Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-17
Another Cummings Letter.

Another Cummings Letter.
Mr.. F. d. Cummings of Portland, is
working overtime trying to convince
the dear people that any man who
followed Roosevelt to rebuke the Re-
publican party and discovers that
Progressive bosses are just like any
other bosses, traitor" fence"
a "hypocrite,'' monomaniac" and
few other things. 1t has been so
from the first. When Bill SeWall,
Hon. Carl E. MilIiken, Hon. C. S.
Hichborn. Rev. Henry e. Dunnack and
others tried to restrain the head
strong, rampant. self-constitnted lead
ers of the Progressive movement in
Maine, they were at once publicly de-
nouneed as traitors to the cause, I'M
worthy of the name Progressive, and
the like.
Judging from the daily screeds of
the Lewiston Journal, the shower of
letters from Mr.. Cummings. and the
utterances of few others leaders,
the Progressive party as whole and
every individual member is infallible.
But if member disagrees with any
action or stand taken by the bosses he
is promptly accommodated and ex-
coriated as traitor and hypocrite.
To our positive knowledge promi-
nent men in the Progressive move
ment, who disagree with the extreme
and unbending positions assumed by
few in charge of affairs, hesitate to
voice their sentiments because of the
storm of wrath and denunciation sure
10 descend upon them, from the Cum
mingses and his class But their
votes cannot be counted as a Pro-
gressive asset
If Mr.. Killiam had simply an
nounced himself as Progressive, he
would have been proclaimed from the
housetops as a marvel of all the vir-
tues. Daring to criticize some of the
policies and selfish lodges Of his party
bosses, he instantly becomes a Judas
and menace to good government, a
bump in the road to progress.
That may be the way to strengthen
the party and to build it up to a
magnitude that will stand for more
than the role of Democratic assistant
but we submit to our intelligent read
ers that it is not Republicans win
hesitate long now before ailying
themselves with such an aggregation
however much they may admire Pro-
gressiye principles or however much
they may deplore any mistakes OF
thei- own party. And Democrats
have no desire to join party that has
for two years made everything posi-.
bic to Democracy, from the Presi-
deney down.
The high and pure organization thai
exists only to make possible thai
which il SO fiamboyantly opposes, il
the glazing spectacle of this boosted
age of progress"
And the very men who set out Il
teach the world it's folly, denounce ane
defy, right and left, recklessly claim.
ing everything in sight, while total.
alternating any possible growth in fol
lowing. Every man who bases thu
Progressive present strength on thu
Roosevelt vote of two years ago Il
manifestly dishonest and intends t.
deceive. Every intelligent person O
any party knows better than that
Every election and every responsible
utterance since that November vote
has shown the fallacy OF the Dingle
pretense.
Denounced and derided CONSTANT
for two years, the rank and file Of tn
Republican party are in no mood t
give an imitation Of the mountain 90
ing to the mouse. They were wIIin
70 90 half the distance and a littI
more, and have repeatedly declare
that willingness, but to be utterI
domineered over by those who sho,
only contempt for them and the
Views, is a little beyond human pa
tence. The lofty intolerance of an
claim to Republican virtue. or ar
senesptien If Reesrsfsixs principle