Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-20

sentiment was supposed to be most
strong.
In Ward 4 in Augusta, for instance,
the vote for the Republican candi-
dat for Governor was fifty percent
ahead of the vote of two years ago.
while the vote for the Democratic
candidate for Governor declined
twenty percent from the vote of two
years ago. In Wards 2 and In
Portland the majority for the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor was
cut in half. In the City of Biddeford
there was decline OF over two
thousand votes in the majority given
the Democratic candidate for Cover
nor The results along the st. John
| River plainly showed the alteration
In sentiment in the past two years
where the majorities OF two years
ago were very materially reduced.
In view of the public interest nat
urally shown in this matter as bear
ing upon the strength of the Repub-
lican party in the State and In the
nation and the extent to which us
principles and policies make an .ap-
peal, 1t is proper and perhaps neces-
sary that the Republicans of the
State should know Of an incident
occurring at the OptIliu5 VI tHC NNii
paign which may assist in interpret
ing the results of the election on
Monday, September 18th.
Early in August just as the lines
were forming for the. election the
Chairman of the Republican State
Committee asked me to a conference
with himself and the Treasurer OF
the State Committee. He stated that
there was a matter Of considerable
Importance which he wished to bring
| to my attention for consideration
without delay. He showed to me a
letter written by one of those closest
| to Senator Frederick Hale stating
that many Republican friends OF
Senator Hale approved Of my admin
| istraton and would like to support
| me but would hesitate to do so I'M
| less I would definitely commit my
self that under no circumstances
would | permit myself to be consid-
cred a candidate two years from
now in the Republican primaries In
] opposition to Senator Hale. There
| had never been any consideration by
me of such action or any expression
by me to anyone of any intention OF
] this sort. 1t seemed to me that such
a suggestion was utterly improper
| al
! mail as well as a threat Of betrayal
to the Republican party in the midsl
of an important campaign.
| This astonishing proposal seemed
| to indicate n fear that the Republi
| cans of the State Of Maine might de-
sire another candidate for United
| States Senator and that their liberty
| of choice should be foreclosed by the
| elimination in advance of anyone
| who might be seriously proposed
| The direct primary was apparently
| not trusted to govern the affairs OF
| the Republican party in this State.
Mr.. Thayer at least had the cloak
| of principle and consistency 10 cover
his attitude toward me. This threat
! recognized the good record of my
| administration and its title to sup
| port but refused TO be loyal to the
duly selected candidates of the Re-
| publican party in the recent primary
/! unless considerations entirely foreign
| to the present situation were settled
| to the satisfaction of men who seem
ed to forget the principles Of then
| party in seeking personal advantage
| in a critical campaign.
| 1t was urged upon me that my nre-
| decessor. Hon. Percival =. Baxter
| had made a statement regarding the
/ situation that was entirely satisfac-
| tory to Senator Hale with most bene-
! fetal results and that l might well
| consider the expedicncy of adj pting
a similar course.
| Senator Hale later confirmed to me