Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-16
Democracy's Sickly Smile.

1t really looks as though the Portland
Evening Express was getting into line
with the Portland Daily Press. The
Press recently protested against the idea
that the Republican party should make
prohibition the paramount issue" in the
approaching State campaign. Now
comes the evening paper with long edi-
torial in which it processes to be graft
fled that Governor Haines announces he
will be a candidate this year. Then the
Express goes on to enumerate what it
administration. 1t talks of State finance.
of the public utilities law and of the
highway legislation To these subjects
there is devoted two-thirds of a column.
After all this, comes reference to the ac-
ton of the Governor in getting sheriffs
turned out of the offices to which they
had been elected by the people and Civ
ing their places to men of his own ap-
pointment. 1t really looks as though
the Portland Evening Express, like the
Portland Daily Press, was disposed, II
possible, to side-track prohibition as an
issue. Both these newspapers are printed
in the largest city of the State. The
outspoken attitude of the one with refer
ence to prohibition as an issue and the
evident disposition of the other to bury
it among a lot of other issues are pretty
good indications of the sentiment of the
Republicans of Portland -Waterville
Sentinel.
A lot more of the above went on
about strict enforcement in Portland
making enemies for the law, etc.--all
of which it knows better But we do
not care for that; the thing that in
tercsts us most is the humor of the
Democratic press situation-not an is
sue in Maine with even a ghost of an
argument from their side. So they are
far froy
tense that there is division in the
Republican ranks on the enforcement
question. 1t is pitiable pretense and
nothing more.
We presume the Sentinel and Argus
and Biddeford Bullywhacker will soon
be discovering that the Kennebec Jour-
nal is side stepping the prohibition
issue" That would be quite as sensi-
BILE as that the Portland Express or
Press were unwilling to defend the en-
forcement policies of the present ad-
ministration.
But if these Democratic sheets can
get anything like enjoyment out OF
the asinine claim that prohibition is
to be handled gingerly by the Republi-
can candidates and press, in the conn.,
ing campaign. why let's enjoy our
selves, seeing them enjoy themselves
They will learn all about it when the
campaign really opens.
However, rather than raise any false
hopes in their breasts, we will assure
the Democratic press and leaders that
the candidates which the Kennebee
Journal supports will publicly and pri-
viately place themselves unequivocally
upon the temperance, prohibition, and
determined, persistent enforcement o1
law questions. We are not overlook
ing any trucking, lodging or side
stepping, of these questions which have
such tremendous bearing and influence
on all other questions at issue. We
believe in going about the betterint
conditions in this State, and in the ma
tion as well, by beginning at the root
There you will find us. and we sincere
| iy hope and confidently predict tha
we shall not have cause to severel,
criticize or actively oppose any Repub
Iican candidate on these fundamental
of the Republican party status.
The Democratic party has everlast
ingly tied up to it every unit of TIL,
rum element. 1t would be silly TO
any Republican to build hopes Of catch
i ing single rum vote by lodging th
placing of himself on the liquor ques
ton. Even il he could fool some yot
| ers, he would be sure to ALLEVIATE tel
times as many honest temperance Re
publicans, and Democrats who are tire.
and sick of being classed as run
4 party"
There are in Maine thousands o
Democrats who will no longer stant
for this eternal appeal to the run
I trust for funds to finance a campaign
in the interests Of the drink evil. Thi