Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-09-15
Party.s Plurality Falls Below
Ten Thousand for First Time
in Presidential Year for
Quarter of Century,
DEMOCRATIC GAINS
GENERAL OVER STATE
Particularly Heavy Vote PoIIed
Drawn Out by Interest in
Prohibition Question and
Popularity of Candidates.

pBy Morning journal Special Ieased Wlre1
Portland, Me-, Sept 14.--The re-
publicals carried Maine today by
about 5000 plurality as against 26,S16
In the last presidential year and 81
O64 i'm 1906. At midnight returns for
governor 46S out of 519 cities, towns
and plantations, give Bert M. Fernaid
republican) 72,l17; Obediah Gardner
(democraD 64,993.
The same places in 1904 gave Cobb
republican, 1894; Devils demo
crat) 49,419
Remaining places in 1904 gave Cobb
1880; Davis $50.
The missing towns which are small.
four years ago cast 1866 republican
votes and 1870 democratic votes
The democratic vote increased more
than 10000 over that of 1904. while
the republican vote fell OF about q
500 The republican plurality is the
smallest recorded in, a presidential
year in twenty-five years.
The two parties split even in the
twenty cities. each capturing ten. The
voting was particularly heavy in the
rural districts where the democrats,
largely through the popularity of Mr.
Gardner among the farmers, made
great gains.
Although the republicans came over
victorious in the state election today
Bert Nj. Fernald Of Poland being
chosen governor over Obedlah CART
ner of Rockland. the democrats had
the satisfaction of seeing the normal
republican plurality cut to less than
ten thousand republican votes for the
first time in a presidential year for
more than twenty-five years
All four republican candidates for
congress were elected and for state
auditor, c. p. Hatch of Augusta. re-
publicanF Fdefeated his opponent
Returns for governor from 400 out
of SIS cities, towns and plantations
give Fernald republican. 71,71l, Gard
ner, democrat, 64,62S. Same places in
1904 gave Cobb, republican, 74.4l9:
Davis, democratic 49,141 Remaining
places in 1904 gave Cobb 2,545, Davis
l,005. This shows republican loss
Of four per cent and democratic gain
of 80 per cent. on this basis. the re-
publican plurality It was estimated
would be about 5000.
The result showed not only the
warmth of the contest but the popu-
larity of Mr.. Gardner. whose fame as
the head Of the State Grange. Patrons
of Husbandry, proved a great vote
gamer.
The republicans were on the defen-
sive throughout the campaign. seeking
to hold the state by the usual plurality
by answering the various democratic
arguments which were mainly for re-
submission Of the prohibitory law, tax
alton of the wild lands and reform in
administrative methods. But little was
said of national issues
The republicans strongly defended
the so-called Sturgis law. and urged
the voters to support its stringent
methods in the enforcement of tho
cause OF prohibition Nearly 100000
voters went to the polls, a number
which was within a few thousand of
the record for the state.
The democrats gained over four
years ago in nearly every county and
city. although some of the municipali-
ties which went democratic two years
ago. returned to the republican fold
today Congressman Ale I,
John C. swaysey and Frank H. Guern-
sey republicans. are elected.
The next legislature from the re-
turns received tonight, Will undoubt-
edly be republican.