Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-10

20 years 1t has shown marvellous ap-
probation of the changed require
ments of the people as we'll as sound
Judgment in winnowing the wheat
frcm the chaff. Every law was a new
step forward and not one has been re-
tracted. The Republican party never
has and never will enter into a COM
petition in fads and faneies, but for
both sound and progressive legisla-
tion it does not have to rely on gen
eralities or promises, but points to its
record and challenges criticism
What is the test of a true Progress
sive party? Not whether you spell it
with a large Pr or small, but it is
the capacity of meeting conditions as
they arise, handling each problem as
it is presented and so dealing with 1t
that 1t shall be settled in the interest
of the people at large and cease to be
problem. Lay this rule on the rec
ord of the Republican party and it
will touch all along the edge.
Down to June, 1912, there was no
particular claim that the Republican
party was reactionary. Since then the
Democrats have controlled national
affairs, with what disastrous results
We are beginning to feel.
What about the State2 For many
years the Republican party has been
the State. We have lived with it and
grown with it. We have placed on
the books more truly progressive leg
islation than any other New England
state. We have placed government
more closely in the hands of the peo-
pie and enlarged the power and pro-
tected the rights of the voter by the
initiative and referendum, the Aus
tralian ballot, the direct primary and
tie corrupt practice act. We have
recognized the rights of labor and pro-
teeted women and children by sane
and advanced legislation. We have
equaiiZed the burdens of taxation. con-
served the resources of the State and
administered its affairs with honesty
ard economy In the last Legislature
We passed an admirable law for the
regulation of public utilities. which is
held up, so it is charged by certain
corporations assisted by Democratic
politicians We recognized the grow
ing demand of the right of women to
vote by an attempt to pass an equal
suffrage law, which failed for lack of
the requisite two-thirds. but which
We will pass next time. These and
many others represent the desire and
the ability of the Republican party TO
keep step in the march of human pro-
gress
Names Most Progressive Platform.
The most progressive platform ever
adopted by any party in Maine was
the Republican state platform of 1912,
written by the great son of Augusta
and truly progressive Republican,
Herbert NJ. Heath.
When it comes to the present posi-
lions of the parties on questions of
the day, platforms must be scanned,
The Progressive party platform rep
resents their bid for support, their rea-
son for existence and for making Dem
ocratic control possible. The platform
can be divided into three parts:
Those things which Republicans be-
lieye in, those which Democrats be-
lieve in. those which everybody be-
lieves in. The Republican tariff pro-
positions are naturally pleasing to Re
puhlicans; so are enforcement of law,
equal suffrage, liberal labor laws,
workmens compensation law and re-
form in ballot law. The proposition
to change the constitution by direct
vote based on a petition by 10000 vot-
erg, covering a short cut toward re-
submission, naturally pleases the
Democrats, especially as the Progress
siye Convention voted down a propos-
ed plank reciting that the Progress
sive Party in Maine believes in pro-
hibition." OF course everybody be-
lioves in conservation. good roads,
popular government simple legal pro-
eedure, just taxation, humane legis-
lation and good government.
Other subjects mentioned, like abo-
lition of governors council change in
election of State officers. etc. while
not believed in by everybody, are not
subjects of party divisions. They would
find supporters and opponents in all
parties and have as good chance of
passing with one party as another
Taking into consideration the effect
dates and fairly analysing the plat
form, one is forced to the conclusion
that the Progressive ticket is adapt
ed to only one class of voters: the
one that believes in protection re-sub-
mission and wants the Democrats to
win.
The leaders of the Progressive party
have set their faces against a reunion
with the Republicans. Believing ii to
be for the good of the state and coun-
try that all anti DemOcratic strength