Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-10

the C3n0lO6te nominated II coCh So0~~e
might be favorable to him for Senator.
It was also the custom Of the candi-
dates for Senator, in many instances
to stand behind and finance the cam
paign Of the candidates nominated Tor
the legislature, 50 that when that leg
islature met sufncient members OF the
House and Senate were pledged and I'M
der obligation to stand for and elect MIN
to the United States Senate.
The people have attempted to change
all this by . law that Is ideal in its
theory. BY it's provisions no one can
be a candidate under nomination pa
pers for q regular election until after
the first day Of January, before the
third Tuesday Of June. The State Con-
vention Of his political party must meet.
usually in the month Of March. He
has until the first Monday of May to
file his nomination papers. which en-
title him to a place upon the Official
ballot.
Purpose Of Law.
The purpose. intent and spirit Of the
Primary Law is that no one should be
recognized as a candidate for United
Of January of the year of the Primary
Election: that he should not file his
papers until after his State
has made, adopted and pro-
mulgated a platform which he can ac-
cept or reject; that after the first Mon
day Of May. when all the candidates for
United States Senator are In the Held
and when no more can enter. the Prim-
airy Campaign should commence in
earnest, and in that Primary Campaign
the State county and town committees
of his party should take no part or
action. because they do not know who
will later be nominated. Their work
is to endorse and secure the election
of the candidate duly nominated at the
Primaries. and not to take sides as
committee for any individual candidate
until after he has been SO nominated.
In spite Of all this. I have been sur
prised to discover in how many ways
the true spirit, intent and purpose OF
the Primary Election Law. in the nomi-
nation of United States Senator, can be
evaded, set aside and violated.
While the last legislature was in ses'
sion, year and some months before
the next Primary Election. two Repub-
lican candidates for United States Sem
ator, In public and in the Press. made
their announcement. and proceeded at
once to travel over the State. visit the
State, county and town committees OF
the Republican Party and the so-called
politicians of that party, to OBJ
tain pledges Of support. Without walt
ing to know who would finally be upon
the official ballot, these same two can
didates followed this up by diligent
work. trying to obtain the pledges OF
leading Republicans to stand by and
work for one or the other Of them long
before the filing Of nomination papers.
Not only that, but the Press through
out the State has been greatly benefit
ed financially by paid advertisements
Of the family history. biography and
future promise of these two candidates.
They have been able In some fnstan-
ces to control q party newspaper, ana
to receive fattering notices and edlto-
rial approval from well-known Demo-
cratic Journals. all before the filing
of their nomination papers. and all be-
fore the holding Of the State Conven-
ton of their political party.
But in spite Of the diligence OF GER
tain politicians and the use Of discred-
tied and discarded methods in. politics
nv candidates Tor the nomination which
I seek, 1 shall keep the spirit and in
tent and live up to the ideal OF the
Primary Law. And. now, after the first
day Of January, come before the people
Duh p1off n.
nounce that 1 am a candidate for United
States Senator; and expect to be nomi-
mated and elected without resort or re-
course to any of the old political methods
that the people by the enactment OF the
Direct Primary Law condemned, rejected
and discarded.
In opening my campaign tonight.
want to frankly state to you that I am
making my own fight; have no master:
the people, and to the people I shall
make my position clear, and 1 shall
frankly take them into my confidence.
I do not come to you as candidate
who boasts the fame. greatness, wealth
and blood Of his ancestors. My father
and mother were pioneers, who. in pow
erty and by honest toll. made for them
selves a modest. humble home in tho
wilds Of Aroostook, there reared a fam
lily Of children. without luxury. without
plenty and without the means to give
their boy a college education. On that
little farm they lived the simple life.
and there they died. I inherited from
them no wealth. My fathers fame was
his honesty, and my mother left me
only the legacy Of a sainted memory.
I may be mistaken and deceived, but
under the present election laws in our
State, have an idea that as one Of tho
common people, have the privilege and
the right, without famous ancestry or
inherited wealth, to become a candidate
for United States Senator. have be-
lieved,
1T matters little where was born,
Or whether my parents were rich or
poor
Whether they had the cold worlds
Or begged their bread from door to
door,"
but what l have done, and what I now
am and what stand for, matters much
to the people Of my State
have not been able in small coun-
try practice az . country lawyer in a
country town to accumulate much Of
this worlds goods. have behind me no
wealthy corporate interests eager for