Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-12
MAINEELECTION TODAY
EXPECT A SMALLER MAJORITY
THAN IN RECENT YEARS.
Hard-Fought Campaign on Both Sides
Local Issues Mainly Used
The Nominees.

dlSpatch from Augusta, Me, last night
says: The state election in Maine takes
place tomorrow. The campaign has been
hard fought by both sides and 1t is ex-
pected that large vote will be polled
Politicians of both parties agree that the
republican majority will not be SO large as
1t was in recent years. A difference of
opinion, however, exists as to which cleo
ton should be used for comparison with
the present one. Republicans insist that
the only true basis for comparison is by
the vote of 1892, for it was in that cam
paign that Maine democrats were united in
sentiment. That year Henry B. Cleaves,
republican candidate for governor. receiv-
ed 81, 800 votes, and Charles F. johnson,
democrat, received 55,397. giving Mr..
Cleaves plurality of Il, JO3
Democracy United.
The Maine democracy in 1896 was demor-
allied by the free silver issue and many
democrats voted the republican ticket.
That year Llewellyn Powers, republican
candidate for governor, received 81. 596
votes while Melvin P. Frank, the regular
democratic nominee. received only 1880
votes-a plurality for the republican candi-
date of As, 24s Again in 1900 free silver was
the issue, and again many democrats voted
with the republicans. John F. Hill, repub-
lican, received 73.470 votes. and Samuel L.
Lord, democrat. received 40,OS6, giving MIN
a plurality of 33, 1854.
1t is said this year that with Bryan ana
free silver out of the campaign the demo-
Gratis are again united rms statement
however is contradicted by some OF the
radical wing of the party There are many
Bryan democrats in Maine and the name OF
Parker has caused no enthusiasm among
them 1t is said that it may be fair to as
sume that many of the democrats will now
take occasion to retaliate upon the gold
democrats who forsook Bryan. and this
year either remain away from the poiis or
else vote the republican ticket
Campaign on Local Issues.
In the campaign just closing national is
sizes have occupied a minor place. from
one end of the state to the other there mas
been a discussion of various local issues.
William T. Cobb. republican candldate TOT
governor. expects not less than l5,ooo piu-
rality Representative Burleigh said that
he heiieves the plurality will be from 1900
to * 600. Representative Powers places the
figures at from $4,000 to 5000. Ihe repuo-
Iican state committee believes that Repre-
sentative Powers figures will be realized.
Caoree F. Hughes democratic member of
the national committee, believes the repup-
lican plurality is to be largely reduced ana
he would not be surprised, he says, II the
figures fell below 5000. AS a rule, the demos
cratic managers are lOath to give out flg-
Ires but 1t is evident that they are hopeful
that the republican plurality will fall as
low as 1o,oU.
Democrats Take 1900 Figures.
DR. Edgar l.. Jones of Waterville, chair
man of the democratic state committee,
said today:
IF the republican management OF the ma
ton and the state Is satisfactory to the
people they must produce a majority of
SO 1854 We will take for a standard their
majority over the democrats in the last
presidential year, in 1900-33.3S4 A single
vote over that is a gain. one less loss.
1t is perhaps fair to say that plurality
of $1,000 for the republicans can be consid-
cred victory for that party and that be-
low that figure can be considered demo-
cratic gain.
Last Democratic Governor.
The last democratic governor elected in
Maine was in 1880, when Harris M. Plaisted
won by a small plurality. The vote for
governor in presidential years has been as
follows:
1SS0-Dayis, republican, 1854 Plaisted.
democrat, 73,713.
1SS4-Robie. republican. 7s,31s: Rodman.
democrat, 5S,J01
1sss-Burleigh, republican, Mol Putnam,
democrat, 81 ,34S
1S92-Cleaves, republican, $1,000; Johnson.
democrat, 5o,:91.
1s96-Powers republican, $500; Frank
democrat, a.
10e0-HiIl republican, 73,470; Lord. demo-
crat, 4O,0S6.
The democratic candidate for governor
<Insx, lie nox of Vaf 1lc