Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-15
But Democrats Are Pleased
With Increased Vote.
GAINS IN RURAL DISTRICTS
Popularity of Gardner Shown Clearly
Among Changers.
AN ANALYSIS OF THE VOTES
Republicans Win the Offices, But by
Decreased Pluralities-Charge
Changes to Liquor Issue.

PORTLAND Me. September 1l.-Addi-
tional and revised returns made carry
today of the state election in Maine yes
terday altered but slightly the result an
nounced last night the plurality OF Bert
NJ Fernald, the republican candidate Tor
Governor, over Obadiah Gardner. demo-
crat, remaining at 1929. with twenty
five small towns and twenty-siX pianta-
tons still to report. A complete poii Oh
the vote is not expected for several
days
The feature of the election was the
increase in the democratic vote through
out the state. Every one OF the foaf
congressional districts showed gains, the
increase over 1904 being $4,000 votes, ana
1000 over 1906. These gains were made
almost entirely in the rural distric's
showing clearly the popularity of MT.
Gardner among the farmers OF the state.
The republican vote also, was greater
by 5000 than in 1906, but 1t lell 4'uD
below the vote i'll 1904. The republicans
also made good gains in the rural dls-
tricts, and in addition regained six cites
in the state. which left the munlclpaH-
ties evenly divided between the two
parties. The incoming legislature will be
strongly republican in both branches.
Liquor Issue Helped Democrats.
The question of resubmitting the prohi-
bition clause of the state constitution
helped the democrats yesterday to cut
the republican pluralities of former years
down TO a figure indicated to be about
5000, as against 26,S16 in the last pres1-
Dental year, although two years ago It
was but 1888. The democrats declare 1t Is
a victory for them and the repunncahs
declare it means nothing as anectlng the
national campaign. for the liquor Ques-
ton and local issues did 1t. They point
out that the congressional pluralities were
about normal. and say this proves their
point.
The republicans carried all four con-
gressional districts by about the usual
pluralitfes, Amos l.. Allen being reelected
in the first and E. c. Burleigh In the
third while John p. Swazey was chos IN
TO succeed Charles Z. Littlefield in the
second and Frank G. Guernsey, the late
Ileweilyn Powers in the fourth district.
The legislature will be safely republican
in both branches.
Heaviest Vote Since 1885
I. The vote was the heaviest since 1888.
running we'll up to 10000. The gains
however, were mainly by the democrats,
The party vote increasing more than 1900
over that of 1904, while the republican
vote fell off about $500. The republican
plurality is the smallest recorded in a
presidential year in twenty-five years.
The result. which was much closer than
any republican leaders had anticipated.
Showed not only the warmth of the con-
test but the. popularity of Mr.. Gardner
throughout tie state, In the cities, as
well as in the little rural districts. where
his fame AS the head of the State Grange.
Patrons of Industry, proved great vote
gamer s-
The republicans were on the defensive
throughout the campaign. seeking to hold
the state by the usual plurality by an
swering the various democratic argu-
plents which were mainly for the resub-
mission of the prohibitory law. taxation
Of the wild lands and reform in admins
frative methods. But little was said OF
Rational issues, although the republicans.
Through outside speakers, sought at va
fious points to bring such subjects to the
attention Of the people.