Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-16

good government in the country. II
has been the best instrument for many
years. A party name is only tag for
| a group of men who believe in group
| OF principles. Since 100 years ago when
| the Federalists asserted the right of
the Federal government to make a
constitution for the whole country and
build up strong central government.
and the party of the opposition held
that the federal government had no
such right, that it was but a league of
states which should make principally
all their laws at home, the division has
been much as ii is now; it is the divis-
ion that exists today between Repub-
licans and Democrats. During all
these years the Republican party has
usually been In power and it would be
today if there was no other party ele-
ment entering into politics. But the
Democratic party as it holds the reins
today represents not a majority of the
voters but only one-fourth of the pop
ulation and one eighth of the valUa-
ton. They were elected by IA states.
The last 20 years have been the most
prosperous years that any party ever
saw IN any country; so prosperous
that the mind can hardly comprehend
1t. But in 1912 thousands forgot their
duty, forgot the danger, and the mi
nority has seized the control and has
made our tariff schedules and formed
other important laws in secret eau
cuses in which only a small portion of
the country is represented.
Because of our discomfort with the
federal administration as represented
by the present Democratic President
and cabinet, the present campaign
would be child's fun if only Democrats
stood in the way to be beaten; but
the Progressive element makes the
campaign harder. The great majority
who voted for Roosevelt regarded it
as personal tribute to a great Re
publican who has shaped the policies
of the party more than any other
man in the last 90 years, but few
think they must continue to separate
themselves from the Republican party
and stand as an obstacle between
themselves, Republicans, and the COM
mon principles that both hold. This
obstacle in the way is fast removing
itself.
Chairman Parkhurst introduced into
ures that have been computed touch
ing upon the campaign that is APP
preaching. The figures were made up
from the results of every election that
has been held in this country since
the 1912 Presidential election, includ-
ing State, congressional, and many
municipal elections, primary elections
and primary registrations. The figures
are startling. They show that the
Progressives have not only not gain
ed one vote in election anywhere, but
that they fell off about so per centum
in the first year following the cleo
ton and in recent elections have poll
ed, in total, only about one-fifth of
the last preceding vote. In short, the
Progressive vote is falling off so fast
that it may be guessed it will be all
gone in another year, so far as its eff
feet on elections is to be reckoned.
The Democratic vote has not fallen
off so rapidly, but it has fallen off in
every instance and nowhere has gain
ed. The Republican vote has gained
by leaps and bounds and the later the
election the greater the gain. The
primary registrations show that the
gains in coming elections are such
that Republican victory is easily fore
casted in many states this fall More
over. a careful canvass of 40 towns
in four counties. all the canvasses re-
ceived at Republican headquarters to
date. and including every voter in
| those towns. shows that, if the same
percentage holds throughout the State,
surely not more than 1900 Progress
sive votes will be cast in the entire
State of Maine this coming Septem
Der.
The figures given were as follows:
SUMMARY GIVING COMPARISON OF
PRESIDENTIAL