Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-02
For What We Are Here.

TIT WHAT We ATS
friend a Winthrop writes to COM
plain Of the Kennebec Journals hide
bound Pepublicanism." We thank our
friend for the interest displayed in at
tempt to reform us, but we do not wish
to be reformed We have been on
earth long time and have been watch
ing men and conditions, and a great
many years ago we had cause to COM
pare men In the two great parties, and
their policies. Then we began to note
the effect Of these policies on the gen.
eral public. We lived through the last
previous Democratic administration Git
was tough proposition) and saw the
recovery under Republican statesman
ship and policies. Then we saw a gen.
GRAFTON grow to manhood-young men
who listened to the fascinating Demo-
cratic arguments and promises, and
who did not know and could not under
stand the story OF Wilson Gormanism
They tried the experiment and, backed
by the Republican division folly, elect
ed a minority President and House
The results these young men have
seen and will continue to see, as long
as the Democratic regime lasts
The business depression, suffering Of
the poor and like consequences Of DEM
ocratic policies, have been felt severe
ly, but we were saved by the European
war from the actual miseries that were
impending. 1t was and is bad enough,
but not half as bad as was sure to
have been had not foreign imports been
cut off and war orders" started up
American Industries.
We expect to live the rest Of our
days and die in our dyed in the wool
Republicanism. We are ever glad to
give the devil his DUE" but we shall
continue to criticize Democratic poll
cies and the men who make those poll
cies for political purpose Little and
big, they all look alike to us. For
the good Of those who look to
us for advice, or for Interpretation
of conditions we shall continue
to express ourselves. and we advise
those who are tired" OF our comment
not to read that portion of our paper.
Recently the Portsmouth (Ohio) Star
received complaints that it was too
hard on Wilson" 1t answered as fol-
lows:
We wish to say that we have not
been half so hard on Wilson as Wilson
has been on us. Looking at conditions
as they are today, 1t is hard to believe
that but two short years ago every
thing was alive and prosperous, fac
tories were busy. business was rushing,
concerns We're declaring dividends, rail-
roads were employing full crews and
all were enjoying the fruits of pros
perity. 1t Is hard to realize that this
Is true, and it is still more bitter to
realize that the only change in gov
eminent which brought this change in
business conditions was this same VIII
son administration.
Wilson has been hard on u.s. Every
time we lick a war stamp we remem-
Der that 1t is to help pay for a Demo-
cratic deficit. Every time we hear
merchant complain Of poor business we
think of Woodrow. Every idle factory.
every man out Of job tells the same
story Wilson has been hard on us
but 1t is not a personal affair: he has
been perfectly impartial about it--re
ha 1,a~
times wish our Democratic friends. who
are so fond Of Wilson and Of free trade
theories, could have these Democratic
times all to themselves. There would
be something fair about that For
those who like that sort Of thing. II
is just the sort Of thing they would
like. But. for us. give US Republican
prosperity every time.
We have nothing personal against the
President. except that he has made life
harder for us. made us work more and
get less; that his theories have taken
from us hours Of happiness and added
hours OF care; that they have caused
us and millions Of other people to be
deprived OF many of the joys OF life,
life which we shall live but once.
Democratic administrations are long
ones not in actual time, for they never
last more than four years but they
seem long
We repeat. il we have been hard on
Wilson it is because Wilson has been
much harder on us. Our Democratic
friends might as we'll face the truth.
Democratic free trade theories have
failed again. The mail order tariff"
never can spell prosperity for this
country 1t always has and always will
mean ruin and distress 1t is a beau
tful theory, but it does not work. The
American people are sick and tired Of
1t. They may believe Wilson Is doing
the best he knows how, but they also
believe that he does not know how
AS for his personal honesty and his
good intentions we have naught to saw.
but as the titular head Of Democracy
he must be held accountable for the
misery his theories have caused.
Win RnNka aA~&9