Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-15
"in Maine Cities"

III "0tn0 SStIe0s
Elections in Maine cities yesterday were
generally favorable to the Republicans.
In view of the recent trend of municipal
politics the result was not unexpected.
But 1t is to be noted that the contests
were settled on local issues and it is not
a new thing for our cities to swing from
one party to the other in the control OF
their affairs. 1t Is the general rule that
a party remains in power for more than
q single year. But the day has gone by
when our Republican friends can claim
that the cities are likely to stay with
them for any great length OF time. Inc
tide will turn and the elections OF next
year may tell another story.-Watervllie
Sentinel.
We agree with our up-rtver neighbor
that "the trend" certainly HAS been
toward the Republican party in recent
months, in fact ever since the people
awakened to the fact that Democratic
promises were not made to keep, but,
like the street vendors razors, to sell.
The trend in national. State and local
politics manifestly has been way from
Democracy for two years.
But the Watervilie Sentinel is sur
prisingly mistaken on the local issues
only" il We are to believe the Demo-
cratic leaders in Augusta in the con-
test just ended Indeed Mr.. Newbert,
Attorney General Pattangall. Post
master Plaisted. and all the active DO
htical aid summoned from the State
Offices on Capitol Hill, held forth that
Republicans were trying to dodge To-
cal issues and confine the ENGAGEMENTS
to the national errors Of Democracy.
This, they. said, must not be permitted,
for the Republicans were weak on To-
cal issues and must be made to face
the guns Noaded with mud of the
Democratic city batteries.
In Augusta Democracy opened hos
tilities early and bombarded with 10
cal Issues" They acknowledged no
law OF truth, fairness. or decencv
They recklessly charged this and as.
serted that. regardless of the intelli.
sence OF hearers. They hoped ONLY to
ora" the fire Of the Republican ad-
'''in'stratlon and its defenders and
thus keep them on the defensive
But the Republicans trusted "A tho
good judgment Of the voters and re-
FUSED TO be drawn into any sucb IN.
savory and obnoxious controversy
Inc administration reserved its am
mun!tioh of facts and awaited the
Time when a few quiet shots wouId
Mo" up the entire mud trenches of the
enemy.
In their despera ton the Democratic
ieduers ana publicity irresponsibIes
declared that the Kennebec Journal
would not defend the administration.
no matter what was said against it.
They even boasted that they had the
journal muzzled, and then they food
ed the city with unsigned statements
on fiiers. and with silly pretenses.
They even became so bold as publicly
to proclaim as facts the most idiotic
IalSenOOdS.
There. friend Sentinel, was the
local issue" that increased the size OF
the Republican majority-the mistak-
en- notion Of Democratic leaders that
the voters of Augusta are fools, or that
they enjoy dirty political methods.
profanity and erotic stories.
Democracy placed too low an esti-
mate upon the sense and character of
the pdopIe Of Aususta-that wes the
"IoeaI ISSUE"
And today the same leaders are
proving their lack Of perception by
whining that the Republicans won
with rum and money" That is
serious indictment against the voters
OF the city, for 1t directly charges that
hundreds OF voters sold themselves to
the highest bidder for money or for
booze. That. we believe, will be re-
sented by a great majority Of the men
who have asked that the city's affairs
be administered by clean young busi-
ness men of education and ability.