Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-05

pie were being wronged, and that this
| law was in the interest of the great
| corporations of the State and against
| the people. Hon. William r. Pattan-
sail, che acknowledged leader of his
| party, came out in an open letter in
: The press, stating his opposition to
! this law and giving three reasons why
it was a bad law, and every one of
+ these reasons is answered by quoting
t Il ON his own bill, presented to the
Demo ratio legislature of 1911. where
+ Ii advocated the same things in his
/ bill that were embodied in the bill
enacted by the Republican legislature.
1 had occasion to answer his objec-
tions at that time, and, if the voters
will remember, Mr., Pattangall has
never seen fit to renew the same OBJ
| jections.
MIR. Piper's Pilgrimage.
The next move made, after Mr.. Pat
tangalls letter, was the pilgrimage Of
the acting chairman of the Democratic
party. Mr.. Piper who went about the
State of Maine, obtaining from DEM
ocrats, through the party organization,
I signatures for a referendum, which ne
secured, thereby depriving the people
of the benefit of this law, and bringing
the referendum into disrepute by using
it for political purposes. This was fol-
| lowed by Cyrus W. Davis, editor OF
the Sentinel, using the columns OF his
paper and every opportunity on the
public platform since that, to behtue
the law, to ridicule it and to cause
the people at next election to vote
against the adoption of the law.
If this law is defeated through the
efforts of these three politicians, work
ing through a political organization,
it will be the most disastrous defeat
that the people of this State have ever
received in their history. This law
embodies the experience of thirty
states. was reported favorably unani-
mously by the two great committees OF
the legislature, and it is imperatively
demanded hv the best interest of the
State of Maine. and regardless of par
ty should be approved by all good cit
izens of the State at the coming cleo
ton.
Knowing that the Public Utilities
Bill would regulate all fares and rates
on the railroads of the State the Gov
ernor vetoed the 500 Mileage Bill
which was in conflict with the utilities
commission: now these Democratic
politicians revoke the referendum 10
hold up the law and then attempt to
create a prejudice against the Gov
ernor for his vote Of the mileage bill.
Such an attempt to play petty poiitlcs
ought to be rebuked by all voters who
believe in fairness in politics and hon
esty in politicians.
Enforcement Please People.
/ believe that the people of Maine
regardless of party, are pleased with
the stand taken by the Republican
party and the Governor in the en-
forcement of the Maine law, that while
we have the law it should be enforced
and that officials elected to enforce
the law should be removed from Of
flee if they fail to do their duty. 1t
seems to me from the experience OF the
past few months that the enforcement
of law in the State of Maine by a
brave Governor and faithful officers
has demonstrated that the people are
satisfied that the best interests OF the
State demand the Maine law and its
enforcement. To this the Republican
party Is pledged and against this law
and it's enforcement the Democratic
party, as a political organization, is
still opposed.
do not know the position of tt
Progressive party on prohlpiuon, put