Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-23
Democratic "Promise Kept

contented themselves with statements
of fact, 1t might have proven a strong
card in the campaign. But it hardly
pays in these days of public informa-
ton on all sorts of subjects, to make
bold statements that are contrary to
fact The people know what has been
going on.
AS an example, the chapter on
Campaign Promises Kept had bet
ter have been left out. For if ever a
political party failed, repudiated, be-
lied every chief claim of the campaign
In which it was given office, that party
was the national Democratic as con-
stituted in the last two years. There
is hardly room outside of large text
book to enumerate the. things upon
which the present administration has
utterly failed to live up to its pledges,
or has fatty reversed its platform
grounds.
Repeal Of canal tolls exemption is
a
without excuse or explanation, Of
great conventions pledge and the open
declarations of candidates and stump
speakers. This includes the President
himself. who repeatedly publicly placed
himself with the coastwise shipping
and the consumers who would directly
benefit by tolls exemption. His right
about-face was one of the most amaz-
ing incidents in the record Of American
Presidents.
And on this subject there is another
light. equally amazing. In his message
to Congress. in which he completely
reversed himself from his public utter
ances in the campaign, the President
said. "other matters of even greater
delicacy and nearer consequence" made
this reversal necessary. Here was "a
great international question, so mo-
mentous that the President had seen
fit to take a position contrary to that
held a few months before. and abso-
luteiy violating the pledges of himself
and his party in obtaining election.
II the people could not be trusted
with the reason for SO confusing a
position. then their chosen representa-
rives constituting a branch of govern
ment equally important to that Of the
President, should have been informed.
For be 1t remembered that one of the
slogans of the Democratic campaign
was ..pitiless publicity and on COM
ing into power they proclaimed 1t
loud and long. 1t was to be the ad-
ministration's watchword. Democ-
racy was pledged to let ALL the peo-
pie look in on their daily operations.
There was to be NO secrecy. The
light was to be turned into ALL the
dark corners.
What did they do?
Senator Poindexter. in resolution,
the Senate, in so far as not incom-
patible with the public interest, in
confidence il he so DESIRES" what these
matters (of greater delicacy, etc.
were, and to inform the Senate what
connection such matters had with the
proposed repeal of the tolls exemption
provision of the tolls act
The information asked for has never
been given. That is a part of the
reputation of ''pitiless publicity"
which has become the standing joke
at Washington and is now dirisively
termed sinister secretiveness." Scores
Of examples are just as marked.--but
to return to broken promises.
Let US recall the pledges for national
direct primaries for the nomination
Of Presidential candidates-have they
made any attempt to carry out?
What Of the much-advertised rural
credit system which they were to in
augurate? Have you seen it?
What about regulation of railroad
stock and bond isues?
They also promised provision for
greater safety at sea and amelioration
Of the condition Of sailors. They have
been in session 20 months-did they
fulfill that pledge?
They promised all of these in their
Baltimore platform and on the stump,
and many more such as:
Compulsory compensation of en-
ployes for injuries in the service of
interstate carriers.
Enlargement of the operation of the
bureau of mines.
Limitation of campaign contributions.
Constitutional amendment limiting
the service of a President to single
term.
Creation of a council of national
defense.
River regulation. flood prevention,
and swamp reclamation.
National aid TO building OF good
roaas