Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-07-13

itlCally; out tHdt Will sho" AsSSA~ 49, ~
obituary.
This campaign has some peculiar
features, and one Is that the ever pres
ent prohibition question will be handled
by the Republican party; or at least
that it will be the battle ground on
which the issue will mainly be fought.
Their nominee for Governor states
over his own signature that il elected
he promises to devote his entire time
to the affairs Of State and will use
every resource at his command for the
impartial enforcement Of the Prohibit
ory law"
This of course means the use OF the
militia in case he cannot stop the sale
of liquor in any other way.
Similar action was requested OF me.
but 1 could not see it in that light, and
Furthermore it would be very expen-
sive, especially if the Portland Press
insists On double rations and clothing.
We have no fault to find with his
statement, and if he is elected we
should all help him as good citizens.
Whatever the majority Of the people
want is acceptable to us, and il they
want militia enforced prohibition now
is their opportunity.
We believe in giving the people what
they want, and abide by majority rule
even if we are at times not entirely
contented.
Through their newspapers the Repub-
licans' operators made a weak attempt
to smoke up" on the financial questions
of the State; but this issue suddenly
faded away and died because their only
complaint was that we had too much
money in the treasury. They forgot
temporarily that on or about August
Is. 1914, their own newspapers were
braging about their large cash balance i;
and if they will turn to the Portland
Evening Express Of that date they will
find on the front page large display
headlines, thus:
Financial achievement Of Haines'
Administration Is Greatest In Maine
History. Total Cash in Treasury Au-
gust i, 1914. Exclusive Of Any Bond
Money, is 771,629.71. The Largest On
Any August 1st For Over 25 Years."
This was some Dragging, but we shall
have to make it q years and take the
pole because we have a larger bank
balance and cannot help it.
Following their usual custom they
now accuse US Of doing something
wrong in having large balance, yet
they were proud to brag Of doing the
same thing themselves as a virtue and
as an inducement to the people to vote
for Republican candidates.
They charge us with holding back
treasury This is childish and worthy
of no consideration, as no one with any
intelligence will believe it.
Governor Curtis went into detail (the
detail" that has been hashed and re-
hashed since the Plaisted administra-
tion) on State finances. It sounded
fine to many Of those present who did
not understand it. The Governor said
very little about the things that have
not been done in his own administra-
ton, but paid his respects to the Repub-
lican newspapers at several points in
his address. A listener remarked that
the newspapers had evidently touched
some tender spots on the Governor. He
dealt extensively with Hughes and VIII.
son but did not settle any national
questions for his hearers.
y. S. Senator johnson
The final shot of the meeting was fir.
ed by United States Senator Charles
F. johnson of Waterville, who hao
come from Washington especially tc
attend the meeting. He gave an &C.
count Of his stewardship for the last
six years and told Of the work done a,
Washington in the interests of the peo.
pie Of the State.
He said that he was a believer in the
ideal for after all that is wha. makes
up this life. And in the past few years
he had seen a splendid realization Of d
boys vision of what the Democ ga tic
party stands for.
He impressed upon his audience the
necessity of getting out the votes 70,
as he expressed it talk don't count: |,
is mighty cheap" The speaker ther
paid a compliment to Hon. William r
TdttdnSali, manager or the campaign
for the party. And he said chat tho
Progressive party had lost its leader
and the Democrats must go out and
appeal to the Progressives as we'll as
the Independent Republicans.
In closing he gave = summary OF
what he claimed the Democratic mar.
ty has done for the business of the
country, for labor and for the old SOL
diers. He said that the party had kent
faith with the business men of the
country; that labor was not a com1nod-
tive and the party Ia / made the f,is
tinction; and that the old soldier
would tell of the 200 or more pers.on
bills granted to be distributed over the
State.
The speakers were given good ap-
plause and their remarks were listen
ed to attentively.
At the close Of the meeting the Dem
ocratic candidates for Stats AMI coun-
ty offices met the Democratic count,
committee at the Democratic State
headquarters and laid out plans for
the campaign and discussed organiz-
AT