Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-29
Republican Campaign Opened.
MEETING ADDRESSED BY FRANKLIN
FISHER AND CONGRESSMAN PARKER.

Sweltering heat marked the opening
of the campaign in South Paris by the
Republicans last Monday evening, when
a meeting was held at Grange Hall. Not
withdrawing the weather a good audi
| ence was present.
Tasteful decorations of flags had been
arranged on the stage. Shaw's Orches-
ira played pleasing variety of selec-
tions during the evening, and Miss Mil
dred W. Shaw of Buckfield sang three
selections. Her first was ITO Thee, o
Country" and the others were ballads.
Miss Shaw is fine singer, aud the aud
fence expressed it's appreciation liber-
ally.
Seated on the stage, besides the chair
man and the speakers, we're Charles W.
Bowker, Albert D. Park, Harry D. Cole,
Stanley NJ. Wheeler, and George NJ. At
| wood.
Walter L. Gray acted as chairman, and
first presented the Oxford County mem
Der of the State Committee. Frederick
r. Dyer of Buckfeld. Mr.. Dyer said he
wished merely to tell some OF the
troubles of a committeeman. He ex.
planned that Hon. Ralph D. Cole OF
Ohio, who had been advertised and ex-
pected to speak at this meeting, had
been suddenly called to New York on
Saturday on business connected with the
Republican speakers bureau, of which
be ia chairman. he was able to return
in time to reach Portland Monday night,
but not so as to reach South Paris,
therefore in his place the meeting would
be addressed by Congressman Parker of
New York. he also alluded to other
changes in the speaking program In the
county which bad been made necessary
BY sickness and other unforeseen occur
rences. He urged the formation of Re-
pu blican clubs in Paris and Norway,
and stated that an organizer would be
here within few days. As to the pros
pects, he said he had a message of cheer,
and believed that even If no work was
done, Carl Milliken would be elected
governor on the 18th of September.
As the next speaker Chairman Gray
introduced Franklin Fisher of Lewiston.
Mr.. Fisher occupied but little time. he
said that two years ago he was chairman
of the Progressive County Committee in
Androscoggin County. He was proud
of that fact, and should always be proud
of it. But after the election of 1914, it
was apparent that the ends sought by
the Progressives were not to be accom-
plshed through their party organization.
There were then two courses open to the
Progressives-t sulk in their tents, or
to act with one of the old parties. he
briefly reviewed the record of the Dem
ocrats in power during the past two
years In the city of Lewiston, where the
administration has been marked by cor
ru ption and disregard of law; in the
state government, where Governor Cur
tbs had openly stated that he could not
enforce the laws of the state; and In
congress-, where control by the Demo-
Gratis had been marked by such pork
barrel legislation as Congressman Nc
Gilicuddy's Lewiston ship canal and
could fiud in this record nothing to in
duce him to act with the Democratic
party or justify him in so doing. He
com pared the platforms of the two par
ties, and said that the declaration OF the
Republican platform in favor of woman
suffrage and the Massachusetts, ballot
we're in themselves sufficient reason for
supporting the Republican ticket.
Hon. James s. Parker, member OF Con-
gress from New York, was next intro.
duced and spoke for about an hour. Mr..
Parker was evidently suffering from the
heat, and his delivery is not 80 graceful
and pleasing as some, but he presented
some significant facts.
You have doubtless, said he, frequent
| " heard the declaration that "ehis is the
most important campaign since the civil
war" Whatever We may say of the
present campaign, it is certainly the first
campaign in which international COM
plicatious have figured. The cause OF
the European war, after all is said and
done, was the desire to control COM
merce, which shows US what we may ex-
pect after the war is over.
We need a man In the White House,
we need congress, who say what they
mean and "stay put" We shall have
such a man in the White House after
next March, and know 1t, for / was In
the New York legislature when Charles
K. Hughes was governor OF New YORK,
and know that nothing will swerve him
from what he believes to be right. But
| it ia no use to have such man unless he
can enforce what be says. We need q
degree of real preparedness.
| Our present great prosperity Is due TO
the European war. That war has done
inst what we often hear from the oppO'
nents of a protective tariff. 1t has built
a "Chiuese wall" around this county by
cutting off our imports from foreign
countries. That Is the effect Of the war,
and is q strong argument for protective
tariff which will do the same thing. It 10
because of the protective tariff that We
are able to maintain the American stand.
ard Of living.
The speaker then took up the record
of the present Democratic congress for
extrayagance, and read extracts from 70.
marks by prominent Democratic mem
bers pointing out and denouncing the
lextrayapance OF the session.
Then Mr.. Parker took up the matter
OF Upork barrel" legislation OF congress,
particularly In the matters OF rivers and
barbors, roads and public buildings. The
money for these things must come out
of the revenue provided by the income
tax, there il no other source. Most OF
the income tax Ii paid in the north, most
of the "pork barrel'' expenditures are In
the south. He took for illustration the
states Of Maine, Florida and Arkansas,
land presented an array Of figures to
nrove his contention, such a. the appro.
priatious of this congress for rivers and
lharbors: Maine, ten thousand dollars
Florida. about Q million; Arkansas,
ahont nine hundred thousand. Here In
Maine only few Of the larger places
have public buildings; In the South every
town the size OF this has . public build
ling. In ell these things the North fur.