Oxford Democrat., 1914-09-01


Paper Mills sc Cumberland Mills, q distinguished
and highly honored citizen, has written she fol.
lowing open letter to his political associates who
voted with him, for Roosevelt and johnson In
the campaign Of 1912.
To Maine men who voted for Roose-
welt in 1912:
have been life long Repub blicsn but
In company with majority of that party
In Maine voted for Roosevelt in 1912.
whether by that act Withdrew from
the Republican party 10 question which
does not need TO be answered. In the
early part Of this year ! Was somewhat
In doubt AZ to the best course to pursue,
whether with many of those who like
wise voted for Roosevelt should quietly
return to the Republican ranks or
whether i should still consider myself q
Progressive.
I decided upon the latter course and
have taken part in the various confer
epces and conventions that have been
held by that party. At these / strongly
objected to the nomination Of State
ticket, thinking il better for the party to
support Governor Haines but leaving ii
TO the respective districts, counties and
towns 10 decide for themselves whether
10 put q local ticket in the field or not.
/ felt that Ii was far more important to
promote Progressive principles than to
elect nominslly Progressive officials, and
that an organized body of Independents
holding Progressive principles would be
. powerful factor in promoting good gov
ernment.
Ny position, however, did not meet
with any support and the Progressives
are In the field ~ third party with
complete ticket; that they have any
chance of success cannot believe, and
the effect of their action, il any, will be
to turn the State over TO the Democratic
party.
The leading issue In our State is the
question of enforcement in which Gov
ernor Haines has taken q strong stand,
and IL for any reason he Is defeated II
will be decided setback to the cause.
We know what the attitude of the Dem
ocratic candidate 10 on this question and
generally / do not feel that the Dem
ocratic party will promote the good of
our State a. efficiently a. will the Repub-
lican. There may be question as to the
policy of prohibition, but so long as
Maine has decided positively for prohi-
bition there can be no question a. to en-
forcement.
The Progressive candidate may be as
good man a. Governor Haines on this
question, but he has not demonstrated
this fact and has not gained the right to
be Governor of Maine unless he repre-
sents something moro than criticism Of
Governor Haines.
Criticism of the party in power is al
ways easy, even when kept within
bounds of truth, and is the cheapest am
munition one can get wherewith to carry
on . campaign, and 90 far as have
heard, seems to be the major part OF
what the Progressive candidates are
loaded with.
This 10 not worthy of the Progressive
party, which has no right to exist unless
1t has . constructive platform and fur
nishes better candidates than either Of
the other parties, and this Ii has failed
70 do In this years campaign.
Ny duty, under the circumstances, 10
clear, namely, to return TO the Republi-
can party for this campaign and vote its
ticket, unless possibly In some instances
where may think that the Progressive
candidate Is . better man than the Re- |
publican and one whom think there is |
some chance Of electing; for do not be- |
lieve IL 10 best to throw away votes ex- |
cept when some principle 10 involved.
whether I shall be Progressive or .
Republican In the National campaign Of |
1915 cannot decide now. believe that |
the strength Of the Progressive party, 90
called, ID going In this campaign to the
Republicans In such volume a. to insure |
ths election Of Haines, and call upon my |
who with me voted for
Roosevelt in 1912, to join with me to
better insurs this result.
JOHN z. WARREN.
Westbrook, Aug. 2S, 1914.