Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-08-20
P ETERS AT GARDINER.
RINGING SPEECH BY REPUBLI-
CAN CANDIDATE.
DISCUSSES PROBABLE EFFECT OF TAR
IFF ON MAINE INDUsTRIEs-How
TO BEAT THE DEMOCRATS.


at Gardiner Monday evening the princi-
pal speakers were Hon. John A. Peters,
republican candidate for Congress, and
Senator Frank L. Dntton, of Augusta.
Charles H. Gray called the meeting to
order, and Judge Harold E. Cook was
made chairman. Mr.. button spoke first,
speaking entirely upon State issues, and
clearly ahead of Lawrence, the only way
to prevent the election of a democrat was
to vote for Peters; to vote for Lawrence
was indirectly vote for Psttsngall.
Mr.. Peters received an ovation; his adj
dress was listened to with intense in
terest, and made profound impression.
Mr.. PErKRs' ADDRESS.
You and the other voters OF this district are
about to select an agent TO represent you in
Washington. You cannot all go there your
selves, because there isn't room, so you and
the rest OF the ninety million people Of this
United states send 4ss representatives to act
for you and do your work in Congress. You
had an able, faithful and conscientious public
HGTNAuk NHum you eItNteA fAs+ ESptNhi0rFs
one who started on his career with high
hopes and great promise. He measured up
to the standard which you have always set
in making your selection, and had he lived
would have added new lustre to the brilliant
record of Maine and worthily upheld the
traditions of the old third district. His
death was a sad blow to me and TO all his
other friends, and an irreparahIe loss to
his admiring constituents.
1t would be sufficient honor for any man to
be chosen by you to succeed that brilliant
young statesman, the Hon. Forrest Goodwin.
] want to emphasize the fact that in making
this choice the responsibility is on you. 1t is
your business; it is your duty to select your
representative. have nay duty to perform in
this connection. must explain my position
on public questions. I should state my
attitude toward matters affecting the busi-
ness you are to give in charge to someone,
affecting your interests; but when you have
heard all sides the responsibility Of deciding
is on you, and you cannot avoid it IL you
would. You cannot even avoid 1t by staying
away from the polls, because that might de-
termine the result.
Your field of selection is practically limited
TO three men. l wish for your sake it were
greater, but that is the way 1t works out IN
der the law. Now when you engage 8 hired
man you want to see him; you want TO know
whom he has worked for previously; you
want to see his recommendation-why he left
his former job, and what his object is in seek
ing this one. II there are any charges
against him, you want to investigate them.
AS happen TO be one of the three men in
SE n 7, n met To satisfy Vnp nm
points. Five years ago was busy attending
TO my own affairs in the finest town In Maine
when my feIlow-citizens send me to theieg-
islature to represent them in the House. /
was elected by u hatsering majority. The
customary second nomination followed, and
was elected by majority far from fatter.
ing. I trust you will accept. however, as a
mitigating circumstance that almost every
body else on the ticket was defeated.
There was a contest over my election, and
i am reminded incidentally that my present
democratic opponent sat on the election
committee that decided the contest, and
1t is a pleasure to remember that his
attitude showed nothing but perfect fair
ness to which he added his great legal
acumen in illuminating his decision in
seating me. II his decision had been the
OtAtI way II 10 hiObNotS hAAt a SANhA1 AAR
now be impeding his progress to Washing
ton-a circumstance trust he will not regret
when he reflects that If it were not it might
be somebody worse TO beat.
A third term resulted in my election as
speaker OF the House by the concerted action
of every republican and progressive, which
doubtless led to this nomination. This COM
prises the whole OF my career in politics
u -. ul4s see-
that am not seasoned politician-as my
friends viii all assure you with great gusto-
and that haven't really acquired the fixed
and reprehensible habits of the hardened
ofice-seeker have never been a member
Of so much as q town committee, 10 say
nothing of ring. have never consciously
worked for anything but the public welfare
and If there was machine / never helped
operate ii.
believe in leadership. however, and in
leaders. / believe that no concerted action
for the common good can be successful with
out some one or more to stand forward. You
wouldn't send ship to sea without captain,
or appoint committee without chairman
Your meeting here tonight exemplifes that
/ don't know much about il from first hand
but from a citizens point of view it seems 70
me tnhl ~ the pftet1t Ail uthtA PNfhI1 ~
this State are much better supplied with
bosses with two-hsted grip than is ours. 1t
may be that what is cur loss is their gain.
AS you are considering the matter Of hiring
me, you ought to know that I hsye been &C
cused OF being ''stand-pattter" and '.re-
dictionary. If advocating 3 modern work
mans compensation act, working for pub
lie utilities law, that would enable us TO
regulate rates and control our public
service corporations. pushing for the
good roads bill and voting for woman's suf-
frage are examples of standing pat, then al
guilty and must be punished. / cannot
cape my record IL / would. You win have TO
Judge what will do by what have done,
Those without record can safely claim 10 be
progressive. Don't get the impression that
I am posing as a radical. i suppose / am
naturally conservative and believe in adj
vancing cautiously but in advancing, never
theless.
But this is mott matter Of personalities or Of