Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-11
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THE ELECTION.

TIE EIeVttONs
When the campaign in Maine closed
Saturday night the claims sent out by
the various party managers were wide
~ at variance. The friends Of Mr..
Davis asserted their solemn conviction
that he would carry the State by
about 10000 plurality. The friends OF
Governor Cobb were confident that he |
would win the day by about the same |
margin. Events showed that while |
both Of these predictions proved in
correct that Of the Republicans was
much more nearly borne out by the
results OF yesterdays balloting. Gov
ernor- Cobb has won out by about 5000
plurality. All four of the congress-
men are reelected by majorities rang
ing from 1900 to $500. The Legislature
will be strongly Republican in both
branches insuring the return Of Hon.
William p. Frye to the United States
Senate.
The Republicans were undoubtedly
handicappedjin theircempaign by pop
ular hostility 70 saurgis law. This
was most arked in the cities of the
State nearly. all of which went Demo-
cratic; but reports from the rural dis
tricts show that it also eXerted con-
siderable influence there. 1t is easy
for leaders who do not come into close
touch with the people to assert what
public opinion is on this or that ques-
ton; but public opinion ascertained
in that way is after all merely the ex-
presson of ones personal views and
predictions. To the members of pOliti-
cal organizations, who canvass every
individual voter. public sentiment is
neither assumption nor guess work. 1t
is a clearly and definitely ascertained
fact Such workers know that not only
is there widespread hostility to the
Sturgis law. but there has been a
considerable growth of sentiment i'll
favor of resubmissiOn. If this growth
of sentiment were confined to the liquor
interests. to men governed solely by
personal and sordid considerations it
would merit and receive but little at
tention. The Republican canvass re-
vealed the fact, however, that this SEN
timent was by no means confined to the
men engaged directly or indirectly in
the rum traffic but embraced hun
dreds of honest temperance men who
are outspOkenly opposed to the open
saloon i'm this State, who believe in the
prOhibitOry law. and who are in favor
of it's strict and impartial enforcement.
OF this there can be no doubt. The
number of such voters as discovered in
the canvass was a constant source of
surprise to Republican workers in the
field These men would vote against
the repeal Of the constitutional AIMED
ment if it were submitted to them: but
they believe that the people of the
State should be given an opportunity
to vote upon 1t.
Internationally the courage and man.
hood displayed by Governor Cobb In
his public utterances and official acts
did much to hold many of these men in
line for the party ticket; but they did
not prevail with all Of them as is clear
" evidenced by the election returns.
After all, however. the fruits Of VIC
tory are with the Republican party
and under such circumstances the mere
size Of these off-year ,najorities is no,
nf x,1t o1
they may serve to indicate or empha-
size public opinion. Denials will never
dispose of facts II is better, therefore
to meet them frankly and give them
the full and fair consideration to
which they are entitled. Governo!
Cobb and his associates upon the Re
publican ticket are. undoubtedly. great
~ indebted to the devoted loyalty of
the temperance men and women of
Maine who stood by them SO sturdily
in the recent campaign.
1t has been hard fight conducted
against a we'll organized and a deter
mined opposition which was able to
summon to its support interests SO
widely divergent that it seemed al
most impossible to believe that they
could ever. be enlisted in a. common
cause.
Now that. the Republicans of Maine
have carried the day in the face of all
odds they ~. may well say in this Ian
Quage of Holy Writ:
I'VE have fought a good fight, We
have kept the faith