
endorsement of the Republican candi-
dates by the Progressive organization,
Gardiner Republicans are ready with
any old odds that their city goes to
Republicanism to its bootstraps.
The issues that turned Hallowell
over to the Beane camp at the last
election have no place in the present
campaign letter from one of the
leading citizens says: Il will say that
the shift seems to be daily growing
stronger toward Republicanism. I
have been working hard and find that
many men who voted for Plaisted two
years ago swear that they viii never
do so again. On the other hand have
heard of no one who voted against
Plaisted two years ago and is going
to vote the Other way this year For-
rest Goodwin stands an almost certain
chance of winning, | should say, not
only from my observations here but
in my travel Throughout the county.
1t now seems that if our candidate for
the legislature loses in this city the
vote will not be enough against him
to prevent his winning out in the
class"
That cunning redlstrieting threatens
to act against the perpetrators for
here is something that hits near home
and is understood by everybody
affected. Evep the most partisan
Democrat can't help but feel a tinge
of doubt over such glazing unfairness.
The larger towns seem certain to
continue Republican. Correspondence
from Winthrop states that the major
ity will be heavier this Year. Read
field reports things "sure by two to,
one. And so it goes. Towns like
South Gardiner. Oakland Pittston and
Randolph may be generously elassed
as "doubtful' and yet be certain Of