The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-12
STATE ELECTION
IN MAINE TODAY
Republican Victory Expected,
Only Size of the Plurality
Being in Doubt. ...r
BY w. w. Jermane.

New York, Sept. 12.-Maine is hold
inc her state election today, and the re-
Epublicans are looking for results similar
to those which book place, recently IN
Vermont. This is TO say, Wh iln,o Name ne
as Vermont, it is believed that the re-
publican pluralities there will show,
after allowing for the differences pc
tween conditions in the two, states, that
the republican party is holding It's own.
for governor. The republicans have
nominated William T. Cobb % Of 6 Rock-
land: the democrats, Cyrus w. DAVIS,
mayor of Waterville; the, prohibition
lists, Nathan F. Woodbury. OF Auburn;
and the socialists WHIP" I'D nrese map mem
bers Of congress from Maine have been
renominated, and, except Mr.. Powers
seem to be having an easy time OF 1t.
Powers has fight on his hands. 1t
is claimed that he spends more time IN
Massachusetts than a member of con
.gress from Maine should, and that this
absenteeism has resulted in a, neglect OF
the interests of his district. Two
years ago Powers was elected 9X =. a
that his s6 defsat T hS year 'Sn fre
::mendous change in public sentiment:
With the disappearance Of apathy from q
the campaign, it is believed that a full
vote will be polled, and that ought 10
insure the election of Powers with the
other three republican members.
y. Lively Campaign Made.
Both parties have made a lively cam
naion in Maine. Their best orators
have been there for three weeks, ana
hundreds of speeches have been maze.
After then, overwhelming detea1 IN YER
mont, the democrats have made unusual
efforts in Maine, and they hope TO pe
able to get something from the hgures
to help offset the Vermont disaster:
The chairman Of the republican state
central committee, William Simpson, OF
his public statements regarding the
probable outcome of the campaign. he
cannot find any4defection from Parker
among the Bryan democrats, ne says
and he anticipates a considerable IN
crease in the total democratic vote, con
ing normal, in his opinion. He says
the democratic party is pretty thorol9
united behind Davis for governor, IN
wav that suggests 1892. the year whe1
Cleveland was elected the second time
and he is making his calculations upol
that basis. This may be an estimate
for public consumption. safely on tn
The average republican, well in
formed regarding conditions IN NAME
looks for a sweeping republican plura1l
ity, which will compare very faVofapl.
with the result in Vermont. ,,
It is noticeable, however, that eac!
side is irving to conceal it's real effort
a heavy vote will be polled, if condl
tions are favorable, but it is difficult
in the light of the state election rec
ord since 1876, to estimate pluralltle
with any degree OF certainty.
Reciprocity Not Popular.
Reciprocity with Canada in Maine, a
in Vermont, does not seem to be Wldel
popular. 1t is spoken of as an attemp
on the part Of few democratic mani
facturers in Boston to trade away tn
profits of thev-New England farme
do not refer to this question, and tn
republicans have not regarded 1t as
issue in the campaign. Many Frenc
Canadians have crossed the line an
become citizens Of Maine, voting tt
republican ticket. Reciprocity IS M
favored by them.
1t is asserted that the democrat
organization is the best the state h
had for twelve years, but it lacks tt
direct incentive that actuates the repu
lican leaders, the majority Of whom a.
officeholders, state or federal. The S
silver and gold democrats of the stat
it is claimed. Bryan has strong fe
lowing, and Hearst had a majority
the delegation to the national conve
{ ton. These forces appear to be solid
in line for Parker and the reorganiz'
democracy. .-- 49,,
The result Of today's~ election W
turn on the strength of the democrat
reserve vote, and nobody can tell he
large this is, because many Maine de
ocrats have not voted for generate
or since Harris M. Plaisted was elect
on fusion ticket in 1880.
Not for twenty-five years has the
publican party in Maine polled a n
iority of the vote of the state.
1898. for instance. while there was
large republican majority, the repl
lican vote was only % per cent Of t
total eligible vote.