Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-23
Peters Wins New
Respect for Maine.

the reception given our new congress
Iman-elect in Massachusetts, and the
Favorable impression he seems to have
made in the Hub of the Universe.
| Giving the principal address at Ire
mont Temple, Saturday night, Hon.
John A. Peters. with Congressman A.
p. Gardner and ex-Gov. Curtis Guild.
enjoyed a magnificent reception.
| one news report Says:
When former Coy. Guild laid down
that he was in hearty opposition to ans
attempt to raise a class d\'tinction in the
present battle the crowd cheered. and
when Gengressman-elect Peters told how
Gardner had enthused and directed the
liberal Republicans of Maine to their
victory there was another burst of APP
plauSe.
AS fer Mr.. Gardner himself, he talked
out from the shoulder Just as he always
does without amy attempt to paint a
rosy picture. If yen folks wait for me
to send carriages to take you to the polls.
he declared, 4 won't have your votes,
but ! know that lot of people are go-
ing TO walk this year and ] thank YOU "
But the words Of Congressman elect
Peters will particularly interest Maine
readers, who are now looking at him
from a new angle. They have known
him, and known him well, and are
proud of him and his record in State
affairs, but as he steps out into the
sizes UP with those whom we have ae-
cepted as pretty big guns. We aIe
convinced that Boston, today, has a
new respect for Maine.
Congressman elect Peters said in
part:
Il came here to testify in the cause
in which my friend Capt. Gardner is
plaintiff. | know he is plaintiff AMI
not defendant because in campaigning
with him for two weeks in Maine
found out that he is all for the often
sive and has no use for defensive. He
believes that the best way to meet an
attack is by a charge.
He is like Count Corti in the
Prince of India You remember they
delivered the princess and the monk to
the lion in the arena. After the lion
was killed Count Corti, who had come
~ hiit iNSNttt illtA dl-
other lion?' Anxious as he was 10
protect the princess he was no less
anxious If there was to be further
combat to take part in it. The count
was essentially a fighting man.
After the secretary of state, the
speaker of the House and other emf
nent gentlemen from Washington had
ONE into the arena in my district to
eat me up and had retired. Capt. Gard
ner earnestly inquired Have they an
1ther lion?' The captain is essentially
fighting man, If you in Massachu-
sets, as we in Maine. in your eandi-
late for Governor value the qualities
of a fighting man, an all-around hui
man dynamo, vote for Capt. Gardner
The Progressive candidates in one
recent contest in Maine claimed lien
on the whole Roosevelt vote and flood
ed the district with circulars claiming
$4,000 votes to start with and that he
only needed about $50 votes from the
Democrats and about the same number
from the Republicans to be elected II
loked about five chances to one that
the Democrats would walk off with the
prize.
In this crisis your fellow citizen,
Capt Gardner, projected himself into
the fight. Ii seems that his speciality
was swallowing Progressives. He
could eat 'em alive. But he had
way of doing it so that it didn't hurt.
He began operations on me. He
manifested an unlimited curiosity as
TO my attitude toward progressive
measures. He catechized me and cross
examined me privately and publicly.
lie inquired about a minimum wage
for women and abolition of child labor.
both of which | favored. He said he
was very much in favor of restriction
of immigration. He and | didn't fully
agree on that, but | told him / was
open to conviction. My state doesn't
have much immigration and it is not
| a burning question with us. He said
he believed in ii firmly and should
earnestly advocate it. | saw him try
it out in PASSPORT. We has large
audience, 80 per cent. working men. I
| could see that it was just the kind of
an audience he liked. He launched
| the idea of restricting immigration and
to my amazement was answered by a
roar of approval.
Il saw that he knew more about the
Progressive platform than the men who
made it. | saw that he was d libe raj
Republican and not afraid to say so.
He extended me a welcome To the
ranks.
Our fight took new phase at once.
new plan of campaign was formed IN
| der the leadership of Mr. Gardner. The.
| tariff controversy with the Democrats
remained and was fought out to a fin
ish, but the problem was to detach the
| Ploel essivc rank and file from the poli-
tieians who were trying to keep them
| IN control. This we proceeded To do b,
| Announcing from the housetops the
/ views anG attitude of the new liberal
| RepublicaEism and by making it evil
| dent that it differed in no fundamental
respect from the Progressive program
| we were willing to take one step for
ward-in fact. had already done SO
without realizing what it meant in our
| fight. Your candidate pointed it out !;
he opened our eyes: he also opened up
the path and blazed the trail.
| IF you want a clear headed, praeti-
| ca! expo nent of the new liberal Repup-
Ecanism. vote for Mr. Gardner