Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-09
Thursday. November 9, 1922.
WHAT ABOUT IT?

fcatod candidates find themselves in
good company. This applies to
Democrats as well as TO Republicans.
There is Pomerene. an able and
fearless Democrat. and Hitchcock,
another able Democrat with valuable
legislative experience, both laid on
the shelf in Democratic year. There
IL Miller, fearless and wise. probably
tho ablest man New York now has In
public life-shclved There is Miss
Robertson of Oklahoma. her career
In tho national House a credit to the
sterling American womanhood, but
not appreciated by her sisters. And
those who decry aristocracy and
wealth hustled for the rich aristo-
crat, Castor. and nearly defeated the
most brilliant national figure Massa-
Of years. an international figure as
well. Bovcridge. most desirable
diIHAHlAl'h " bVV'
is elected TO stay at home.
OF what were the voters thinking
that they so sought a shining mark
for their bludgeons? Is 1t because
they can't abide with courage, brains
and sterling worth for long. don't
feel at home with them, and all
that? o. no. this doesn't mean that
all those who did receive their favor
are not possessed OF those excellent
qualities; simply that those who have
been put to the test and found to
possess them are thrown aside, so the
new ones might be experimental
with. And all for what1
Is IL because fuel Is high and
patience is low? Because someone
said the tariff had increased prices
although they may not have been
decreased? Is it because we didn't
get our bonus and so voted against
the man who voted for it? Is it be-
cause the administration put a stop
"a rioting and bloodshcd in the rail-
read strike or is IL for protest against
the bloc or against the individual?
Were we thinking of the party or
simply OF the candidate without re-
gard to party, or was our thinking
apparatus on a strike and our indi.
g,stion or heat rash in control?
II might help TO arrive at some
definite opinion respecting the mat
ter. TO learn what was amiss that it
might he improved upon. AS it Is
one cannot see that any definite poll
Icy Is endorsed or condemned or any
assurance is given other than this:
lc-or She who does things either
loses the interest of the bystanders
or excites their criticism. whereas he
who comes along with pleasant prom
ises absorbs us-for the moment
and then we turn to something else
also for the moment. We hear a
raucous boot OF victory from one
side or the other: for an alleged Re-
publican victory in Wisconsin where
real Republicans are really scarce, for
Democratic victory in Missouri
whore Germans voted for Reed as
Germans. not as Democrats. And we
Presume there 10 some Republican
rejoicing out in North Dakota where
Democrat is elected to the United
States Senate
Party government has led along a
brilliant pathway. notwithstanding
all its faults. Party principles have
appealed to the conscience and fred
the zeal. Many sacrifices have been
made TO party. many things have
been done In the name Of party that
shouldn't have been done at all. but
the grand result has been tremen-
dous. wonderful and on the whole
beneficial. Under IL men Of many
minds have been able to cooperate for
what they believed to be a funda-
mental principle. Are there no princi-
pies today to enlist such loyal sup
port or have We preferred to so to
some clique, interest or bloc with a
trading proposition and stiGed our
oonsciences with the notion that
party principles no longer exist?
That all necessary is to get the crowd
with one for the moment and let next
t'mc take care OF itself:
This may not be placing vox populi
In popular light. We are not alto
Gether sure 1t belongs there. We
have confidence that after time,
after long and agitated elaboration,
vox populi comes pretty near to
speaking the truth. But 1t seems to
take an unconscionable time. Had it
spoken In Boston a month ago II
probably would have declared for
Pelleticr: tho betting vas three to
one In his favor. hut the public was
forced TO think about him. about. his
record, all OF which II should have
done without compulsion, but rarely
does. But when 1t ioes-well. being
classcd with the defeated ones passed
upon by the maturcd Judgment Of the
people Is not usually an honor.