The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-07-03
Youngest Party Speaks It's Mind


a prominent citizen of. Bingham, is
offered for the consideration OF our
ieaderz The writer Is full of faith
in tue cause ne advocates. While
we disclaim any responsibility for
the opinions therein expressed, We are
glad to give publicity to sentiments
which have the sympathy of so many
residents of this county.
Bingham, Maine, June 30. 1913.
The Editors, The independence Report
er:
BY the illness and passing away of
the Hon. Forrest Goodwin, the third
Congressional District has suffered a
loss which can not easily be met. Be-
cause of his untimely death, a special
primary and a special election are
necessary.
According to the primary law, a
party, in order to hold primary,
must have received at the next
preceding gubernatoral election one
per cent of the total vote cast for
governor. Because the Progressive
Party at its first state convention en-
dorsed the candidate of another party
for governor, no votes were credited
to the Progressives in the last guber-
national campaign. This makes it i'm
possible for the Progressives to hold
primary at this time. But the
election and primary laws also pro-
vide that in case party can not hold
primary, it can choose its candidate
under the old law governing nominal
lions and then place its candidate on
the election ballot by petition.
In compliance with the law the only
course open to the Progressiyes is to
hold convention and there choose the
candidate whom they will by petition
place upon the election ballot.
The Progressives in the many towns.
plantations and cities of the district
are now choosing delegates for that
which will be held at Wa
terville, July 18th.
The primaries of the Republican and
Democratic Parties will be held July
20.
Every voter who believes in the con-
and excessive tariff policies
Of Cannon, Payne and Taft and wish
60 w lIt CdHuIudlt vi Iue
party to which those men belong
should attend the Republican primary
Those who believe in the so-called
free lumber, free potato policy OF
Underwood and Wilson can attend the
Democratic primary.
Those who believe in Progressive
policies, in the principle of settling the
tariff with justice both to the consum-
er and the producer, in having the
rates made out not by log-rolling
politicians but by a non-partisan COM
similar to the successful In
terstate Commerce Commission, those
who believes in social justice, in the
right of the people to rule, will If they
wish, attend the meetings of the Pro-
gressives in the various towns and
there choose the persons who will
represent them at the Congressional
1t is inevitable and 1t Is best that
people should have different opinions.
Almost every one forms his opinion ae-
cording to the experience and informa-
ton that are his.
According to our understanding the
Progressive Party is the only party
that is facing squarely the new pro-
blems of government produced by the
new conditions under which we live.
1t is fighting to give the people of the
present better chance to earn liv-
ing. There never was a fight more
worth the making.
The campaign to elect a Progress
siye Congressman has begun. In the
last Presidential campaign the vote in
this district stood: Democratic, a.
$780, Progressive, ID, 105; and Republi-
can, 1859. In this district, which
party is the one which can protect
the lumbermen from free lumber, the
farmers from free potatoes and Taft's
reciprocity, or those who wear wooden
from schedule X? In the nation, in
the same campaign. the Republican
Party received eight electoral votes,
one third as many as the Populist
Party received in 1892, while the Pro-
gressives received eleven times as
many as the Republicans.
In the nation as whole, which par
ty can protect the people from the un-
just omnibus tariff bills of both the
old parties?
The people will decide which party
they wish to win in this district.
In the sound common sense of the
people, whichever way they decide, the
Progressives have faith.