Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-09-08
An Election at Hand.

Before another issue of the Democrat
reaches most OF its readers, the state
election of 1914 in Maine will be over.
The political situation in the state is
somewhat different from that of former
years, but the campaign has been waged
with esrnestness and fervor by all
parties.
For the first time in many years, there
is third party in the field with a COM
plete list of candidates, or nearly so, and
with sufficient adherents TO make il an
appreciable factor in the election. New
ertheless, only one who is blind to the
facts can believe that the Progressive
party has chance of success. Its only
possible achievement is to turn matters
over to the Democrats in order to punish
the Republican party, out Of which the
large part of the Progressives have
come.
Many of those who voted for Roose-
welt in 1912, intending that act as re-
buke for things that bad been done, APP
preciate the fact that this is essentially
two-party country, and have since act
ed as before with the Republican party.
Others who at first were inclined TO
throw in their lot with the Progressives
as an organization have on full delibera-
ton come TO the conclusion that such
action was politically unwise, and have
decided to cast their vote and their in
fuence with the Repu blicsn party as the
best instrument of good government in
the state. Included in these are some of
the most sincere and earnest OF the Pro-
gressives, who have been prominent in
the councils of the party.
No party 10 without faults, and no
party has a monopoly of good men; but
the history of the state in recent years
indicates that its fortunes can most safe
ly be left with the Republican party.
The one issue which is most prominent
ly and always before the people is that Of
prohibition and enforcement. We may
wish that we could stake the rum ques-
ton out Of politics." 30 as to devote all
our energies to other matters, but il
can't be done. The sale Of liquor Is too
great an evil to get the question out of
politics until the people are generally
agreed upon the suppression Of the traf-
fic.
The Democratic party doss not be-
lieve in prohibition of the liquor traffic.
For many years 1t has bent its energies
toward the substitution Of license law,
and its present candidate for governor is
daily reiterating on the stump his oppo-
sition to prohibition. The Progressive
party in its platform declares for en-
forcement Of existing law, but does not
endorse the principle of prohibition.
The Republican party endorses the priu-
ciple and the enforcement Of probibi-
ton.
Governor William 7. Hainss has stood
for the law and its enforcement, and has
done more than any other governor the
state has bad in generation toward
bringing to an account officials recreant
In enforcement. For this action he has
received the commentator and en-
dorsemeut of all organizations whose OBJ
ject is the moral betterment of the com
munity. He should also receive the en-
phatic endorsement Of the voters.
Furthermore, the administration un-
der Governor Hainss has been business
administration, with a business man at
flourish of monthly auditors reports
pointing with pride, but the states bust
ness has been carefully and prudently
done, and the present condition Of the
state is q gratifying one. In all aspects,
the administration has been one which
voters should take pleasure in support
ing.
As we'll as state and county tickets,
congressman are to be elected next
week. Indications are strong that the
Democrats will lose the control of the
next national house. 1t is not q Demo
cratic year, and Maine should contribute
Its full quota Of four to the Republican
side In the next congress.
1t 10 no time for indifference on the
part OF any Republican. Your vote is
needed. Don't fail to make it count.