Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-13

of Maine and to abide by their verdict.
Every four years the country is saved
and lost. Every four years we hear par
tisan appeals to passion and point with
pride or view with alarm according as
we or our opponents are in or out. But
few will be disposed to deny that we
must discuss the issues of this campaign
with unusual sobriety and deliberation.
Not only our own country but all the
world is in an abnormal, restless condi-
ton. No man can foresee what the NOR
row Is to bring forth. Party and people
need today, as always, tried and sane
leaders. We must not only put America
first; but, as President Wilson has re-
Gently remarked we must be constantly
prepared to interpret our patriotism and
to translate our notices into deeds. And
we must resolve to do our part in this
campaign not simply as partisans but as
patriots.
During the next few weeks many COM
plex political questions will be debated
here in Maine; in every corner store, on
every farm, on every wharf, in every
barber shop, in the railroad station and
in the home; for we State of Maine folk
still take our politics seriously. There
will be heated arguments and much talk
beside the point. But with our early
September election and members Of the
Senate and House to be chosen all other
issues will turn, whether reasonably or
not, around the question. do the admin
cratic party as set forth by Woodrow
voters of Maine? Do we voters of Maine
believe that the President has main
tained peace with honor? Shall we be
content to follow his leadership for four
years more?
Mr.. Sills went into national affairs, ap-
proving the present administration
course and apparently well satisfied with
the manner in which southern leaders
have fulfilled the pledges of the party
He closed with:
Most unexpectedly have been called to
pective candidate for the important office
of United States senator. 1 need hardly
say that I accepted only with hesitation
realizing that to many questions, l shall
be obliged to answer II don't know" but
that phrase can nearly always be followed
by But will find out II have not the
dread of politics that is so often felt by
members of my profession and others
too. good many people would define
politics as the small boy defined water,
that white stuff which becomes black
when you put your hands in it." Ser-
ously I trust l realize the great RESPONSE
bility and the great honor that the nomi-
nation. if ratified at the primaries Of
July oath, will bring. A senator repre-
sents primarily his party and his state.
But he also represents all the citizens Of
his State and is an officer Of the nation.
He must, in the main, act in accordance
with principles of his party and the in
terests of his state; but he must be pre-
pared on occasion to set party and local
issues aside and vote and act as his
conscience and duty alone dictate. The
different states have representatives in
the Senate that all the varied interests of
the different sections Of the country may
receive due consideration; but much
legislation must be conceived and carried
out for the benefit Of the nation as a
whole: Americanism is mere party cry;
1t means that all Of us. North South,
East West Democrats. Republicans. erts-
while Progressives, Prohibitionists, So
cialists. must work to weld this great ma
ton Of ours into a more impact, more
unified political state.
Secretary Of State Bunker
Secretary Of State Bunker, candi-
date for Congress in this distric-, fol-
owed Prof. Stills. Mr.. Bunker said that
it would be presumption for him to go
into State issues for they would be
discussed by the governor at The after
noon session. However, he stated that
the affairs Of the State wece never be-
fore conducted in such an able manner
and that Governor Curtis knows more
about the affairs of the State than any
10 Governors ever knew.
He strongly urged the Democrats to
make a special effort to elect their
county ticket and he said that 1t would
be the privilege of tho Democrats to
return United States Senate, johnson
to the Senate.
Luncheon at Noon
A buffet lunch was served in the rear
of the hall at noon, all being served
with sandwiches, cookies,
crackers, fruit, hot coffee and iced tea.
W. P. Perry Of Augusta was the ca
terer
Governor Curtis
At the opening Of the afternoon ses-
sion Governor Oakley c. Curtis was in
troduced. He gave a statemen. of tine
affairs of State from business and a
financial standpoint, speaking in sub
stance as follows:
Mr.. Chairman:-
The best evidence that the G.
o. P. lacks the grandeur that is
claimed for it lies in the fact that its
operators have never yet had sufficient
confidence in its ideals, it's practices
and its solidarity, to warrant any as
surance that its tenets were sufficiently
during campaign, to ex-
pect success unless supplemented and
bolstered up by the addition Of slander,
Misrepresentation and personal abuse
as necessary adornment to its myth
ical superiority.
Another campaign is now on, and so
far as State issues are concerned, at