Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-07-09
OPEN LETTER
From MIR. Peters to Voters of the
Third Congressional District.
EL1swoRTH, MAINE, July 2, ls1;

Third Congressional District.
ELLSWORTH, MAINE, July Q, 1918.
To the Voters of the Third Congressional
District;
Last fall you elected Hon. Forrest Good
win, Of skowhegan, your representative
in Congress. His untimeIy death has
rendered necessary a special election to
fill the vacancy.
The old system OF nominating candi-
dates FOR Office by csucuses and eonven-
tions having been abolished, the people
will have the right, and il will be their
dnty, on July =, at a primary election.
held by the republican and democratic
parties, to nominate candidates to be
voted for on Sept. s.
You will find my name on the primary
ballot as one of the candidates for the
nomination on the republican ticket. You
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 II
seemed to be my duty to run. have not
sought the nomination. II would be a
great hardship to me personally to have 1t;
but / realize that sometimes personal in
clination must be sacrificed to what ap-
pears, at least, to be public duty, and, II
at the primaries, the people indicate a de-
sire that should be the candidate to OPP
pose the democrats, | am prepared to ac-
oept.
shall make no contest for the nornina-
ton. So far as l am concerned, you will
exercise your unbiased Judgment, az you
ought to, without attempt on my part to
influence or prejudice.
/ have seen q suggestion in some papers
that there was some coercion or dictstion
used at the meeting in Augusta, when /
was prevailed upon to accept and sign
nomination papers. The only coercion or
dictation of which have been conscious
is sense Of duty and my own con-
science, and ! recog nize no other.
Ii receive your nomination, however,
am prepared to make an active and ag-
gressive 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 IL
admittedly detrimental to the business
interests Of this district. The last No
yepber election shows that large ma
district hold the same view.
Under these circumstances there is no
good reason why a democrat should be
permitted to represent minority only OF
our voters. As only two primaries are
possible, the republican and the demo-
cratic, a 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 ona who can poll the most votes
should be voted for. Our strength should
not be divided.
/ believe that the man to be voted for
by the anti-demoorssic strength should
No man without the backing Of primary
nomination by the people 10 going to be
elected. Whoever yea nominate, shall
be content, because it will be your verdict.
Let us regard vote st the primaries as
pledge Of active support lstsr on when
the real fight begins.
1t seems to me a time when ali men who
think alike should stand together, and we
should not be dirested OF car rights by
any Misunderstanding or differences less
than fundamental.
I8HS A. PErxRs