Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-16
II Is No "Strugete."

Under the caption Wilson Again."
che Waterville Sentinel almost looks
surprised. 1t almost gasps that
president Wilson yesterday gave his
consent to the placing of his name on
the presidential! primary ballot in
Ohio"
This is SO sudden. And we are at
once assured By this "inspired' Wa
tervile defender Of the dear Democ-
.acy that he Cthe President) is en-
gagged in no struggle for the nominal
ton but if the party calls him 70 Be
again it's standard bearer he will &C
cept."
Of course our President is "en
gagged in. no struggle' for d second
term. Was he not elected 10 his
present high Office on d platform de-
,:laring:
"our platform is one Of principles
which we believe to be essential to
our national welfare. Our pledges are
made to be kept when in office, as
we'll as relied upon during the cam
paign, and we invite the cooperation
Of all citizens regardless Of party who
believe in maintaining unimpaired the
institutions ans Traditions Of our
country
And then all will remember the
famous and oft-quoted plank concern
ing the single term in office for
President. All remember also the ut
;erance Of Candidate Wilson who de-
clared that our platform is not mo-
lasses 10 catch flies"
The above quoted plank says: Our
pledges are made to be kept and
relied upon during the campaign"
In the light Of later events those
pledges were NOT made to be re
lied upon AFTER the campaign"
The "flies'' that were caught by this
"molasses' were poor, foolish flies and
can quite probably be caught again
by the amazing statement that Presi-
dent Wilson is engagei in no suug-
gle for the nomination.
OF course he is not His recent
trip into the Central West at an hour
when the most vital affairs Of the ma
ton might at any moment require the
<,,l u dor tif,,e
Of which he is capable. was simply 70
tell the people thai he had heard
their demands. and Woodie wa
willin' That journey with his new
and attractive bride. was no part Of i
"struggle'' for the nomnation-perish
the thought.
Our inspired neighbor says so-and
OF course we all believe it.
When President Wilson gave his
formal consent for Indiana Democrats
to place his name on their ballot, the
Wilson Again" caused little surprise
and less comment. but now our neigh
Dor awakes and. fearing tia. these re-
peateG acknowledgements that the
last Democratic platform WAS mo
lasses to catch flies" it triumphantly
asserts that the President is not
"struggling.' No indeed,
I'VE favor single Presidential
term and to that end urge the adop
ton Of an amendment to the Const-
tuition making the President Of the
United States ineligible for re- election,
and WE PLEDGE THE CANDIDATE
OF THIS CONVENTION TO THIS
PRINCIPLE"
TIE present President was the
candidate of that convention. AS it's
candidate he went before the people of
the country and pledged his faith in,
and loyalty to, that platform. He
was elected on that brand Of mo
lasses." He caught the flies
Bat now a wonder comes to light
shows that the merry moment he was
elected this President Of ours changed
his mind regarding the single term,
and the Democratic pledge. of which
he had SO often publicly boosted. AS
President-after election but even be-
fore his inauguration-Mr. Wilson
FASTENED to withdraw that telltale
dish Of "molasses to catch flies" He
wrote to A. Mitchell Palmer, con-
gresham from Pennsylvania. under
date Of Feb. 5, 1918, concerning this
very Wilson Again" possibility. His
letter was prompted by the activity of
certain Democratic leaders in Con-
sress looking toward the fulfillment OF
the solemn platform declaration to
which the Baltimore candidate was
pledged. They were preparing to
adopt the conventions proposed