The Washington herald., 1908-09-05

Augusta. Ne. SEPT 4-The biennial
State election in this State will be held
Monday. September Il. and the two great
parties. Republican and Democratic. are
claiming a victory. with the chances
that the Republicans VIII win. but by
a ma 5ority reduced from two years ago.
when Gov William l. Cobb, Of Rock
land. Republican. was reelected over his
Democratic opponent, Cyrus W Davis,
Of WaterviIle. by a majority OF So64
At this election governor. State audi
tor, who VIII be voted for for the first
time, four Congressman, the county
officers in all OF the sixteen counties
Of the State. and a legislature VIII be
chosen
The campaign IS now in fulI swing
and meetings are held in all parts Of the
State nightly. Despite the fact that il
is a Presidential year. and every effort
is being made 10 bring the matters OF
national Importance 10 the front, yet it
is believed that the voters viii forget
issues Of a national character almost en-
tirely. and that they will confine them
selves 10 the State question The pro-
hIbitory law. which has been in politics
GFE- 1s-4-E vs. ta-A1--EAs 1AEA q -4d-A-
century ago. IS in the forefront this
year. and the State Is pretty much split
Up on the question
Would Resubmit Question.
Two years ago the fight was over the
question Of the liquor law and the matter
Of resubnitting II 10 the people, as 10
whether Il VIII be taken out Of the con-
stitution- where IT was placed IN 1SS4
through the efforts OF the great apostle
OF temperance. Neal Dow
The passage OF the so-caIled Sturgis
law in 1906. a Law which gives the gov
ernOr power 10 send deputy commission
ers into q county where he believes the
liquor law is not being enforced by the
sheriff was the principal cause OF the Re
publican majority being cut down from
over 500 in 1904 70 q little more than
500 IN 1906
The Republican platform this year IA
vOrs the retention OF the Sturgis law, and
also advocates the passage Of an amend
ment 70 the constitution which viii give
the governor Jhs power 10 remove a
sheriff OF any other officer OF a county
when Il has been proven after hearing
that that Official has been derellct in the
enforcement Of the prohibition liquor
law
Want Sturgis Law Repealed
On the other hand, the Democratic
platform favOrs the repeal Of the StUTgis
law, favcrs the enforcement OF all laws,
as long as they are laws, and also advo-
Gates the resubmission Of the pTOhibitOry
liquor law 10 the people
The candidate Of the Republicans for
governor is Bert II Fernald, Of Poland,
and the Democratic nominee is Obadiah
Garner. OF ROckland. For the first time
since 1SSS the Democrats in 1896 made a
good showing, Gov. Cobb defeating Cyrus
" Davis by only S054 in q total vote Of
IS3.5o1- IN ISIS William L Putnam, OF
Portland. was the candidate against Ed
win c. BUrIeIgh, Republican, Of Augusta,
now the member OF Congress from the
Third Maine district, and was defeated
only by a majority OF s.556 II g total
vote Of 1884
The last time that the Democrats won
in this state was in 1850. when Gen
Harris ". Plaisted. OF Bangor. the can
didate OF the DemOcras and greenbackers.
defeated Daniel F. Davis, Of Corinth, by
a majority Of I59 in a total vote Of H.
e02. the largest vote cast in Maine al g
state election Two years later Gov.
PIaisted was defeated by q majority OF
$50 IN total vote OF 1870. Since IsSs
the Republicans have Won easily, with
the exception Of two years ago. by ma
jo-ities which have averaged over q, 90.