Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-31
The September states.


The states holding cleo lions In September are
Arkansas on the 9Th, Vermont on the 18th. and
Maine Oh the 18Th In Arkansas there IS
scarcely any political issue involved, as the
republicans are making no contest In the
September election In Arkansas four years ago
the democrats carried the state by $4,000 ma
Jority, and In the presidential election In No
yember by 10000. The only issue that will be
contested In this election win be that OF the
question OF reputation, which appears In the
form of a proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton forbdding the payment OF the state funded
debt. Some Of the foremost men In Arkansas
are making a decided stand against the repu-
d1at1on disgrace and confidence is expressed
that the project will be defeated
Vermont Is as one-sidedly republican as
Arkansas IS democratic, and consequently the
democrats have no expectation OF carrying the
state, but they are making an animated fight to
reduce the republican majority, doubtless for
effect upon the other states At the September
election In Vermont in 1915 the republican ma
jor1ty was %, $780, and In the November follow
ing was g, SIS.
The great interest Is conferred upon the Maine
election In consequence Of the sharpness of the
contest there, and the Importance of the stake.
Since the republican revolution of 1856, when
Hannibal Hamlin ab1ured democracy, and
was SOFeIudI ny Iue TepuOuCaQS Dy
17,sS1 majority over the combined vote OF the
democrats and Bell Everett men, Maine has
been republican until 1878, when the greenoack
vote OF 1,404 with the democratic vote of
9I,SI2 gave majority against the
republicans OF 1.2i3 and elected both branches
of the legislature and two OF the five members
OF Congress. In 1879 the greenback- democratic
combination had 49a majority over the repuOli-
cans, but the latter carried both branches OF
the legislature and elected the governor de-
spite what Is pretty justly styled the attempt
OF the fus,onlsts to "steal the state" In Maine
IL must be remembered. 1t requires majority
OF all the votes cast to elect state ticket
Thus In 1878 Governor Conner had Is lis plu-
rality over his highest competitor, but he was
beaten under the majority law by 7,243.
In 1879 Governor Davis received 2l1I6
plurality over his highest competitor, but
he was defeated By about 900 majority and
had to be chosen by the legislature Amend
ments to the constitution Of the state are now
pending for adoption or rejection By the people
substituting the usual system of electing by
plurality. It is also proposed to postpone state
elections hereafter to November. The repuoli-
ncan majoriieS In presidential years since the
party came In power in Maine, have been as
follows: September, 1885, 1851, November.
1885, "a, IA; September, 1859, .G9l, November,
1860, 24,IO4; September, 1854, 1926, November,
1864, 1882; Sept, 1865, 20403 Nov, 1853 IS $50;
September, 1872, 1926, November. 1872, 81 ,335;
September, 1916, Is, 49, November. 1s76, 16 256.
Since 1876, the republican majorities have been
Whitfield down to nothing. and though the
probability IS that the republicans will carry
the state both In September and November,
they will doubtless be very well content II they
get half the majority Of the last presidential
year.