Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-14
ECHOES FROM LEWISTON

convention at Lewiston was going to
90. Expectations we're aroused by
what Dir. PattangalI was going 10
have 1t do. We have read all the
reports available but find no con-
elusive evidence OF Just what was
done at that convention, other than
n benediction on Mr.. Pattangall's
candidacy. There Is. however, quite
lengthy reports Of discourse. sweet
to the ears Of democracy.
Plentiful plank totcrs were there
with their planhs. One was framed
evidently by someone who took
seriously Mr.. Pattangalfs criticism
Of MIR. Farrinston's attitude. as ex-
pressed by weasel words" Those
Interested better compare those
words with the plank. after the
Democratic planning machine was
through with 1t. Weasel words"
more weasel words" and then
.. some! But we do not understand
that Mr.. Pattngall, Notwithstanding
hts brave words at Biddeford, is to
.vefusc to stand on this evasive foot
ing.
~ Why permit the hooded spectre to
disturb the feast?
Wet planks are slippery. They
were expected to slide out Of the
platform--and they did.
II anyone brought a plank to do
away with the direct primary--all
know what Mr.. Pattangall used to
think about that-it was lost in the
shuttle. He Is now content to stand
on n platform which merely declares
for representative government--as II
any platform doesn't!
Indeed. throughout his attitude
might be termed acquiescent, at
least far from truculent, or did he
make the platform. as some say?
The gospel according to Thomas
jefferson. Andrew Jackson and
Woodrow Wilson--we find no ref
crcnce to Grover Cleveland-to say
nothing OF Jim Reed. Heflin and
Hull. as expounded by Caraway, Ia
found to be sonorous but mot alto
gether convincing. He showed the
limits OF our imaginations no mercy
when he asked Us to believe that
Uncle Sam Ia unable to get ~ drop
OF oil without the permission Of
Hugo SHINES and other German
profteers. That was rather steep,
don't you think?
-~-Ho was expected TO hang the
.Josephus Daniels oil lease law about
the neck of Coolidge-verbally. That
Is what he and his associates have
been trying and failing to do In
Washington for the past few weeks.
that and mighty little else. Yes, we
We're prepared for that.
Astounding what short memories
some people have. Apparently
Csraway had clean forgotten all
about the proiiteering under the last
Democratic administration and what
mess was left for the Republicans
to clean up. All he could see was
the little OF IL which the Repub-
leans have not yet cleaned up. But
II was affecting Ia note poor Cara
way so depressed over the national
morale. He seemed very appre-
hensive whether It would survive
Teapot Dome. He forgets what 1t
went through with brides, saddles
end branding irons for army mules
and rotten canned salmon for army
men. He should take courage to
cheer him on his return to Washing
, ton where he has much TO do which
has sadly been left undone. What
with their allies. the insurgents. the
Democrats ought to do much with
this congress. Really We anticipate
the public morale will survive the
campaign in Maine and other parts
Of the country.
But, as we understand 1t. the real
keynote speech was that OF Mr..
Redman. Possibly when he Is bet
ter acquainted with Maine ccndi-
xinps he win do better. as he ap-
Years to be q pleasing speaker. and
4 young man Of promise. He was.
however. somewhat confused as to
what the Maine campaign is. to be
about. We get the impression that
he thinks II has something to do
with establishing super govern
ment under the League Of Nationo.
THE evidence hardly supports that
view of it. He seems to associate
future prosperity in Maine with SELL
ing the power OF our white, coal to
users outside the State-under 4
Democratic administration Of state
affairs, of course.
He, too. was in detected mood.
Maine Is not going ahead as she
cehould. We need a definite water
power policy. All granted. But We
sdo not recall that an occasional
.Dsmocratic administration In the
past years in any way improved on
this or II likely to. We guess that's
a..job that win take sall OF US,
Democrats and Republicans to-
SThen. as IL we didn't have enough
1E2lnlea for our forthcoming Sep