Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-26
GOV-ELECT POWERS
Spends a Very Pleasant Day
With Boston Friends.
The Result in Maine Was No More
Than They All Expected.
Especially Gratifying that Largest Gains We're
Among Agricultural Friends.

Boston, Sept. 25.-Goyernor-elect Lie
wellyn Powers of Maine, arrived, this
morning, at the Parker house AS he
stood in the lobby. this noon, he was the
center of an admiring group of politicians
an. friends who extended congratulations
upon the result OF the recent blaine cleo
ton. He is ON his way to New York Oh
business, and will remain in Boston, to-
morrow, to speak at the dinner of the
Norfolk Club to be held at Parker's at
:. AS to the Maine election. Mr.. Powers
said he could add little TO what has al
topic.
There are the figures, said Mr.. Pow
ers, ''and they speak for themselves
They settle the question Of the attitude
II the Maine voters upon the free silver
question. As to how far they may be ia
ken as an indication of the feeling in the
national election, each man may judge
Tor himself. To my mind. the large vote
in Maine may be attributed to the fact
that the people of that State are not
cranky enough to accept the DOCTRINES vi
Tree silver, which Mr. SewalI represents.
The change in the revenues is due to
the passage of the Wilson bill and had
bad effect upon the industries of Maine
The people of that State want change,
but not in the currency. | do not believe
there Were $50 Republicans in Maine who
voted for the free silver candidate. while
II looks as though some 1000 Democrats
voted for me.
"A good many people have asked me
how it was that our estimates of the plu-
,igures. AS matter of fact Mr.. Man
ley and a few of who We're keeping
close track of the voters of the State
concluded that the Republican plurality
would be greatly in excess of that figure.
Mr.. Manley gave out 10000 as the certain
plurality, but there was no necessity for
making big claims. That is well enough
when result is in doubt. but we knew
that Maine was safely Republican. in
spite OF the big claims of the opposition.
Mr.. Manley did not include in his esti-
mate the D,N1 voters who were placed
on our lists as doubtful.
"On the eve of the election. / told few
Of my personal friends that | would not
compromise on 30,000 plurality. though
Mr.. Manleys estimates were in excess of
that figure. for we felt that most of the
doubtful vote could be counted upon to
vote against free silver 1t was especi-
ally gratifying to me to find that my
largest gains were made among the farm
ing classes. for | was Il farmers boy my
self, and have always numbered among
my friends many of the leading men
among the farmers, both Republicans
and Democrats.
The result shows that the Maine far
mcr is alive to the Importance of the is
sues in this election The claims of the
free silver men were simply preposterous.
In my own county, Aroostook they
claimed that | would be beaten. A week
before election, / gave out for publica-
ton that | would carry the county by
800. ana told my friends. that j would
have 800. AS a matter of fact we car
ricd the county. which is largely agricul-
tural, by more than $500 plurality"