Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-08
Democrats Open Campaign.
STILLS, CURTIS AND M'anLIcUDDY
SPEAK TO GOOD AUDIENCE.

/ Three hundred or moro people ~
sembled at the fair grounds Tuesday af
ternoon for the Democratic mass meet
ing which opened the campaign In Oxford
County. Besides those from the imme'
diate vicinity, number of interested
ants Pond, Bethel, Rumford, and else
where, and automobiles were much 10
evidence. -.
The Bethel Band, which includes in
its twenty pieces four ladies, played al
the speaking, as we'll az on the street
cars before the opening Of the meeting,
and made good music.
While there were considerable mum.
Der Of other than Democratic affiliations
In the audience, the main part of 1t was
evidently In sympathy with the speakers,
and they were given liberal applause and
appreciation.
Hon. B. G. McIntire of Waterford act.
ed as chairman, and introduced the
speakers. Seated on the platform, be-
sides the speakers and number of the
local men, were DR.. s. G. Gordon of
Portland, and Hon. William R. Psttan-
gall OF Augusta, campaign manager for
the Democrats.
The first speaker introduced was Dean
Kenneth G. NJ. Stills of Bowdoin College,
nominated for the short term a. United
States Senator. Professor Stills, who IL .
young man Of pleasing appearance and
personality, spoke not at great length,
easily and without any attempt at ora
tory. he said II was q fine thing to have
belonged for 90 long time to the minor
ity party, for its members act upon
principle and get chastened and disci.
plined, and that now the tables were
turned in state and nation, the Demo.
Gratis intended that the Republicans
should have the chastening and disol.
pine. No good criticism can be made Of
the administration of Governor Curtis
in the state. which has been clean and
efficient. On the matter of internal ad-
ministratioD alone, would there be any
doubt OF the reelection OF President
Wilson? In our foreign relations he has
had to face hard problems. No one will
say that no mistakes have been made.
In his dealings with the Mexican stu.
alton We must remember the ultimate
goal on which he had his mind set. In
the problems which came from across
the sea, has Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr.. Hughes,
with all his criticism, set out for us
definite program of action2 It will be
hard to convince the people that any one
could do better than Mr.. Wilson has
done. He has gone along In the middle
of the road, with the interests of the
American people close at bis heart.
After selection by the band, Chair.
man Mclntire introduced Governor Oak
ley c. Curtis, with the statement that no
man In recent years has had 80 much at
heart the interests of the state.
Governor Curtis spoke in an offhand
and jovial manner, somewhat discursive.
He said that q prominent Republican
had recently told him that as far as
state Issues are concerned, the Republi.
cans haven't q thing to work from.
Therefore 1t was rather hard for him to
find something to talk about. He re-
ferred to certain criticisms which were
made, denying that there was any foun-
dalton for them. With regard to the
liquor question he said, "I'm not going
to talk prohibition; that isn't In our
platform at all this year." He said that
the state of Maine never had q correct
SO that we could know just
where We stand, until the first of last
January, and attacked the Fernald ad-
as the source OF troubles
which have lasted until this time, and
paid his respects to Col. Frederick Hale
in sneering way.
Congressman Daniel j. McGfllicuddy
was the third and last speaker, and ow.
ing to the lateness of the hour made
comparatively short talk. He dismissed
the matter of foreign relations with the
remark that so far as matters outside
this country are concerned, We are now
safe, In his opinion. The trouble to
look out for is from within. Men with
special interests tooerve are trying to
get control of the government. For
twenty years before this administration
they dominated the Republican party.
Mr.. McGillicuddy pointed with pride
ampled prosperity. We have had pros
perity before, but never such prosperity
as this. But some little editors of little
country newspapers, who don't know
about it, will say that this
prosperity is due to the war. He then
read some statistics compiled at bis re-
quest in Washington to show that the
exports of war supplies for the last fiscal
year were less than 2 2-3 percent of our
total exports. If our great prosperity 10
not due to the war, there must be some
explanation of it, and this he found first
in the federal reserve act, the operation
of which be briefly explained.
He then turned to the question of the
tariff, and condemned protective tariff
as tax upon all the people for the bene-
At of few. The Democrats, he said,
are reversing the principle, and are rails
ing more Of the revenue by taking por-
ton of the income Of the very rich. They
are to increase the rate of the income
tax. and add considerable tax on in
heritances.