Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-28
Can Republican Party Win?

From Bath, Skowhegan, Dover ane
several other large Maine towns, the
Journal has heard, this week, con-
corning the political outlook. Per-
haps the Bath report covers the gen
eral sentiment expressed. The writer
says:
From reports that reach this city
from the upper part of Sagadahoc
county, there is going to be a strong
Republican gain at the June primaries
This is brought about by the fact that
there is an increasing unanlmlty
among Republicans that there can be
no wavering as to their stand In June
Consequently, the leaders of the Pro-
sressive and Democratic parties mo
themselves in a most embarrassing
position. They expected to find more
or less dissatisfaction among Repunh-
can leaders and the rank and Me
which would turn to their benefit On
the contrary unity seems TO exist IN
stead of a split. Republican gains
are reported all along the line ana
there is every indication that a good
sized Republican vote is going to De
pooled throughout Sagadahoc county.
A former Progressive writes: l
have paid enough for my vote which
helped elect Wilson; l hope the Re-
publicans will make the biggest show
ing this fall that they have made for
a dozen years. am done monkeying
with froth and fustian.'
A well known Republican writes
"A good and prominent Democrat who
is candidate before the primaries,
admitted to me that the only hope OF
Democrats in this State lay in the size
of the Progressive vote. and that he
could see 1t was to be much smaller
this fall than in any election thus
far"
A party Prohibitionist in Somerset
county writes: Il am afraid that be-
tween the Progressives and the Pro-
shibitionists we shall defeat just what
we are living for, and elect another
wide open rum regime. 1t makes me
sick to think of the possibility.
think 1t is the solemn duty of every
Prohibitionist to vote the Republican
ticket this year. If the Democratic
license crowd win by a margin that
might have been overcome by the
Prohibition vote, will never lift my
voice for prohibition, or cast my ballot
for my party again"
Another Republican writes: "one of
my neighbors-a good, Christian man
says he should rather give his best
horse than see the Democrats win in
ethis State, and frankly says there is
no hope for his party this year, yet he
will vote the Progressive ticket for
principle Lord save the word"
These are some of the things that
: Maine voters are thinking and saying,
with the primaries only three weeks
away. Men of all parties openly de-
clare that the present national adj
ministration is solemn failure; they
object, first, to giving it encourage
rnent through any election. They
also object TO turning Maine over to
another covered bridge" crowd. They
know that moral conditions have
never reached so high a mark in
Maine as today. In some counties
municipal courts have hardly an ex
seuse for existence-not a case before
the court in Bath for month. They
know that business men of cities that
have heretofore encouraged the liquor
traffic In violation of law, have been
converted to cleaner conditions in
which dives and houses of i'll repute
have been banished.
And they know, too, that scores of
questionable places are hanging on
under the watchfu eyes of dilisent of
ficers, hoping that the administration
will change Jan. I.
All these observation-disclosures
Bull Moose, party Prohibitionists,
would-be saloon keepers, dive keepers
and houses of designation keepers, and
those to- pitied human beings who
would satisfy cravings and thirst--the
Republican party must face. Can it
win in September? That question
must be answered by the intelligence
and character of Maine.