Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-17
ABOUT REPUBLICAN CON.
FiDENcE


Counting the ballots need not
worry Us. We will be ready to
fiGht with someone who will de-
feat Mr.. Pattangall, the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor"
Chairman Emery of the Re-
publican State Committee.
This isn't yet quite clear to the
Democrats. They evidently expect
considerable aid from the dilemma
into which Democratic votes pre-
cipitated the Republican party at
the Primary.
Commenting on the situation
under the headline: Republicans
Handicapped" the Waterville Sentinel
remarks that Chairman Emery's
statement sounds considerable like
whistling to keep up his courage in
view Of conditions that cannot fail
to handicap his campaign seriously"
There need be no question that
the recount, the time and consequent
delay caused by it are matters for
serious consideration. In q sense
they are a handicap: the chortling
Of the Democrats over the predica-
mont into which they helped the Re-
publicans Is perfectly understand
able. Yet there have been those
who whistled before. they were out
Of the woods, congenitally related
to those who habitually count
chickens before they are Matched.
though no doubt. as the Sentinel
remarks, "They are taking full ad-
. vantage Of the dilemma Of their
opponents"
Small boys pushed into q mud
puddle by q rival gang. watching
the latter get away with the fruit
while the victims are cleaning up,
are not naturally inclined, 1t may
DO assumed, to turn to and help
their opponents to gather more
fruit. Are grown folks going to re-
act after the manner Of the small
boys urged by the primal instinct,
or are they going to vote the
Democratic ticket this fall?
Chairman Emery is right In as
Stunning that the Republican party
In Maine can win with either Far
rington or Brewster. Republicans
will win IL they have the will to
win. though about that will Is room
for conjecture. Prejudice. swollen
and insolent. stands at the elbow Of
many a voter in a mood to dictate
while the voter is in mood to
listen. He indeed is in a predica-
ment. Shall he listen to prejudice,
turn against his party associates.
turn his back on the national ticket
and he knows full well that Cool
idge and Dawes comprise one Of the
best tickets it ever was Republic
CAMS good fortune to vote for--or
will he do that which he would do
in a normal frame Of mind. vote the
Republican ticket?
II there were any vital principle
at stake the situation would be
different. We do not understand
that any such situation exists.
Certainly the size OF the majority
either candidate can receive. what
ever be the results Of the recount.
cannot fairly be considered as rep
resenting any imperative mandate
from the great majority OF the peo-
pie. It should not affect the school
question, pro or con. when 1t comes.
II it does come. before the Legis-
lature, which after all Is the de-
termining factor. That Is to say. 1t
matters little in the way of In
fiuence upon the Legislature
whether Harrington or Brewster is
found to BE- the choice Of the
Primary.
1t matters a good deal to the Re-
rublicans of the country. to the
friends Of Coolidge and Dawes,
whether the Democrats carry Maine
in September with a whoop and
yell and placard the country with:
"NIaine Republicans All Shot To
Pieces" While Chairman Emery
may express his confidence
emphatically we yet are Of the
opinion that he Is serenely confident
Of giving the Maine Democrats "a
run for their money" and Of win
ming a Republican victory II all the
members Of that party will resume
n normal state Of mind.