New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-08
VOTING IN MAINE TO-DAY.
THE PINE TREE STATE SAFELY IN THE RE.
PUBLICAN COLUMN.
DEMOCRATIC DESIRE TO SEE SPEAKER REED
DEFEATED WILL NOT DE REALIzED-A
SURVEY OF THE FIELD BEFORE.
THE BALLOTS ARE CAST.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuSE.l

Tortland. Sept. 7.-Maine will vote to-
morrow Tor Governor, Legislature. four
Representatives in Congress and county
officers The canvass which closed last night
was, on the whole, one of the quietest and
least aggressive that the State has ever
known, even in the dullcst off, years.
Mach of the Oldtime interest," of course. has van
lshed latterly out Of Maine politics. From being
one of the most hotly contested of the States which
so long held still hold early fall elections. it
has now reGaincd its place in the safe Republican
column, and the issue of a canvass here nowadays
is generally regarded as forcgone conclusion.
This year. in fact. there is little indication Of
fight except in the single district in the south
western corner Of the State, which, for fourteen
years and through many political vicisstudcs. has
had the grace and good fortune TO retain the pres
ent Speaker of the House as its Representative In
Congress No open fight evcn is being made
here now but there are fears of still hunt on
the part of the opposition, which, in conjunction
with the political indifference prevailing through
out the State until within the last few days. NAV
work to reduce the normal Republican majority
here, and to that extent give aid and comfort 10
the enemies all through the country whom the
Speakers daring and successful policy of the last
nine months has made. So intense indeed, has
been the desire of the Democratic National leaders
to COMPASS if possible the Speakers defeat. or at
least to impair his prestige, that few efforts have
been spared To incitc the local Democracy 10 Il
secret and searching canvass against the enemy
whose power they have felt and whose further
chaStSemcntS they dread.
Speaker Reeds return TO the district last Thurs
day and the active campaign he has made since
then have largely ncutralized the effects TO be
feared from Democratic still hunt in dull
and listlrss year like this. For the last few
DAYS it has really seemed as if there was a cam
paign afoot in York and Cumberland counties.
and this partial rcawal;cnng has not been with
ont It's effect on the rest of the State But il is
more than likely that even with the stir and
hustle of the last week the vot" Tomorrow will
scarcely rise above the level of preceding "oT
wears, and that whatever the result may he. it
will reflect little more than the sentiment of the
average light POLL. The reserves of Presidential!
years will certainly not be cot ont. and their
failure TO cast their votes has always hccn of a
certain advantage il TIL, State to the Democratic
side.
As 70 the general result tomorrow there
is little ground for reasonable do1bt
Governor Burleigh will be reelected AMI
the Legislature will remain unchanged. Rep
Iesentatives Reed, Dingey, Mken and Bou
tele will also he returned by safe margins. In
the last three districts the average Republican
majority is something like 5.ooo and 10 s!c 'ial
effort is bcng made to defeat any one of tie Re
publican candidates. In Mr.. Reeds district. to-
il is only quest ion of the size of his majority
but this majority has always been kept within
rather narrow limits Just how large q margin
over his Democratic competitor the Speaker ought
reasonably 10 have 10 make his vndication by
the district decisive is delicate and In
tercsting problem TO deal with. The present
Speaker has been elected seven times, ana
his actual plurality has varied i'll that time from
l72 votes TO o.443 The first year he ran, IN
1876 he won by ,c92. Two years later. when
the tircpnhack craze was at It's height IN Maize,
the Republican party was In clear mihoilty III
the district Of over 5000, but two candidates.
one Democratic and one "TfehhacErr; divlocn
The opposition vote and Mr. Reed pulled tlrou-h
with ease In lseo, against Fusion candidate;
he had the hardest fight of his Congressional
career winning al last by bare margin Of l'2.
In 1882 the State not having been r'dstrict"d,
the Congressman. now four in number. were
York and Cumberland counties by !. 20" plurality
over the head of the Oppo,ili ION Ticket green
backism was dying out again. ana the KcpuD-
]icans were once more clearly in the aS,cndanrT
in the Ist District In lss4 Mr.. Reed had
another hard fight on his hands. but he won
by 925 votes. Two years later, in an "on
wear these figures were increased to 1.lss. In
the Presidential campaign Of loss the Kcpup-
licans swept everything before them. and the
ma aorty in the district was more than doubled:
ing results it pretty clear that the district
is safely Republican: hut it's normal naJormE
Is not more than l 900, and in an or wear Ike
this il is as likely not 10 fail 10 700 or 500.
MIR Reed himself would he satisfied with 500
or 900 Under all the ,cirrumstances majority
Rcpnblicans here as sweeping and significant