The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1906-09-14
DEMOCRATS POLL HEAVIEST
VOTE IN HISTORY.
Republicans Carry State but With
Much Reduced Plurality
Democrats Gain Forty
Members of the Leg
ielature-O.her
News.

Portland, Me-, Sept. 1l.-The
result Of the election in this state
yesterday evening, when the repub-
lican plurality for governor, which
usually approximated $4,000, was
reduced to about 5000, while at the
same time the total vote was greatly
increased over the figures of four
years ago, is attributed by leaders
Of both parties to popular feeling
over the operation Of the prohibito-
ry LIQUOR laws. Although the re-
publicans reelected Governor Cobb
and all the four congressman and
will have q working control of the
Legislature, the pluralities were so
generally reduced as to cause sur
prise.
Governor Cobb and Congressman
Littiefeld, Ia whose district the
most vigorous battle Of the cam.
paign was waged, and whose major.
ity was reduced from that of four
years ago by several thousand, are
of the opinion that the Sturgis law,
I providing for the enforcement of
the existing prohibitory law by
sta,e liquor depuIi IS, was tie | sae-
ing factor in the result. The dem
= ocrats made re-submission of the
/ liquor prohibitory amendment to
| the people part of their platform,
: while the republicans stood square
!! " for Endorsement Of the prohibi'
! tory plank and its strict enforce.
n sent.
The city of Lewiston was one o
tie most important factors in re
ducing Littlefield's plurality, for i
gave to McGillicuddy vote of l43(
in excess of that given to Little
feld. Four years ago Little6elt
divided votes evenly with his dem
ocratic opponent.
OF startliug nature was the vot'
for governor. Mx. Cobb failed tt
carry his home city, Rockland
WHARF Davis received plurality @
III Augusta, the capital of th'
state, went democratic by small
margin. Sixteen out of 20 cities ir
the state went democratic. Two
years ago when the candidates fol
governor were the same as this veal
Cobb carried Is Of the 20 cities
Littlefeld's vote was II 321, Nc
Gillicuddy's, l6,187. Ljttlefeld'
plurality is, l,134.
The legislature is republican, in
caring the reelection Of Senator
Frye. Republicans claim 80 rep
resentatives in the legislature out
| of I51. They claim "a out Of 81
| senators. officials at the headquar'
/ ters of the Federation of Labor re
| gard Lit e6e,d', narrow escape as
/ victory, and are preparing to re.
| double their efforts to defeat o.hel
| candidates on their list.
| The democratic vote for governor
| is the largest cast by that party
| since 1880. Two years ago G,yer
| nor Cobb had a plurality of 26, coo
Il four years ago the republican can,
i didate for governor had 27 GOO. Go.
/ ing back to 1890, they ar oil the biz
i democratic tidal wave the republi
Il can plurality was 1890.
i The republicans explain yester.
Il days slump by pointing to the dis
Il affection due to the Sturgis LIQUOR
4 law, but this does not explain ths
big democratic gains in all fou,
Il congressional districts.
i Congressman Littlefeld was hot
i ly foug ht by Samuel Gompere, pres
II ident of the American Federation O
II labor, but this antagonism did no1
II extend to the other three districts
II Secretary Taft, Speaker Joe Can
! non, Senator Beveridge, Senator
Lodge and other republicans of ma
\ tional repute, went to Littlefeld',
Z aid. The democrats relied on home
! talent and Gompers. The result
was that Littlefeld's plurality O
5,419 is cut to about 1,2oo. In the
other districts the democrats got NJ
help even from Gompers, yet they
cut the plurality of Allen in th,
First district from 1900 to 1900
the plurality of Burleigh in th.
Third from $500 to 1 BOO, and tha
of powers in the Fourth from 8.ooe
to 4,ooo..
But for the country vote Cover.
nor Cobb and Littlefeld would sure
i " have been defeated ord bo4t