Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-09-05
Get Out and Vote.

Next Monday is election day in Maine,
and before another issue Of the Dem
ocrat reaches most of our readers the
voting will be over. AT this time there
fore the Democrat would urge upon all
Republicans the Importance of their
getting out to the polls. The stay at
home voters are altogether too numerous,
and their number is one of the defects
of our political system.
The Republican party has never pre-
sented for consideration of the voters 10
this state cleaner ticket than this year.
It's candidates are men of high character
and proved ability. In fact, the only
personal charge made BY our Demo
cratic friends against them is that some
of them will in time inherit consider
able wealth. Resort to such an argu-
ment indicates the lack of any real
reason against their election. We have
a ticket which it is pleasure to sup
port.
But there Is further reason than the
election of the state and congressional
tickets why full vote should be got out.
This is the influence il will have upon
the national election in November. That
the Maine election is Of importance as
bearing upon the result of the national
election is we'll known to all. For that
reason speakers OF national reputation
in both parties have participated in the
campaign here. The question is not
alone whether Maine shall 60 Republican
or Democratic, but how strongly it shall
60. Your vote, even ii it should not be
necessary for the election of state or
local candidates, is needed to swell the
total, and do its part toward assuring the
election of Hughes and Fairbanks in
November.
Therefore, again, Republicans, with a
reunited party, get out and vote!
Two Referendum Questions.
At the election next Monday two leg.
islstive acts will be submitted to the
voters for their approval or rejection,
one of which was referred directly by the
legislature, and the other by petition Of
the necessary number of voters.
II is one Of the disadvantages Uf voting
upon such measures at the general cleo
ton, that the issue Is overshadowed BY
the election of officials, and gets com
paratively slight attention. Indeed, fol
that matter, none of the measures sub
mitted under the referendum in this state
so far have had the amount of public
discussion which they should have had
OF the two measures to be voted or
next week, one is the fifty-four hour Law
for women and children. This was
passed by the legisture, without question
in response to certain demand, and was
held up by petition. An active campaign
against 10 has been carried on by mail
under the auspices of an organization
the name of which is not now recalled
It's headquarters are at Augusta, but who
contributes the funds for its campaign
is not a matter of record. Its argument,
should receive the same consideration
which the thoughtful voter gives to al
matters on which he acts. 1t is certain
that while there is opposition to the act
there is also great deal of sentiment il
favor of il.
There is no provision in the bill rela
tive to the hours of labor of men. i
applies only to women, and boys undo
sixteen years of age.
The other measure is the bill providing
for state and county aid in the oonstruc
t1Ou Vi OfiuSco. NdTfOuo OEluS6 Olil
have been considered by the Legislature
during the past score of years, but thil
10 the only general bill which has got be
fore the people.
Briefly and in general, 1t provides tina
the cost of building or rebuilding bridges
under certain conditions shall DO appor
toned, Fifty per cent to the town, thirt.
per cent 10 the county, AND twenty pc
cent TO the state. The conditions ar,
that the expense of building or rebuild
ing, added to the other moneys raiset
for the construction and maintenance o
highways, shall make tax rate In sxcss
Of five mills on the valuation of th,
town. Whether Ii 10 necessary TO built
or rebuild the bridge, and the form o
construction, is 10 be decided by q bosrt
composed Of the municipal officers o
the town, the county commissioners o
the county, and the State Highway Com
mission.
The bridge bill was by Its own term
submitted by the legislature to tn,
voters of the state, and will not tax
effect unless approved by the people.
approved, it will take effect Dec. lat.