The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-07-17
OPEN LETTER
From Mr. Peters to Voters of the Third
Congressional District.

ELLSWORTH, MAINE, July 9, 1913.
To the voters of the Third Congress
ional District: Last fail you elected Hon.
Forrest Goodwin of Skowhegan. your
representative to Congress. His untlme-
ly death has rendered necessary special
election to fill the vacancy.
The old system of nominating canGl-
dates for Office by caucuses and conven-
tions having been abolished, the people
will have the right. and it will be their
duty, on July 2Sth, at primary election,
held by the Republican and Democratic
parties, to nominate candidates to be
voted for on September Sth.
You will find my name on the primary
ballot as one of the candidates for the
nomination on the Republican ticket.
Y gu have right to know why my name
is there and my attitude toward the
matter.
The reason my name is on the primary
ballot is because | received SO many re-
quests from various parts of the district
urging me to become candidate that it
seemed to be my duty to run. have not
sought the nomination. 1t would be a
great hardship to me personally to have
it; but | realize that sometimes personal
inclination must be sacrificed to what
appears, at least, to be public duty,
and, if at the primaries, the people in
dictate desire that should be the can
didate to oppose the Democrats, | am
prepared to accept.
shall make no contest for the nomi-
nation. So far as l am concerned, you
will exercise your unbiased judgment, as
you ought to, without attempt on my
part to influence or prejudice
ihave seen suggestion in some papers
that there was some coercion or dictation
used at the meeting i'll Augusta, when |
was prevailed upon to accept and sign
nomination papers. The only coercion
or dictation of which | have been con-
scious is sense of duty and my own
conscience, and recognize no other.
If receive your nomination, however,
| am prepared to make an active and
aggressive campaign from start to finish.
Ii the men in the district, who believe as
| do, will stand with me, | shall have the
honor of representing you IN Congress.
| am violently opposed to the present
tariff policy of the Democrats, which is
admittedly detrimental to the business
!, interests of this district. The last No
vember election shows that large ma
jority of the voters in what is now this
district hold the same view.
: Under these circumstances there is no
good reason why Democrat should be
permitted to represent minority My of
! our voters. AS only two primaries are
possible, the Republican and the Demo
, cratic, man should be nominated who
can best unite all anti-Democratic
, strength
One Candidate only should finally be
agreed upon to oppose the Democrats.
Ii more than one candidate is nominated,
the one who can poll the most votes
i should be voted for. Our strength should
not be divided.
believe that the man to be voted for
by the, anti-Democratic strength should
be the nominee at a primary election.
No man without the backing of a prim-
airy nomination by the people is going to
be elected Whoever you nominate.
shall be content, because it will be your
verdict. Let US regard a vote at the
primaries as pledge of active support
later on when the real fight begins.
1t seems to me time when all men
who think alike should stand together,
and we should not be Invested of our
rights by any misunderstanding or diff
ferences less than funC amental
JOHN A. PETERS.