Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-12

Skowhegan. Me, Aug. II Especially
Not in years have the Republicans in
Somerset county had so much conf
dence and assurances that the Repub-
lican party would win in this county
and State this September, as at pres
ent. Reports come from every section
that indicate an old time Republican
from Republicans but even Democrats
in conversation with members of their
party say they fear that this is a fact.
Even the leaders of the Democratic
. party are lukewarm because of these
disheartenfng reports and also because
they haEe no issues to fight upon.
This would be true even if they had
good issues in Maine, for the national
administration has dampened the ar
dor Of the most enthusiastic Democ-
rats, but when Curtis makes the an
nouncement in his speeches as he did
at Skowhegan, recently, We have got
to have rum, and let us have the reve-
nue. to run our Schools he deals the
worst blow that has struck the prohi-
bition Democrats (and there are many
in Somerset county,. Two Democratic
nominees recently in conversation
agreed that this is the worst statement
that Curtis could have made 1t has
been said and cannot be unsaid 1t has
spread far and near and of course the
oldtime Democrats and leaders will
support the ticket and vote it; yet
they knew, as they say themselves.
that with rum program as Curtis
puts IT up, It is going to be hard TO
talk Democracy, especially III a county
like Somerset where the sentiment is
strong for Prohibition. OF course most
Democrats know that the Democratic
party has the same leadership now
that it had two years ago when the
leaders worked night and day 10 de-
feat John A. Mooers for sheriff because
he was enforcing the law as a Demo-
crat. 1t is i known fact through this
county that at the Democratic eau
cuses to choose delegates for the con-
vention at Portland practically every
delegate was urged not to vote for any
local option or RUN plank for the plat
form and when they returned after the
convention the convention was con-
denned by the Democrats at home for
the action that the party had taken in
declaring for local option. There has
been less ardor for Democracy since.
A report came here Monday, follow
ing a canvass of one of the towns in
this county, that all the Progressives
in t1oot ho
last September have now come out
openly for the Republican ticket. An
other report from a town in a differ
ent section of the county showed that
there was not a Progressive left in
the town. In another town where
quite a number of Progressive votes
were cast last September only two
were left and in still another where
about 20 Progressive votes were cast
there are only two Progressives left
and they were former Democrats In
one town where a big Progressive vote
was cast last September there are
now less than two thirds OF what
there were then. These reports come
from careful canvasses of these towns.
1t is certain that the Progressives will
poll a very small vote in this county
in September unless there is a ire
mendous revival of spirit, for in many
of the towns many of the active lead
ers of the Progressive party last Sep
TENDER nave gone over to the Repub-
lican party, and there is not Repub-
lican town committee in the county
but has several men upon it who voted
for Lawrence last September, and
practically three -fourths of every COM
mittee is made up of men who voted
for Roosevelt. In several instances
members of the Progressive county
committee of last September and 1912
are now Republicans. A large number
of the candidates running for Office on
TIE Republican ticket were Roosevelt
men, The latest report from one of
the towns in the county where about
so votes were cast for Lawrence last
September is that now only 16 Pro-
gressives can be found. This report
comes after a personal canvass had
been made.
To show how the people In this
county feel in regard to the situation
let us quote from letter from Madi-
son written by a man who was Pro-
gressive up to few days ago and
since turned Republican:
Now, after having administered the
rod it would be good pcli-
tics, and I think very graceful, for
the Progressive element to return to
the parent party. Get back home,
clasp hands and. shoulder to shoulder
with one goal in view. march to the
polls and then you will come into your
own. Teddy is getting back home In
New York. Don't lose sight Of the
fact that the principals Of the Repub-
lioan party are just as sound as ever.
Some individual followers may err but
that does not affect the principles. AS
we'll forswear ones religion because
some minister in the pulpit is unsatis-
factory. Remove the cause, the con-
stitutional principles are as firm and |
sound az ever