Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-29

assembled. declare it as the sense ~ The
Republican party and OF the American
people. that justice, humanity. libartv
ana the public welfare demand a ux.
orous prosecution Of the war until these
purposes are secured. and forgetting ALI
eise' dedicate ourselves to the attain
ment OF these ends.
nut TINS absorbing purpose and deter
mination of the present does not forbid
US 10 take counsel one with the other
concerning matters involving the futura
welfare of the country. 1t is probahIv
true that no man can forecast with sure
y the ISSUES WHICH the coming Of peace
VIII bring to our people, but may l not
suggest for Your consideration certain
problems which will require our serious
thought.
CONSTRUCTIVE criticism We conceive to
be right and a duty 1t should be rec.
ogni-ed that there is a substantial dis.
tinction TO be drawn between efforts Ia
per'eet legislation and opposition there
TO- ana In both branches Of Congress
Republicans have sought by advice and
suggestion to render more workable and
Tess irritating to the American people
the unusual authorities granted and to
he exercised. and having performed this
ou'E we nave neither opposed nor de.
'ayed the enactment OF legislation un-
der consideration into law. Al vour ron.
resehtatlves, We have sought to main
tam TO the fullest degree consistent
with the national security, the freedom
OF the American press and the rirh.
OF Tree speech guaranteed TO us bv our
organic law. Efforts to abridxe either
impeach the sound sense and the Iowa +.
~ or our people. Neither a muzzled
press nor silenced people are loyal in
'he fullest and in the best sense.
peopie Kept IN ignorance of the things
"h'ch nearly concern them is not a free
people. And it is equally important that
the right TO know the truth concerni,p
'he matters with which IL must deal
should never be denied to the Congress-
some years ago President Wilson him
SER stated the right and the duty of
Congress in these words:
Unless Congress have and use everv
means of acquainting Itself with the
acts and disposition Of the adninistra .
I'VE agents OF the government ,hs
country must be helpless 10 learn hon,
II Is being served; and unless Congress-
po'" scrutlnize these things and sift
! them by every form of discussion tba
country must remain IN embarrassina
/ crippling Ignorance Of the very affairs
Which II is most important that it should
"nuers'ahd and direct. The informing
function Of Congress should be nrs.
terred even to the legislative function
! he argument is not only that discussed
ana 'nterrosated administra ton is tho
only pure and efficient administration
ou' more than that the only real SELF.
governing people is that peonIe wh;c,,
discusses and mterrogates its admins.
ira ton"
we endorse these propositions. Re
p'o'cans nave urged the application OF
theih IN the present Congress.
The horrors OF the present and the
latin that is in every heart. fill us with
nope fhat toe day will come when wars
shaii cease. The normal state of man.
kind Is peace. IT is the professed desir.
VI every nation OF the world. The broth.
'rlood OF man constitutes one of III.
fundamental concepts of every ra,i.io,
ne realization of these TEACHINGS and
" ''ese warnings is far OF. but NAV
we hot hasten the time when they shall
''i'u ireer expression and shall comma nj
greater respect among the nations =.
'"e world There is seemingly a stranrs
inconsistency in the suggestion thai NJ.
e" orihg and maintain peace through
iorce. And vet the student OF histor,
Knows That peace here and there est,t.
lished has been preserved nv tho ~.
"'e Vi power stronger than that @,
'he threatening disturber.
International cooperation is -,
longer dream. Today a score az no.
'ions representing many races. many
tongues, many theories of govern.
'ient. are engaged in a Joint and
common effort against the Centra-
fo"ers. We see in practice an inter.
national alliance for a specific nur.
pose. pui
U"r domestic questions are many
anu OF great Importance. Some old
problems are still with us. TIE men
VI 'nis state or as many Of them a
were qualified and as cared to ex.
press their views voted on the cues.
ton OF Equal Suffrage lin Septemhe,
last. If this were a State iss,,e or,v
there would be no justification ia,
reference to 1t by me at the present
'ifhe' out as all know, 1t interests the
people of every state In the Union
ana is live public question. In these
circumstances this convention should
pass upon the issue. The vote IN &c
rouse of Representatives indicates
'hat the overwhelming preponderanc nee
OF Republicans in that body believed
IN the submission of the proposed
Federal Amendment to the states
and favor it's adoption.
notwithstanding the manufac tur-
ing interests of our cities, Maine il
still rural State. and it's PROSPERITY
depends in large measure upon the
prosperity of our farmers. Their lot
is not a happy one today. The con-
dition is Countrywide. Seed, fertili-
zers. implements and ma chinery. and
all other factors in the cost of pro-
duction have increased in price in
astonishing degree. The farmer
faces. too. an acute labor shortage
and inadequate facilities for the dis.
tribution and the marketing of his
product, difficulties aggravated by
war conditions and by administrative
injunctfons and regulations. He il
urged to produce as patriotic duty
in the face Of conditions which mean
q loSa while all ofher ind,1ufry ~,