Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-16
The Republican Victory in Maine.

lie ldter ana more complete TelufIS,
as Is usually the case in Maine cleo
tions. only serve to emphasize the pro-
portions of the splendid Republican
victory won at the polls ON election
day. While the majority is not so
large as that won at most State cleo
tions in Presidential years during the
past generation, it is nevertheless a
most satisfactory one. and is cause
for general rejoicing and congratula-
tions in view of the fierceness with
which the battle was fought, the
means used by the Democratic man
ayers to help their cause, the various
local matters which complicated and
clouded the real issues and the all-em-
bracing claims made by the Democrats
before election day.
Special praise is due the Republicans
OF old kennebec county for bringing it
back into the Republican column
again where it belongs, and this was
accomplished in a fashion which puts
the kennebec Democracy completely to
rout The splendid sweep in this
county was no more praiseworthy an
achievement, however, then the great
victory of the Republicans of Cumber-
land county where the Democrats have
been in the ascendancy for the last
half dozen years or more. Then
down in old Waldo all praise is due the
Republicans for a splendid victory in
section which the Democrats felt alb
soluteIy sure of capturing. In An
droscoggin, too, the Democratic mar
gin of two years ago was cut in half.
Aroostook and Franklin did their part
especially well.
Where the Republicans of Maine car
ried only two or three cities out of the
20 in the State in 1906. they captured
10 this year, including Augusta, Ellis
worth, Auburn, Belfast, South Port
land, Hallowell, Gardiner, Calais and
Eastport, and in consequence the Re-
III IliC llCht LS6io
ture will not only be larger than it
was in the last, but it will also contain
able and experienced leaders, particu-
larly men trained in the law. In the
Senate the Democrats will probably
have two or three more members than
last time when they had seven of the
81 Senators, but their representation in
the House appears to be materially re-
duced.
The four Republican candidates for
Congress are elected by overwhelming
majorities, although the Democrats
country for the past month or two
that they would capture two or three
Of the four Maine districts. State
Auditor Hatch of course is reelected
along with the rest of the ticket, the
people of Maine thus endorsing the
reform which the Republican party
has brought about through the estab-
lishment of this important office.
The election of Governor Fernald is
a good thing for Maine His training
in the public service, his success as
business man and his character and
characteristics as a. philosophical,
big hearted, broad-minded man par
ticularly fit him for the exacting and
responsible duties of the Governorshlp.
He is Just the man for the place and
it is a safe prediction that after he has
been Governor two years Maine VIII
re-elect him in 1910 by q handsomely
tory this year, as far as the head OF
the ticket is concerned, appears to be
practically the same as two years ago,
although the rest of the ticket, that is,
the vote for state auditor and the COM
bined votes for the Republican candi-
dates for Congress. is considerably
larger than that received by Mr.. Fer
nald This was not because of any I'M
popularity of Mr.. Fernald or any lack
OF commence Ill MN do q itb'
possibility, but because those persons
who were disposed through any one
of many reasons to cut the party tick
ct. naturally cut the ticket at its head.
1t was a splendid days work all
along the line. The Democratic style
of campaign deserved to fail, and the
rebuke given it was a most emphatic
one The Democrats made their usual
boasts and claims, but the people were
not to be bluffed that way. and Mon
days election shows that Maine stands
now where it has stood for over half
hundred years, firmly in the Repub-
lican column. The Democratic tide has
reached it's high water mark and
hcnceforth is certain to recede.