Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-07

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The Conventions ovsr-What7
re present all the facts which care
fui Investigator might CLEAN from the
political held in Maine today would be
~ profitless, so far as any permanent
rood TO the general public could &C
crue, as it would be startling. And
some Of the rumors which may be
found in the atmosphere Of any party
convention you'd be even less useful
and evening moro startling. Now that
the conventions are all over, Repubh-
cans, Democrats and Progressives hav-
ing decided upon what they will do
and how they will do it. between now
and the fifth Of September. a consider
alton OF certain points Of the general
situation might not be amiss. The dam
ger lies in the fact that the plans Of
party leaders so often widely disagree
with the understanding Of I'VE, us and
the people,"
As an example, let us consider the
case Of the Progressive party whose
doings are 50 fresh in the minds Of the
500 or thereabouts delegates who were
present, and the readers Of the papers
covering the detail and the sidelights
Of the convention and the immediate
pr. convention hours. In spite of the
fact that the Progressive party has
shrunk to a size which robs 1t Of its
one.time boosted "balance of power"
to q position where neither Of the older
parties can be largely alarmed or strik-
ingfy jubilant because Of the loss Of all
or tho gain Of all its votes, that party
showed that its organization is as
adept In the manipulation Of political
affairs and as adroit in covering the
real meaning Of its acts and pretenses
AZ it has ever accused the old parties
of being guilty. On the other hand. the
Republican organization has had so
many irons in the fire with the numer-
Gus candidates actively and skilfully in
terested in every movement of the or
ganization and moro or less jealousy
watching each other and the party
leaders. such manipulation as seen in
the Bangor convention Of this week has
been impossible. That many Of the del
egates to the Progressive convention
were alive, wholly or in part, to these
conditions was repeatedly made plain
In conversation with the men of the
rank and Ale. Among them foated
many r,lmors Of double dealing and
double crossing which quite probably
never existed outside the fertile imag-
ination Of some one with the notion
that he had become a political sage.
One delegate confidently asserted
that he had been put wise that HAL
Gardner is working for Colonel Park
hurst and Freddy Hale" When asked
for his reasons for believing this he
declared that II it were not so the con-
vention would have been allowed to en-
dorse Hon. Carl E. Milliken, who is the
precise type Of Christian gentleman
whom all Progresstves profess to sup
port. That was carly in the afternoon,
before tho convention had been called
to order. and this man just as conf
IDENTIFY predicted that State. district and
county tickets would be put in the field
and that the campaign would be as
hotly waged as the wind Of Hal Gard
ner and the wage Of George w. Perkins
could make 1t. On that score this dele
gate seemed to have been more or less
Of . prophet for the convention DID
e3ect to make a campaign with candi-
dates for Governor. United States SEN
ator and county ticket. in spite Of the
opposition Of influential members OF
tho party from Oxford and Kennebec
counties.
Another delegate in the eastern part
Of the State when this conversation
was related to him, remarked that he
didn't know anything about Gardner.
Parkhurst combination, but he was
convinced that the Hon. Halbert P
Gardner was out to do" Carl Miliken
Several other delegates were question.
Cd and had acquired the same convic.
ton. Where It started we do not know
but 1t was one Of the rumors of con.
vention days.
On the train. Wednesday evening
Hon. Charles e. Millken Of Augusta
was challenged for an expression con.
cerning the convention Of his party an6
no promptly retorted: Perhaps l an
disqualified from speaking on thi.
Question at this time because 1 hav,
lust been most effectually steam-roller.
Cd" Mr.. Miluken aid. however. frank
" admit that he thought about all o.
the active Prosressives in Kennebet
county were present at the convention
and that 30 far as State and count,
tickets were concerned he believed i
was . useless proposition and woult