The Republican journal., 1914-04-16
Republican State Convention.

Republican State Convention.
A Record Breaker in Attendance. Harm0-
nious and Enthusiastic. The Platform
Adopted Without Discussion. Governor
! Haines Endorsed.
The Republican State Convention, held in
Augusta city hall, April 9th, was a large and
enthusiastic gathering OF the PAP delegates
entitled to seats in the convention, 1109 were
present. Hon. John A. Peters, Congressman
| from the Third Maine district presided and ad-
dressed the meeting at length. Other speak
ers included Hon. Patrick H. Kelley, Congress-
man at large from Michigan, Gov Haines and
former governors Bert M. Fernald and William
7. Cobb.
An effort on the part of Hon. Howard Davies
of Yarmouth, to have the convention recon-
mend the nomination of Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt as candidate for President in 1916
met with failure. A resolution, proposed by
the Yarmouth Republican caucus was intro
duced as an amendment to the platform and
ruled out of order by Chairman Peters.
The resolutions, adonted by the Republican
National Committee last December. fixing the
basis of representation in the next national
convention. were approved without objection.
Maine is the first State to take action.
The convention paused in its deliberations to
pay tribute to the memory of Mrs Lillian M.
N. Stevens, the dead temperance leader and
the first woman to be honored by the placing
of the State flag at half staff. A resolution
was adopted by a rising vote, the delegates
standing with uncovered heads.
The report of the committee on resolutions
was adopted without debate. except on the
question of mileage books. An amendment to
declare for law to prevent the railroads of
! Maine char ging greater sum than two cents
mile was defeated. The convention referred
the question to the proposed public utilities
| commission.
The platform adopted. after reviewing at
length the legislation enacted by the Repubii-
cans at the last session of the Legislature. was
in part as follows:
"We condemn the national Democratic ad-
minstration tor its hurried surrender to Great
Britain in the matter of the Panama canal,
which was built and is owned by the United
States; for its seeming admission that this
country can be made to yield to a foreign
power, whether right or wrong, through fear:
| and for its violation of platform pledges upon
which it induced the people to intrust it with
power; and we commend the patriotic stand of
Names three Republican members of the
national House of Representatives in their
struggle to maintain the traditional policy of
this country, that in matters affecting its own
territory, and in the conduct of its domestic
affairs the United States will never permit
dictation by any foreign power.
1--WE condemn that administration for its
vague and vacllating policy in dealing with
conditions in Mexico.
I'VE believe prohibition to be the settled
policy of the State and tnat the people want
no more resubmission, but demand the faithful
enforcement of the law by the regular officers
| elected for that purpose, and that if those Of
| ficers neglect their duties they should be re-
No fhn buoIS
sion provided by the Democratic platform. to-
pethes with its demand for license in the
cities md local option for the towns. We also
oppose that plank in the platform of the Pro-
gressive party that advocates an amendment
to the constitution, whereby that constitution
can be changed by the initiative, as the result
of such legislation would permit the prohibi
tory amendment to be submitted to the people
every two years.
"We further declare in favor of federal leg
islation that shall make the principle of ma
tiopal prohibition practicable and effective and
shall ultimately prohibit the sale, the manu-
facture for sale and Importation for sale OF IN
toxicating liquors for use as beverage, III The
United States and all territory SUBJECT to its
jurisdiction.
"We earnestly reaffirm belief in pro-
tectve tariff, high enough to vi Id sufficient
revenue and to adequately protect American
industries and labor.
"We believe in a readjustnlent of the Tariff
schedules from time to time to meet changing
conditions but believe that revisions should be
based upon accurate information obtained by
Investigations carefully conducted by sclen-
tifc, permanent, non par isan tariff board.
I'VE believe the Underwood tariff law is
unjustly sectional, and a menace to our indus
tries, and we therefore condemn it, especially
the provisions thereof which so vitally and
destructively affect the agricultural and in
dustrial interests of our State.
aWa affirm and commend the Dublic utilities
bill enacted by the last Legislature as the best
method of regulating corporations and their
services rates and charges"
"We pledge our support to the enactment of
workmen's compensation law that Will guar
antee to employees injured and the dependents
of those killed in industrial accidents reason,
able compensation, without doubt, without de-
Law, and without litigation.
1--WE favor the passage OF law limiting the
hours of labor for women and children in man
ufacturing establishments to 81 hours per
! week and likewise the enactment of a federal
law prohibiting child labor.
.sUpon the adoption of the public utilities
| law now before the people of Maine by virtue
of the referendum, we recommend an lmme-
date and complete investigation by the public
utilities commission of the financial condition
of the steam railroads in Maine and the i'm
position by it of as low mileage rates as such
condition shall warrant.
believing that the people of the State de-
mand the submission of an amendment to our
cons titution granting equal suffrage to women.
we shall in the next Legislature, as we did in
| the last advocate such an amendment.
1--WE favor the enactment of q law for presi-
dental preference primaries so that every in
dividuai voter may express effectually his per-
sonal choice for president and vice president
"We present with much pleasure anC salts
faction the record of the administration of
Gov. Haines."
The prohibition plank adopted is very SINH
lar to the resolutions presented to the Pro-
pressive convention at Bangor two weeks ago
by Rev H. E. Dunnack of Augusta. and which
was rejected. Mr.. Dunnack, who was present
as delegate at the Progressive convention
and at that time made an eloquent plea for the
adoption of his resolution by the Progressive
party, offered prayer at the Republican con-
vention and occupied seat upon the platform
during the business Of the convention.