Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-26
The unmistakabIe Trend.

scribers to show up some of the meth
DDS being used by certain self-laoeled
Progressives who were attempting TO
convince the voters that Lawrence
can beat Pattangall, Peters can't" we
gave undisputed proof that deception
and direct falsehood were being re-
sorted to in public and press We
gave the facts and names to disprove
the false claims made for certain Sec
tons.
Notwithstanding these things which
are fresh in the minds of many of the
people of central Maine, the same
methods seem to have been taken up
again this early in the campaign. In
another column we are publishing this
issue, the comments of an indignant
Somerset citizen who writes of state
ments sent out from Skowhegan and
published We presume the slogan
will be, Thompson can win, Peters
can't" or "A vote for Peters is half a
vote for Pattangall."
Progressive organs can hardly Ion
ger point to the Roosevelt vote and
claim it to be the Progressive vote.
They have repeatedly demonstrated
their weakness in all sorts of cleo
tons. 1t would be nonsensical for
them to claim that they have made
numerical gains in the last II months.
With these things in mind, how can
sane voters of Maine who see the
folly of free trade and Democratic in
competence, throw away their ballots
and allow the election of men opposed
to every vital principle for which they
stand?
Recently the Boston Herald pub
lished an article by Charles Willis
Thompson on the course of the Pro-
gressive party since the contest of
1912. The figures given showed the
distinct and rapid decline Of the
movement and what must be it's end
ing in early months. To these figures
all the press has added the report of
returns from Oregon's primaries, just
held. Here they are:
In 1912 Oregon gave Wilson $4,000
votes, to Roosevelt's $1,000 and Taft's
$1,000. In the primary registration,
just completed with the presence of
the women nominally doubling the
totaIs), $4,000 voters listed them
selves as Republicans, $1,000 as Dem
ocrats and--to be exsct-6255 Progress
sives.
Former Republicans have felt the
effect of their vote in 1912. Their
families have felt it and they can now
see that 1t will take years to recover
from the blow to American progress
when a minority party of discredited
policies and impractical theorists was
given the reins of government. Some
Of these former Republicans are Bit
ter enough, relentless enough and
reckless enough 70 repeat the per-
Torrance. Therein lies the only hope
of Democracy.
Today there can be no question of
the steady strengthening and return
ing favor of the Republican party,
with the people of this country. They
have had their lesson. All have suf-
fered. The experience came high. In
every part of the country is felt this
demand for the Republican party to
take the country in hand and restore
1t to conditions of industrial advance
ment. Men who voted the Progress
sive tieekt in 1912 are now foremost
in undoing the blunder. They see a
getting together Of voters and not
leaders" for the common welfare.
To sweep away the evils of Demo-
cratic inadequacy they must join
hands. Later they will attend to the
job of housecleaning and dust out the
leaders who are now taking advantage
of common necessity.
Maine is no exception to the general
rule in all the states. The Progress
sive showing made by Mr.. Lawrence
in the Third district special election
will be greatly reduced in 1914. Every
county has many former Progressives
who are looking now to the interests
of themselves and their families
They know, now, that such claims as
Lawrence can win, Peters can't" are
tommyrot, and they will no longer
give aid and encouragement to
Democracy.
False reports such as referred to by
our Skowhegan friend can do no harm
for the source and animus are too OBJ
vious. Facts win in the end. and
falsehoods are bound to be costly.