Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-25
Public Questions Neglected.

| 1t seems to me these questions
touching the growth and development
OF the State are at least worthy of
| serious consideration. Yet since /
have been a voter, I cannot recall a
state campaign when they have been
| seriously discussed. These questions
involve so much in detail that we
cannot hope to rightly solve them
without much thought and considera-
ton / have no panacea to cure all
| our ills or magic wand to accomplish
all for our State that could be de-
sired. and 1 shall, for the present, be
content, If / have attracted attention
and discussion by the voters of Maine
to these economic questions.
Did you ever pause to consider
| why the old parties have never
brought these questions before the
voters in our State campaigns? What
| have been our issues in State cleo
tons for the last 20, 80, 40, SO or 60
years? AT least since / have been q
voter. / can recall no issue other than
| the enforcement of the prohibitory
law. Why, I pray you, should this
| question ever have been, or indeed be,
an issue between honest political par
| ties or among good citizens? The
law in question has been on our Stat
| ute books for 60 years and in our
| constitution for the last 80 years, and
! yet the Republicans and Democrats
! have made it's enforcement an issde
and political football in every State
campaign for the last two genera
tions, arousing such heat and preiu-
dice as to preclude serious considera-
ton OF every other moral, social or
economic question. They have used
| this law for no other purpose than to
gain office. Holding office is their
chief aim in life and they will seize
upon any issue that will carry them
over election day. 1 believe this law
should be enforced-not in spots or for
political reasons, but because it Is the
law.
The Wicked Old Parties.
The Progressive party is no respec-
tor of persons-the rich or the poor,
or indeed large private interests, in
the matter of enforcement of law, and
l say to the people OF Maine, that it
is a safer proposition to elect the
Progressive party, founded on the
majesty of the people and their man
dates as expressed in Constitution
and statutes, a party not bound and
| fettered, or under political obligations
to any private interests.-safer to
elect it than 1T is to elect either of the
old parties.
Would it not arouse your suspicious
if your clerk or other employee should
greet you every morning with the sal
utation: Il am honest; you can trust
me-" Yet this is the lip service of
the Republican party in every State
campaign. They have been in power
for so years since the liquor law was
enacted. IL they have been honest
and faithful during this period, why
the need of this biennial pretention?
If they have been honest why do
they not resent with scorn any sug-
gestion of non-enforcement, and with
pride, exclaim: Sir, examine our
record of so years of faithful, honest
and uniform enforcement of the pro-
hibitory law"
The Sure Winners.
Gentlemen, we go into this campaign
with every hope and prospect of VIC
tory in. September Our cause is just
and the people, yjll break from old
party afiliafions and pre1udices and
vote for the Progressive party, the
only party to my mind, that stands
fer the majesty of the people, indus
trial and, human Justice. 1t VIII De
a three-cornered fight for we shall be
confronted by the two old parties.
The Dem cratic party, pretending 10
be none other than its old self Is III
full control of the National govern
ment. It has enacted the underwood
tariff bill--a bill that is sectional. I'M
lust and unfair to the agricultural
and border states and detrimental TO
Industrial interests. 1t removes the
duty on potatoes and wool and re-
tains q duty on peanuts and the hair
of Angora goats.
On the other hand we are CONFRONT
ed by the Republican party. beg
YOUR pardon, 1 suppose I should nave
said the New Republican party, but
since II proposes to take over by
aauut;on. enbloc, all the ofhce hoiu-
ers of the old party, l think we may
safely say that we are confronted
nv the same old Republican party-l
have tried to trace the pedigree OF
this so-called New Repupiicahisih'
From whence comes 1t! ana now
and why and when did IL come my
existence? Does 1t come from such
national leaders as Prof. TAFT. seha-
tors Callinger, Lodge, Root, Penrose,
smoot and Guggenheim? Or does It
come from that great leader, Chair
man Barnes of New York? Or com
ing nearer home, does it come from
and is 1t inspired by Senator bur
leigh. Governor Haines, ana other
Republican leaders of Maine because
the platform of the old was not oroao'
liberal and progressive enough TO at
tract their alert minds? No. gentle
men. this so-called New Repupncan-
ism Is but a political snare. Whiie
giving lip service to progressive IDEAS
! the Republican leaders OF Maine give
their allegiance to the old natioiiai
| leaders Of the Republican party.
birth of "New Republioanism.'
where were the Maine leaders OF
this New Republicanism two years
agoo Were they lined up for Roose-
Welt and progress7 If my informant =
| at that time was correct anu
think 1t was, the present Repupiicai !,
United States senator. governor anu