Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-20
Do Not Judge Too Hastily.

Referring to the details of yester-
days vote. it appears that the attempt
to GUST the three postmasters. or the
four of them, failed. II this could
have been done. it would have destroy
ed the Republican majority and dead
locked the election, assuming the DEM
ocratic and Progressive vote to have
remained the same. And with the cleo
ton hung up, there would be no telling
how long the suspense would continue
or what would be the final outcome.
IT was shrewd trick. but the trick
sters could not put it through. Again.
Mr. Wheeler of Paris, did not succeed
in swinging votes enough with him to
affect the result. On the House ballot
four men repudiated the primary and
cast their votes for a dummy candi-
date. on the joint ballot this was in
creased to seven, through the accession
of Mr. Wheeler and two others, but it
was not enough. One more vote, and
the election would have been blocked.
No doubt every effort was made to Sc
cure that vote, but the others held
different idea OF their duty and re-
manned firm.-Portland Press.
Indeed every effort was made to get
that votei
And right here we wish to ask the
general public not to judge too hastily
or harshly the men who now are on
record as betraying primary, party or
honor pair pledges. These men had
tremendous pressure brought to bear
upon them day and night. They SUI
fered the third degree every hour of
the "a. at the hands of morally blind,
personally selfish and politically dense
outsiders. (Our compliments to +. l..
d.
These men were pleaded with, urged,
threatened, coereed. II was put up to
them that their .scruples" were stand
ing in the way of great principles,
party success and the hope of coming
generations. Their hearts were wrung
by the demands Of close personal
friendships and the horrors pictured
to them of blasted hopes and ambitions
followed by political oblivion for those
whose brotherly feeling they had learn
ed to prize.
All this and infinitely, more. was
heaped on those few-those upon whom
had been concentrated all the batteries
of anything to beat Burleigh." Dem
ocratic leaders saw in the defeat of the
man who had so many times driven
them back, possible years of victory
and absolute control. Their allies We're
men masquerading as ProgressiVes
while they perfected personal sche mes
for exploiting the public. The REAL
improved rather than perverted politi-
cal conditions, refused solidly and
frankly to participate in population OF
the law they had demanded and fought
for, at it's first trial.
Yet some of these men, in their arm
or of honor and respect for law and
pledges of conventions, would soon
have been attacked by the combined
forces of selfishness. had the senatorial
contest reached a deadlock on We'd
nesday Indeed some OF them were
fighting already for their own self-re-
spect and the respect of those whom
they represented, in the last hours oil
the desperate battle to down Burleigii
at any cost or by any methods OF
trickery, deceit and treachery.
| That is why we say, in this hour oi
criticism of a few, if you had been III
their places the very foundations OF
your courage and loyalty would nave
| been tested
IT is better not to judge too narshiS
even an avowed opponent.