The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-05-28
Is Waxing Interesting.

The contest now waging for Repub-
lican nomination for governor of
Maine is now reaching the interesting
stage. Some, who are not in the
habit of making study of affairs
political NAV have been misled by the
results of the early caucuses and
reached the conclusion in their minds
that Mr.. Fernald is a certain winner.
This is far from a correct conclusion
as is shown by the results of the
caucuses of the present week for Mr.
Haines is now picking up his share OF
the delegates and will do little better
than make an even break from now
on.
That Mr.. Fernald has the best
organization is well known for he has
many agents who have been making
Maine politics a study for many
months. Mr.. Haines on the contrary
is depending upon his friends and
public sentiment and is conducting
his own campaign. The natural re-
suit and one that was expected was
that Mr. Fernald would be able to
make the best showing early in the
game as the caucuses have been held
very promptly in the sections that
were favorable to his candidacy The
friends of Mr. Haines have shown no
desire to hurry things and even in
Kennebec county, which is conceded
TO Mr. Haines but few caucuses have
been held. This gives Mr.. Haines
poor start but will tell in his favor a
little later. Mr.. Fernald cannot add
to his delegate list from Androscoggin
as all the caucuses have been held
there and the same is very nearly
true of Franklin, another Fernald
stronghold. On the contrary Penob-
scot, Waldo aad Piscataquis, practi-
callv conceded to Mr.. Haines, are yet
to be heard from.
In the other counties the merry war
is on. Mr.. Fernald has captured
some delegates and Mr.. Haines some
and there will be some sharp contests
in many OF the towns and cities.
The supporters of Mr.. Haines have
no occasion for the slightest discour-
agement as Mr.. Fernald up. to date
has only come into his own. 1t is
well known that the Second District
will have preponderance of Fernald
delegates Just as the Third will be
mostly for Haines. Mr.. Haines will
lose some votes in Somerset and
Hancock in his district and Mr..
Fernald in Knox, Lincoln and Saga
dahoc in his. This will leave the
result with the outcome in the First
and Fourth. The latter favors Mr.
Haines who has very strong support
in Piscataquis and Penobscot and
nearly an even break is expected in
Washington. Aroostook will give a
majority Of its votes to Mr.. Fernald
so that coming to the First district
Mr.. Fernald will have to get major
ity of the delegates and very consid-
cradle majority at that to win. But
in the First there is the candidacy of
Col. Boothby to be considered and the
Portland gentleman will have A votes
in Portland, which he already has,
and a considerable number of del
egates elsewhere in Cumberland and
/ York. 1t is to be noted that the
Haines men have not antagonized the
candidacy of Col. Boothby while the
Fernald men took two wards away
from him in Portland so he who runs
may read where the Boothby men will
finally land. In York county Mr..
Haines has strong support so it is
fair estimate that when the final ballot
shall have been counted in the conven
ton it may be found that the early
results in the caucuses were but false
DrODhptS