Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-01
ommend that the voters support. This
has not yet been answered.
Respectfully yours,
HALBERT P. GARDNER

ed reelection in order that he might
give Maine such enforcement as she
has never had. He expects election and
the carrying out of his purpose, but he
expects the election of a strong Re-
publican Legislature with which to
accomplish it. He will not be disap-
pointed unless you, Mr.. Gardner, and
your close political allies succeed in
misleading enough naturally Republi-
can voters to elect the Democratic can
didate, Mr.. CIIrtis-the man who braz-
emily informs the public that he does
not want the prohibitory law enforced
and that he would support the schools
on rum revenue.
We have never disputed your knowl
edge of liquor sales in Bangor; We be-
lisved you knew and we gave your
version wide publicity. We did, how
ever. and do now, object to your tao
tics in carrying to the average voter
the inference that Governor Haines
crowd because he has no legal tools
with which to correct conditions there.
We knew from the first, and gave you
credit for intelligence enough to know,
that Governor Haines had no power to
work a revolution of the Bangor plan"
His only recourse is the legislature,
and we have from the start believed
you absolutely unfair, wholly and self
isnly partisan and had forfeited the
respect Of just opponent, by posing
as trying to force Governor Haines to
do something which you knew inipos-
sible, for the sake of using the appar-
ent result to your own political advan-
tage.
We did think, at the time of the Pro-
gressiye convention in Bangor. and do
now think, that frame-up was used
to fool Editor Dingley who drafted the
platform and who up to that time had
approved Governor Haines' course.
The writer was in Bangor at that time
and heard the '.frame-up'' freely talk
ed. He also saw the rum element con-
troll the Progressive convention and
defeat such men as the Revs. Dun
mack. and Mosher, and Hon. E. M.
Lawrence.
From the beginning of your cam
paign against the respect which people
held for Governor Haines, you have
ignored the success of the Haines poll
icy and determination to enforce the
law in Cumberland county, in Andro-
scoggin county and in Sagadahoc
county, and have devoted yourself to
an attempt to tie up Governor Haines
with an alleged multiplying Sheriff and
the Bangor plan" We designate such
an attempt as political trickery" be-
cause We thought you and Dingley had
stopped to take advantage of the fact
that Republicans could not organize
the Legislature. We have not chang
ed our opinion of such questionable
methods and shall do our best to place
the facts before the voters.
The Kennebec Journal determined
from the start to force your hand. We
thought We saw the Gardner Dingley
purpose. Our suspicious were prompt
ly verified.
You have kept explaining and insist
ing upon your course to fool the voters.
1t will not work and it has cost you
hundreds Of votes that you might have
had as fair and generous opponent
OF a man who is doing everything he
can to enforce the law.
We are glad that 1.-THE taxpayers of
Penobscot county have some concern
in this matter" We sincerely hope they
will not elect a multiplying sheriff, and,
If they do, we hope, regardless of his
party, that he will be promptly i'm
peached by the next Legislature. And
your persistent reference to violation
Of the law in Bangor as due to some-
thing which Governor Haines can but
will not prevent. we characterize as
"heckling." We have at pencils end,
a stronger and more applicable term.
We are humoring your within by pub
fishing the Bangor Commercial story
of police connivance in the Bangor
plan," although the news of it (Which
the editor believes has been already
published In the JournaD could have
been served in rs words. We do not
see that it gets you anywhere" in
connecting Governor Haines' with
Bangor's disregard Of law and decen-
cy. We do not blame the law for this
or the executive who is doing his best
to enforce tho law; we blame those
who violate the law dncluding officials
in league with rum sellers in the SER
vice Of the rum trust for financial re-
turns) and those who deceive the
people for POLITICAL purpose.
Your play upon the term burden