New-York tribune., 1886-08-23
THE CONTEST IN MAINE.
Mr.. BLAINE TO OPEN THE CAMPAIGN TO-
MORROW.
REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY - DEMOCRATS COUNTING
UPON PROHIBITION AID.


PORTLAND. Mo-, Aug. 2l.-The canvass in this
state has not vet fairly begun on the part OF either
the Democrats or Republicans. but preparations
have been made for active work from Monday
next up to the day of the election on September
| 49, Senator Frye spoke to-day at Calais and Sena-
tor Hale and Mr.. Reed and other members Of the
| Congressional delegation have delivered short ad-
dresses at different points, but what Is regarded as
the formal opening of the campaign will take place
at Sebago Lake on Tuesday next, when Mr. Blaine
Mr. Reed, General Gibson. Of Ohio and pr obaby
Others will speak. As this will be Mr. Blalne's first
political address since the canvass CT 1884 good
deal Of interest is shown IN the event. Excursion
| trains will be from this city, and IL the
weather is fine there will undoubtedly be large
attendance. Mr.. Blaine will speak at North Ber-
wick on Wednesday, at South Paris on Thursday
and at Lewiston on Friday, and will continue TO
take an active part during the remainder OF the
canvass. This. however Is not unusual for him,
as he has always given such assistance as he could
to the party in its campaigns In this State. Now
that he s private citizen he feels 1t as incumbent
upon him to do what he can to promote Republican
principles as when he was an otice-holder In doing
this he sets example that some other men who
have been prominent in public life might perhaps
follow with advantage
number of speakers from outside the State will
take part IN the campaign. among them ex-Con-
gresham Horr OF Michigan; ex-Commissloner OF
Agriculture Loring, General Gibson. OF Ohio; Gen.
eral Swift Of Massachusetts,, and later in the can
vass General Logan and some others are expected.
The Republicans do not regard the State as IN
danger; but the State Committee has decided in
view of uncertain elements in the canvass to take
all proper precautions to inform the people OF
the issues at stake. So far the only prominent
speaker on the Democratic side Is ex-Collector
Plllsbury Of Massac husetts but Senators voorhees,
and Kenna, General Roger A. Pryor and Others are
announced as among the Democratic orators who
will speak here during the campaign Inc Demo-
Gratis put their main reliance IN the Prohibition
canvass. "Colonel" Morton, who was conspicuous
as a candidate for the Augusta post Office. but VINO
failed to secure the nomination, is one OF the lead
ers on that side He dlscloses their only bope Oh
success IN a conversation with Democrat residing
out of the State, which was published In o local
newspaper He said:
We are gong to have ST. John and Finch end
other leading temperance speakers III slalne during
:he last week or ten days of the campaign. In TINS
way we can do better service in reducing the Re-
publican vote than we could by making direct
issues. 1t Is the best rucket we can play"
The Prohibitionists already actively OF work,
but they do not apparently meet with much sue
cess. An increse over the few hundred votes gwen
to St. John in 1884 Is probble. but even with such
aid as the Democrats can give them they can hope
for no greater success than the possible defeat OF
Republican candidate for a county Office and the
election of a Democrat. The avowed purpose OF
the Prohibition leaders In organizing In this State
ia to break up the Republican party" The tenn
perance people of Maine will De the last ones to
take part in such movement. Through the Re-
publican party they long ago secured prohibition
When the Democrats were last In power here
they repealed the prohibitory liquor law, but the
Republicans restored it to the statute books, where
It remained free from danger through long series
of years When the Greenbackers united with
the Democrats in 1850 and got possession OF the
State Government, the prohbtory liquor law was
felt to be again in danger. TO take the matter out
of politics, and place 1t beyond the power OF any
party 10 repeal the law without direct vote of the
people, the Republicans submitted an amendment
incorporatirg the law into the constitution of the
State. They adopted that amendment at the last
State election But instead of being satisfied with
tbis effectuai demonstration the partof the Re-
nublcans of their adherence to the cause few
Prohibitonists now come forward, under the pre-
tence of working for temperance, with the ayowed
purpose of defeating the party which has done so
much for the cause Ii they conld succeed THESE
few Prohibitonists would elect Democratic candi-
dates who are openly hostile to prohibition. Mr.
Bodwell the Republican candidate for Governor
has always been Prohbtlonst and is an out
spoken adv ocate of the law The Democratic can
ddate makes no secret of the fact That he does not
heli.ve IL, prohibition. 1t Is the same way III TIE
Congressional districts. Mr. Dlngey has done
more for the temperance cause thah any one Oh
these Prohibition leaders; and he has always
nractised what he preached. But the frohD DtlOn-
lists socallel, have put candidate ID the heid 1or
Congress against Mr. Dlngley, WHICH III IL nad any
of yyO
ia opposed to prohibition. 10 expect the frohloi-
tionsts to poll much of vote in Maine under such
circumstances would be to dlScredit the lnteil-
gence of the honest temperance people OF the stare
But there are few people who will undoubtedly
be msled into assisting the democrats by the per-
sonal appeals of these protested frohioton ieauers
The NUN ber, however. Will not De large
The LABOR organizations are making preparations
for a canvass, and they will hold convention i'll
This city on Tuesday to dominate a member OF Con-
gIess. Someiof the wisest leaders among tDein
onpose this believing that they will trltter away
their strength by such a course. $40 the enect
on the state canvass il will not be marked Mr.
Bodwell. the Republican candidate Tor Governor;
was formerly stone cutter. and as practlcai
workman, who has always shown the greatest ~
terest in every movement TO benefit the .wagework-
ers he will naturally get their votes In us etter
of acceptance. which is a remarkably strong dOcu-
ment he favors the enactment OF avs providing Tor
weekly payment of wages that ten hours snail be
the limit for a days work, Tor the aoohtlon OF
child labor and other measures advocatea oy WORK
inomeu He IA also a strong advocate OF protec-
tive tariff which, after ali, must prove the leading
issue in the canvass As Mr.. Bodwell shows. from
the savings bank returns of the state the mechan
les have $40 IN savings now W here they had only
81 in 1860 Such a fact as this proves volumes
for protection There is good deal OF feeling
SHOWN over the efforts OF the Democrats in Con-
press 10 repeal the tariff the leading articles pro-
1ured in this State. If the Democratic majority
could have had its own way. potatoes, lumber hay,
wool, Gsh, granite. starch and ships would have
been placed on the free list This would have
been a fatal blow to Maine. The lower wages IN
the Canadian provinces would have enabled the
Canadians to lave reaped rich harvest at the
EXPENSE of the people of this State. Inis IS some
thing the Democrats here do not undertake TO lie,
iend hey seek to evade the tarii altogether. and
are bringing forward Their OLD mud-slingnu per-
sheet hlled with exploded lies about distinguished
KrnubIicans who are not candidates Tor ofhce Is
now being circulated broadcast III the otate us
10 tho .ort of campaign the Democratic leaders here
naturally take To, but 1t has not avalled them I'D
the past and IS less likely to do 50 in this campaign
The interests OF at least tnree- iourtns OF n tne