The Republican journal., 1916-03-30
The Republican State Con-
ventiOn.
Harmony and Enthusiasm the Dominant
Features. Redeem Maine and the Nation
kho Clor,c

Features. Redeem Maine and the Nation
the Slogan.
The Maine Republicans held in Portland,
March 23d the largest and liveliest State con-
vention '.since Burieigh first ran for governor"
to quote party patriarch present-and that
was several decades ago. Harmony was the
keynote, Hughes the favOrite and q militant
opposition to Woodrow Wilson the features of
this remarkable gathering of men Of all ages
from all corners of the State, who braved one
of the worst blizzards of the winter to arrive
in time for "the night before" and who have
elected delegation who will 60 to Chicago
uninstructed and pledged for programme of
preparedness to restore and secure the honor
of the nation, and to policy of protection
honestly applied that will lay firm the founda-
tions of permanent prosperity that will not
depend upon the misfortune Of foreign people
for its existence.
Unique in it's impressiveness was the opening
OF the convention in the great city hall which
Portland built only three years ago. Thirty
five hundred delegates, alternates and "fellow
opponents of Wilson and his watchful walters, !"
Joined in an opening prayer to Almighty God
to protect the lives of our brave boys in Mexico,
speed the fulflment of their purpose and send
Portland municipal organist, then played 1.-THE
Pilgrims Chorus" from Thanhauser Re-
spending to an encore, he played America, and
the audience of 5000 joined in singing two
verses of the national hymn. The first floor
was filled by the fourteen hundred delegates.
Many of these men never attended a State
convention before. Many of them have never
been active in politics. Bankers and business
sat side by side with farmer and wage
earners and cheered every speaker who said a
single work in favor of preparedness or in criti-
cism of Mr.. Wilson and his foreign policies.
Gov. Cobb Sounds the Keynote.
reunited Republican party was predicted
for the coming national campaign by former
Governor William 7. Cobb in his address as
chairman.
I'VE have come to recognize on the one
side" he said. "that the Republican organiza-
tion is the effective and logical instrument
with which to attain both reform and victory,
and the other that its present increasing
strength and influence is due in small part
to the clear vision and persistent idealism of
many VINO once called themselves Progress
sive."
Mr.. Cobb pronounced the vital issues of the
campaign to be the tariff, preparedness for
war and preparedness for industrial and COM
mercial safety and ell-being when the war
shall cease"
1.-The Republican party" he continued. "fa-
vors adequate and reasonable preparedness
for defense, and it holds this opinion not be-
cause of sudden and recent conversion by
the stress of politics, but because it foresaw
at the beginning of this conflict in Europe
that preparedness was inevitable if the prin-
ciples and rights of this country were to be
protected and upheld.
The other preparedness that is to engage
our attention and stimulate our activities,
and its need is no less imminent, is the pre-
paredness to meet and turn to our proper ad-
vantage the changed industrial and CONNER
cial conditions that will confront at the
close of the present war. The prosperity
that has come to US the last few months has
sprung from the miseries, the sacrifices. the dire
distress of other nations, and the realization
of this fact alone, apart from any humanitar
ian aspect of the case. many well cause US to
question both its permanency and its value"
Senator Smiths Speech.
In the afternoon Senator William Alden
Smith of Michigan stirred the convention with
an ola fashioned Republican speech that
brought the delegates to their feet time and
again with enthusiasm and harmonized with
1.-The full of fight feeling" of the whole con-
vention. The Michigan senator's arraign
ment of Mr.. Wilson's course in Mexico in par
ticuar brought a response that showed how
keenly Maine feels the disgrace of the hap
penings there. AS member of the Senate
foreign relations committee Senator Smith
spoke with authority In his opening remarks
he said: 81 assume that you want me to speak
plainly, and | am going to say just what
know and nothing more. But if it sound
harsh, just accept 1t as the truth"
The Platform.
The platform is a well-arranged arragn-
ment of the policies and impolicies of the
Democratic Administration at home and
abroad. Its reading was obviously greatly en-
ioyed by the delegates, and in les framing
Republicans and Progresslves had hand. 1t
was significant sight at the might before
Celebration that of the committee on reso
lutions assembled in open session and inviting
suggestions from "any foe of Wilson and the
the creed in its declaration of State or nation
al policies. National issues, especially the
foreign situation, occupy the major part of
the resolutions.
Internationalism and the efforts for uni
versai peace as embodied in The Hague tri-
bunal are ipdorsed, and 1t is demanded that
expenditures for preparedness be adequate,
both in the Army and Navy. to make this Ma
tion one of the foremost in its ability to en-
force international comfy and the promotion
of universal peace through arbitral determ-
nations wherever possible and necessary.
1--WE must be in condition to show to the
world that while it is not the purpose of this
Nation to interfere in the controversies be-
tween other Nations, to assume airs of bellig-
erency or to wage wars of conquest, it will,
nevertheless, insist on strict observance of
the just and proper principles of international
law and proper regard for the life, property
and the honor of every American CITIZEN" the
resolutions state.
'We condemn the results of the policy Of tn 2
Wilson Administration in the vacliating and
pusillanimous treatment of the situation in
Mexico. That policy has brought our Nation
into disrepute and afforded a spectacle of un-
certain and wavering timdity, varied by occa-
sional ineffective or harmful Interference.
1.-The Democratic Administration has per-
mitted established government in Mexico to
be destroyed; anarchy and bloodshed to take
its place; has stood idly by while American
men and women have been slaughtered, their
property destroyed and their rights and honor
violated and outraged-interfering only when
too late to save the lives of our citizens and
the respect due to our flag.
mot counseling the embarrassment of this
Government in it's dealings with any other
Nation, we demand the substitution, for the
present policy of Inconsistency, of firm and
unwavering policy of protection to American
rights in Mexico, either through the cooper
alton with South American republics or by
to the end that peace and good order shall OBJ
tain in that distracted land.
with equal emphasis do we protest the
Wilson policy in the Lusitania and similar
tragedies growing out of the European war
BY the weak and vacillating procedure and
the negative diplomacy of the Democratic
Administration this Nation has been forced TO
withdraw threats too hastily made, to shift
ground once taken, and in the most abject and
servile manner to forget today the words
which it uttered but yesterday"
The resolutions declare for protection of
American industries, prompt revision of the
tariff and the creation of a permanent Tariff
Al