Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-04

citizen admits will enforce the law.
| These leaders refused to endorse Gov
ernor Haines as long ago as April,
1913, before there was any suggestion
that the law was not being rigidly en-
| forced in Penobscot county. 1t was at
a meeting held in Pressure Isle. / was
present. Irving e. Vernon and Halbert
p. Gardner were present. l advanced
the suggestion that the Progressive
party ought to keep it's organization
and work for the best men and stated
| then and there that T was for Cover
nor Haines and intended to give him
such support as l could. They were
most emphatic then, nearly a year be-
fore there was any complaint about
laxity of enforcement in any of the
counties where sheriffs were appoint
ed. that they were determined to NOM
mate a third man.
Il said then and l believe now that
this action of the Progressive party
leaders was not in accordance with the
real principles for which the party
stands. Theodore Roosevelt said.
speaking to a Progressive party con-
vention in New York
marily for men to get office. Occasions
arise such as the one last year in the
city of New York, where our highest
duty Is to join on a union platform
with men who may differ with us on
many points, but who on the great
issues actually pending, stand for what
we believe wisest and best from the
standpoint of the public good"
THE Progressive party in Maine
had a great opportunity to insure the
choice of the right sort OF officials and
the enactment of progressive laws, If
its leaders had been willing to follow
this principle. Their refusal to do so
has forced thousands of Progressives,
including myself, to the conclusion
that in the present emergency in
Maine, the Republican ticket and the
Republican candidate for Governor Of
fer the best available means of secur-
ing good government.
There Is a reason why this en-
forcement of the prohibitory law is a
fundamental issue. The permanence of
the nation depends on the average
citizens willingness to put his coun-
try's welfare ahead of his selfish in
splendid example. In the time of the
nations need thousands of young men
sacrificed home. comfort health,
wealth even life itself, for their coun-
try, to protect 1t from the selfish de-
signs of a group of men. Selfishness Is
manifesting itself nowadays, but in a
different form and there is just as
much need of patriousm-or putting
the countrys good before self inter-
est, as in the story days of 81 and
IS.
THE hope of the nation and its de-
fence against the evils that threaten
us is the character of the average cit
lien. If this nation is ever overthrown,
it will be by the selfshness of its own
citizens and not from any outside
force. That character of citizenship
IS being developed by community life.
Every man sometime has the impulse
to go with the crowd. If the crowd Is
in panic, he becomes panic-stricken
unless he regains his self-control
quickly. If the crowd is headed in the
right direction, it is easier to bring
the proper influences TO bear on the
boys and girls who are growing up.
The control of this community in
fiuenee is the vital issue of today.
Because the liquor traffic is constant
ly attacking the control of this in
f1uence for good, il constitutes the
great enemy to fight and we have the
paigns.'