Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-08
The Political Situation i'm Maine.

FUSION OF DEMOCRATS AND GREENBACKERs.
WHICH NAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN REPUBLI-
CAN DEFEAT.
The fact that Gov Pound, of Wisconsin, In an
Interview yesterday, said that he thought the
impending Presidential contest would be solid
created a good deal of comment. The fact is
that in Maine the situation is just this: The
republican party has been in an actual minor
1ty at each of the last two annual elections. In
both years, however, the democratic and green
s PACK vote was divided between two candidates;
democrats together polled an actual ma
Jority of all the votes cast, no single can
alaate ond ,s received r majority OF the votes,
governoE and state officers was thrown into the
legislatures both years. Two years ago the
democrats controlled the legislature and elected
state OFFICES were divided between the demo
Gratis and greenbackers. Last fall the repub.
licans turned the tables and secured control of
the legislature through decision OF the
perate fight, the details of which are well
known. The contest In Maine last year
was the most exciting held In that
Presidential ambitions were at stake and he
threw into the campaign all the ability and
zeal OF which he Is possessed. 1t was vital to
his Presidential aspiration that he should be
able to go to Chicago, not only with the vote
OF Maine behind him, but with the evidence OF
his ability to carry Maine for the Republican
party. Under his lead and direction the strong
est possible fight was made to carry Maine for
the republican party last September. But In
spite of these efforts the republicans came out
OF the contest again in an actual minority of
about one thousand votes the total vote
polled by the republicans last fall beingtn round
numbers $4,000, while the combined democratic
and greenback vote was 1000. In 1873 the ac-
greater. The republican vote in 1878 footed up
56.51S, while the combined greenback and demo-
cratic vote footed up 1926, so that the actual
majority OF the combined opposition vote for
stated, the opposition succeeded In Carrying a
majority Of the legislative districts.
This This year, tn, the democratic and greenback
together and not lose the state as they did
last fall by dividing their strength
The fusion has already been effected, not only
Der. but also for the presidential election In No.
VemDer. No attempt has been made to conceal
the basis OF the agreement, which is as fol-
lows: The democrats have agreed to unite with
candidate for governor, General Plaisted, who
Is an ex.republ1can Congressman from Maine,
and who was gallant Union officer during the
ago and joined the greenbackers is one Of the
most popular men In the state; Is entirely
acceptable TO the democratic as well as
to the greenback leaders, aad will
back vote. He is still a greenDacker. and his
election would be more of a greenback than
democratic victory. AS an Offset, however, to
the agreement with the democrats to support
Gen. Plaisted, the greenbackers have agreed
to support fusion electoral ticket in November.
that is to say, ticket made up Of part demo-
cratic and part greenback electors, and have
further agreed that If the democrats and green
hackers together shall secure majority OF the
legislature as they did in 1878, they (the
greenbackers) will join with the demo
Gratis and elect democrat to the
L. s. Senate to succeed Senator Hamlin, whose
term expires next March. In other words, II
the democratfc-greenba programme in Maine
Is carried out successfully, the greenbackers will
have the next governor and four greenback
electors, and the democrats will have three
presidential electors and e. s. Senator. From
ms statement Of the situation 1t is easy to see
that there is some reason for the doubt ex.
pressed by Gov. Pound as to Maine being car
REQ Dy the republicans in November. While
senator Blaine will undoubtedly do all that he
can 10 carry Maine, it is hardly possible that
ne ana his colleagues can do more than they
uid last september, and 1t is only natural to
s presume that he will not feel called upon to do
more ,n even II 1t We're possible, for Gen. Garfield
snis Iall than he did for himself last fall II the
sIeehoackers and democrats therefore can hold
1ntI Iat own, the chances are that their combined
nooe lnls year Will be as it has been for two
SedIS past, greater than the republican vote:
lose Maine. ~ e0"AA0'' wa