Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-25
For Augusta Voters.
Some Of the Things They Should Con-
slider, in This Commune alton.

On March the voters of Augusta
will have choice of several opportuni-
ties The Republican ticket headed by
Hon. Willis E. Swift, the Democratic
ticket with Hon. E. E. Newbert, also
opportunity to neglect the privilege by
shirking their duty and remaining
away from the polls.
Various experiments have been and
are being tried in this country where
by municipalities may be divorced
from partizanship. Much has been
claimed for these experiments, also
there has been criticism, for at best
they are but human effort and so more
or less fallble; moreover, these have
not been perfected by long experience
and cannot be adopted without prep
aration and readjustment and cannot
be applied in the approaching cleo
ton. That being SO, the result will
either give aid and encouragement to
the Republicans or to the Democrats,
their principles and policies in this
State as we'll as in this city This
is all the more obvious from the fact
that both candidates have been MEM
bers of the State Legislature. What
they there stood for will be considered
as we'll as what they represent in
this city.
efa int
Mr. NeWbert has the advantages as
well as the disadvantages Of having
been mayor. A very genial and at
tentive mayor he has been; moreover
he has accomplished things, though at
what cost and with what excellence of
judgment is not altogeter clear, though
they have been accomplishments
which in the main are at the present
moment popular. 1t is popular thing
for a man to own an automobile, re-
gardless of his financial abilities, pro-
vided he be generous in the use of
it; that is. it is popular among those
receiving free rides and all that until
it shall be found that he is in debt by
reason of it and cannot pay his bills.
Possibly this allusion does not apply
to any of Mr. Newberts S. improvements,
certainly not to all of them. We like
them, for the most part, and possibly
it may be found that we could afford
them all this year and that they have
been obtained according to most ap-
proved methods and at minimum of
expense. We would not attempt to de-
tract from Mr.. Newberts achieve
ments. There is no occasion so to do,
Notwithstanding our candidate Mr..
Swift Those at all acquainted with
the two men will have no doubt but
Mr.. Swift, if he be eiected-and he
will be if those in this city whose
sympathies with the principles endors-
ed by the Republican party all vote
for him-wiil be as genial, as atten-
tive to the affairs of the city, ex-
hihit as much civic pride and exercise
as excellent business Judgment as Mr.
Newbert Moreover, it is possible that
| he may bring to task some ideas that
will be found of value. Indeed we
are inclined to think Mr.. Newbert him
self would admit this were he in a
| position to do SO, as q. sn'Irse he IS
| not.
| 1t. does not require great stretch of
| the imagination to think of him as
being satisfied with the honors he has
| already had in the position of mayor
and unwilling to take up the task
again, and yet being forced to listen
to the appeals of his party friends
saying: You must lead US, for the
Democratic party in this city can't
win with any other leader. and we
must win. We've stood by you, now
you must stand by US.
There is another opportunity for the
voters of this city, but we do not like
to think of many of them accepting
it, the shirking of their duty to vote
The privilege of self government has
been obtained at too great sacrifice
and with too much suffering to be dis
regarded by us, as a child disregards
an old toy for a new. One hundred
and thirtysev years isn't a long pc
riod in the development of a great ma
ton. And yet no longer ago than that
men in this country were leaving on
the SHOWS over which they marched
the bloody imprints of their bare feet.
while others starved and fought and
died that we might have the privi-
lege of self government. Surely we
ought not to disregard the privilege
so obtained. And who will be those
to do so? Certainly not those who be-
lieve in extending the privilege so that
the voters may pass directly on public
matters, by means of the initiative
and referendum; surely not those be-
ing to support them.