Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-04


the might before" on the streets, and
at the hotels and on the trains were
naturally asking the question, VINO
will be nominated tomorrow Ior Ohi'eo
States SENATOR"
The candidate for United States Sena-
tor from the city of Portland. forgetting,
no doubt. the spirit and purpose Of the
Primary Law, was able through local In
fluences. on the eve Of the convention, to
get the Republican delegates Of Portland
to endorse him by resolution as tnelr
candidate for United States senator. and
he further induced them to organize a
procession or parade from their clubs to
his headquarters at this hotel, In his In
terest, and further to open up head
quarters for these clubs adjoining and
connected with his headquarters at the
hotel, and to use the influence of the
delegates and clubs in his favor as a
candidate for United States Senator. And
then on 1.-The night BEFORE" the conven-
ton was met with another strange spec
tacle, a special train Of 10 cars carrying
about 200 delegates across the State to
boom and shout for the interests and
nomination of a certain candidate for
Governor. to march through the streets
Of Portland with a band to the head
quarters Of that candidate, at this hotel
and then to have cheers and speeches in
the interests Of one certain candidate for
Governor, and also for the candidate for
United States Senator from Portland, all
in violation Of the spirit and purpose of
the Primary Law. So much attention
was paid to these outside influences that
these candidates could not leave their
headquarters to attend the making Of a
platform, and the result was that the day
after the convention great daily paper
says that it was besieged by nearly 500
people, asking who was nominated yes
terday at the Portland Convention for
Governor and United States SENATOR"
And this was not all. After this con-
vention. the candidate for United States
Senator from Portland had published in
his own paper, the Portland Press. as an
editorial, the following statement: LAS
an echo from the State convention came
the significant withdrawal Of Judge
Spear, an admission of Mr.. Hale's
strength"
The Bridgton News, published by that
great editor. Major Shorey, man of
ability and Independent thought, said of
this statement, THE Portland Press,
whose business relations with one of the
aspirants at least lays it open to the sus-
picion that prejudice largely influences
it's expressions, is persistently claiming
that 1.-The sentiment reflected at the A.e-
publican State Convention indicated that
the Portland man was we'll in the lead,'
as to U. S. Senator. That may or may
not be the case. No one knows at this
writing. The question was not in issue
in assembling the convention and no ex-
preston could have been made properly.
The June Primary is yet two and half
months away, and at that tribunal the
first test Of strength is to be made"
And this same fearless journalist, in
speaking further of these outside infiu-
ences used at the convention, said. THE
gubernatoral aspirant herein referred to
is the one who with bands, fireworks, ETC.,
galore, swooped down upon the great
Portland Convention. Happily the Re-
publican State committee, and their adj
visers, heroically resisted the attack of
the boomers and kept them from taking
charge of the great convention, and CIV
ing endorsement to the scheme of the
Bangor contingent. Had 1t been other
wise it is easy to imagine what might
have happened. Anyway, all honor to
the man or men to whom justly belong
the credit of giving the cold shoulder to
the audacious attempt of the Penobscot
contingent to forestall in March action
which the primary code relegates to
designated day in June.'
Is it any wonder that a great Judge,
man of splendid ability. with long
30 oE nd fol hfu1 Soryica RI
his state In legislative halls and upon the
Supreme Bench, should look upon this
display of fireworks and folly with dis
gust and say, In substance, EFF l must
fight such improper methods Of political
warfare under the Primary Law, then
will refuse to enter this circus ring or ap-
peal to the passion and prejudices of my
fellow citizens
What is true of these attempts to in
fluence nominations by rich and sump-
tuous headquarters, bands and fireworks,
buttons and refreshments, is applicable
endorsements by political organizations in
favor Of any candidate for a statewide
Office
The candidate for United States Senator
from Portland succeeded a few days ago
in getting together the Republican Coun-
ty Committee of Cumberland County and
had resolution passed by that committee
endorsing him as such candidate. Then,
to show that the committee was impair
tial, they passed resolution endorsing
the two candidates from Portland for
Congress AS only one of these cand-
dates could be possibly nominated at the
Primaries, the absurdity of the position
of the committee disclosed that the Colo
mel was playing pretty small politics, and
that the committee had put themselves
in a tangled web from which there is no
escape.
The Bridgton News. a Republican paper
published in Cumberland County, says
of the actions Of this committee: at
needs to be said. again and again, that
the party committees, state, county and
district, when "endorsing candidates to
be voted upon at the June Primary, are
meddling with business which doth not
concern Them
If the political committee Of Cumber-
land county can meet and endorse that
county's candidate for United States Sem
ator, then Androsooggin, Kennebec and
Aroostook should each follow with
similar endorsement Of the candidate for
senator from those counties, and then the
rest of the is counties ought to follow