Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-18
How Maine Election Looks to Son Of
Maine Who Travels Widely.

The Bible saying, mo man nyeth
to himself, or dieth to himself" is
equally true OF cities, states and ma
tions, and especially of Maine since it
became world power by inventing
the best method of handling the worlds
hardest problem7 II half dozen other
States should return to license 1t would
not affect the rising tide Of prohibition
In Scandinavia and Australasia and
elsewhere so unfavorably as even a
legislative vote In Maine for e-submts-
sion. A majority vote in the Legisla-
ture, though 1t fell short of the two
thirds necessary to submit, would be
"a shot fired round the world" against
prohibition. And that seems to me
as son of Maine who spent the past
month IN the State and has spoken
there on temperance ten times, the
probable outcome of the present three
cornered fight in politics, unless pro-
hibition leaders enter at once on a
vigorous statewide campaign to hold
all prohibitionists together on the
elections of Governor and Legislature.
Even in the election of Congressman
and Senators, In which national issues
have pertinence, every Maine citizen
National Prohibition Is the one SUI
preme National issue until the pending
Hobson resolution is passed in Con-
gress. Then other national issues may
properly have the national field to
themselves while the State Legislatures
decide whether they want national
constitutional prohibition.
From both State and National points
of view. every man intelligently inter-
ested ia prohibition will refuse to let
secondary issues turn him aside this
year in Names September election. Re-
Gently the Maine delegation in both
Houses of Congress has been mostly
opposed to that which has made Maine
the most honored of American States
in the wide world, and it is time Maine
should send true Representatives to
Washington from all its congressional
districts.
But the State Legislature is even
more important, and the Governor
ship scarcely less so. The liquor inter-
ests, State and national, are sure to
see the great opportunity to bribe and
bulldoze and confuse Maine voters, SO
as to make the division of Republicans
a victory for what in Maine should
be honestly labeled the Anti Prohibi-
ton Party, President Wilson saw that
clearly. when candidate, and kept
his national speakers out of the State.
knowing well that a Democratic vic
tory in Maine would mean, not reduc-
ed tariff, but increased liquor selling;
and that a State Democratic victory
would hurt National Democracy by
r,,r.- - Ia
that Democracy Is synonymous with
denijohn. Next to Tammany, the
greatest misrepresentation of true De-
mocracy is the Democratic party in
Maine. Every Democrat in Maine who
is a true Wilson Democrat, or a Bryan
Democrat, or Daniels Democrat, will
refuse to smirch the party nationally
by aiding the victory of state party
that wears the Democratic name only
as masaue for speak easy" and
license policy, No doubt some leaders
who think the people have short men,
cries will quote Wilson as favoring To-
cal option, forgetting in honesty to
state that he favored local option In
New Jersey as an advance, but has
never favored it anywhere as a re-
treat; and that he also wrote that
same year to Mr.. Byers of Texas that
he favored State Wide prohibition in
State having a homogeneous popu-
lation, such as Texas had. and we may
add, such as Maine has, where foreign
ers are decidedly in the minority.
AS to the Pregressives of Maine,
considered apart from the national
party of that name) their refusal to
say anything on the chief political is
sue in Maine entities them to the ex-
elusive right to the title, the Dodgers
Party, and their symbol on the official
ballot should be two-faced Janus.
No intelligent nrohibitionist will risk
the holding of the reform In which
Maine began true Progressiveness for
the world for the remote chance Of
getting some indefinite social service"
in the far future through a party
which certainly gives no promise of
ills OF life OF which drink 10 the big
chief.
know that the Republican party of
Maine is by no means ideal. Some of
its sheriffs have been as great per-
jurers as those Of the opposite party
have heard many criticisms OF its
| GOfcfHOT lfotl SHtEiy
because of certain appointments. 1t
should be remembered by reasonable
voters that always President or Cow
ernor makes many disappeintmsnts
with each appointment. To the country
at large. Gov. Haines scanned T. prove
himself brave executive by i'm
peaching unfaithful sheriffs, If he
has not done all he should in iaw-en-
forcement, is it not true that he is the
only man who stands on a platform
which endorses prohibition, whose can
didates will be most likely to refuse
re-submission and will at least do
more for enforcement of prohibition
than the candidates OF any other
party?
At any rate no true prohibitionist
should vote for any one Of any party
| for any Office In Maine this year Gun
| less It Is wholly unrelated to legisla-
Continued on Page 7-coIumn 81