Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-28
democracy and the Farmer"


The Democratic organization in
Maine some time ago secured the SER
vices of an expert to man the guns
of the literature battery in the cam
paign. His product is pleasing in style
but decidedly out of touch with the
public. 1t breathes the outsider, the
man unfamiliar with his surroundings
and the intelligence of his readers.
Without ever seeing the man or learn
ing of his antecedents we should size
him up from his attempts as city
chap, correspondent from one great
center to a paper in another; man
whose ideas of the mentality of Maine
people are as vague as-as, well as
Oakley C. Curtis idea of running our
schools.
This expert gentleman from afar has
wholly underestimate the intelligence
and grasp of affairs of the average
Maine citizen. They are not so gull
lihle as he assumes. They have lis
tened to men ofbhis stamp, winked
one eye slowly iahd have gone on at
tending to their4own businesses Here
is specimen OF the experts" Ia
bors. now appearing in the Demo-
cratic press:
The Republican party has always
talked great deal about helping the
farmers. 1t has tried to make the farm
ers believe that it existed ssingly and
solely to aid them. In doing so it has
played one of the biggest bunco games
in the history of American politics. 1t
has told them that the protective tariff
was framed for their benefit, while the
fact is. as every farmer knows, that the
products of agriculture constitute the
major portion of our exports, and to
give the farmers protection" upon
something which foreigners cannot COM
pete against is like carrying coal to
Newcastle. 1t is a sham, but 1t has been
maintained SO that the Republican party
might tax the farmers upon everything
that they buy In order to aid the trusts
and monopolies which are the friends of
the Republican party. ...-
1t has remained for the Democratic
party, the Democratic Congress and the
Democratic administration to give the
country real law encouraging agricul-
ture in the only practical way, to wit
with cash. 49,
In his political zeal and desire to
earn his salary this gentleman has
forgotten that Maine people KNOW
whether or not they have been hit,
and where the blow fell. When he tells
them that black is white they smile
inwardly and allow him to go on
foolIng-himself.
in1n Haf Two h nxp
she was favored" by the administra-
ton, and just how the cash" is EN-
couraging agriculture in q practical
| way" Maine people know. also, Row
other sections of the country have been
affected. OF course our friend refers
to the cash of 100000 daily loss in
foreign trade and consequent idle fac
tories and idle freight cars-meaning
that in the country with 100000
not buy SO well of Names surplus.
Maine knows that nearly half a mil
lion railroad men have been idle for
six months and 200, 600 freight cars idly
| waiting on the sdings are an ipdica-
ton of what this wonderful admins
tration has done fer the country. OF
course it is calamity bowling TO refer
to these facts. but the farmers Of
Maine had heard the truth and had
talked it over in grange and store,
| long before the Democratic publicity
/ expert came to the Pine Tree. State.
Maine hopes that the Old World war
(much as they regret it's awful horrors
and pity the innocents) may save this
country from the folly of discredited
! policies. Democrats may now shout
that the war is disturbing business
| and throwing thousands out of en-
ployment, but Maine people and par
ticularly the farmer whom our "ex-
pert friend seems to regard as unin-
formed. are aware that psychology"
the paramount issue of national De-
mocracy, had burdened the country
six months before the war.
The war is Democracy's godsend but
the people of Maine have had their
taste and will provide against the
hour when the war is over and Euro
pean business resumes. A tariff and
an administration working for foreig,
industries and labor and against
American agriculture, business and