Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-02-19
Let Us Understand Each Other.


friends who seem to fear that 1t has
gone over to Democracy. And all this
because the news men of the Journal
used Mayor Newbert's review of the
year as a news feature. Let us deal
with this matter with such frankness
as to leave no misunderstanding.
If the Kennebec Journal has so con-
Quoted itself as to give the impression
In any quarter that 1t favors Demo-
cratic policies or administrations our
Democratic friends have failed to ap-
.preciate it. We believe 1t would be
difficult for even the most jealous Re-
publican leader to convict us of for
saking Republican principles.
To be entirely frank, we believe the
comment that has been made by few
on the streets of Augusta in the last
two days has been entirely without
justification, going farther toward dis
crediting good Republican standing
than any move the Kennebec Journal
ever made. Our friends seem to forget
that the Kennebec Journal is, first of
all, a newspaper and is rapidly becom-
ing recognized as the most thorough
NEWS paper in the State Of Maine. 1t
As dealing broadly with foreign, domes-
tic and local news, every day with
more completeness than on the day
previous. It's facilities for gathering
and handling the news are more COM
ipiete, and our readers among people Of
all political beliefs and all manner of
religions, are demanding more and
more.
We are giving our readers the news,
at the same time maintaining an edi-
torial page for the expression of our
policies. That, we believe, is not only
fair. but is good Republican doctrine.
II by giving prominent place to the
Democratic review. we have stirred
Republican leaders up to furnishing
: refutation- Of the Democratic claims,
we believe we have really accom-
plished something.
II every word uttered by Mayor
Newbert TO the City government Mon
day evening is true, then our readers
Of an parties are entitled to the facts.
If Republicans can prove that Mr.. New
bert has been extravagant in his
-t- {v odd
make it clear that there is involved in
this campaign something more than
the question of single administration
or a single individual we shall be glad
to have been instrumental in bringing
out the facts.
II we are not to have In Augusta the
spectacle of Republican city always
under Democratic rule, we must take
care not to waste time, in attempting to
that would be better employed in gath
ering material against the common
opponent.
After the election Is over the Kenne-
bee Journal is too often blamed by a
certain few for the defeat-if we have
been active, we have said too much; If
we have said little, we have been apa
thetic and haven't supported the can
6idates. The Journal is becoming some
what weary of being made the goat.
With that entirely frank statement
we arrive at this summary: We are
fully convinced that if every Republi-
can in Augusta will go to the polls and
vote as he talks to his political asso-
ciates, the Democratic administration
will be defeated by a good margin.
Even if every word of Mayor New
bert's review is true, Republican ad-
ministration and Republican policies
Newbert is a good business man, we
believe that Hon. Willis E. Swift is his
equal in business acumen and. energies.
and that with him could be nominated
a group of men who would give effec-
tive expression to Republican policies
and put their shoulders to the wheel
in correcting regrettabie conditions
that have been an outgrowth of mis-
taken Democratic policies. We should
like very much to see the experiment
tried and we believe it can be done, but
not by hunting for flaws in the con-
duct of our friends
We believe the energy wasted in try
ing to convince Republicans that the
Kennebec Journal favors Mayor New
bert and Democratic administration,
could be put TO better uses for the Re-
publican party. If every Republican
will go to the polls Hon. Willis E.
Swift can be elected mayor and a Re-
publican city government with him.
But the issues of the campaign can
not be explained TO the voters with
breath that is wasted in boyish non
sense.
Personally. we like to meet Mayor