The morning journal-courier., 1908-09-15
Republican Loss of Four Per Cent. and Democratic Gain of S2 Per Cent, Over
 Vote of 1904,
RECORD NATIONAL ELECTION
Local Issues Responsible for the Smallest Plurality in a
 Presidential Year for Quarter Century.

Portland, Me. Sept. 1.-The re- publicans carried Maine to-day by about 5000 plurality, as against 26,- SIS in the last presidential year and s,064 in 1908. At midnight returns from 4s0 out of 519 cities, towns and plantations in the state gave for gov ernor: Bert NJ. Fernald of Poland, republican, 11,714, and Obadiah Gardner of Rockland, democrat 64,- CPS. In 1904. the same places gave 744i9 for Governor Cobb, republican, and 4s,14l for Cyrus Davis of Water vile. democrat.
 The missing towns, which are small four years ago cast 2,545 republican votes and 1905 democratic.
 The republicans carried all four congressional districts by about the usual pluralities. Almost l.. Allen be- ing reelected in the First and F. C. Burleigh in the Third, while John r. Swasey was chosen to succeed Charles E.. Littlefed in the Second. and Frank G. Guernsey, the late Lewellyn Pow CTS In the Fourth district. The legis- lature will be safely republican in both branches.
 The vote was the heaviest since 1888, running well up to 10000. The gain, however was mainly by the democrats, the party vote increasing more than f3,o0o over that of 1904, while the republican vote fell of about 2,5oO.
 The republican plurality Is the smallest ever recorded in presijen- tlsl 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 Gardner among the farmers, made great gains
 The result, which was much closer than any of the republican leaders had anticipated, showed not only the warmth of the contest. but the popu- larity of Mir Gardner throughout the state. in the cities as we'll as in the little rural districts, where his fame as the head of the state grange, pa. irons of industry, proved a great vote gainer.
 The republicans were on the defen. eive throughout the campaign. seek. ing to hold the state by the usua plurality by answering the variou, democratic arguments. which were mainly for resubmission of the pro hibtory law. taxation of the wilc lands and reform In administratlv, methods. But little was said of na tionsl issues. although the republicans brought outside speakers and sough at various points 10 bring such sub jects to the attention of the people Local issues. however, proved mor' popular. and in the last days of tn, campaign republicans joined wltl their opponents In discussing them end in doing so strongly defended tn so-called Sturgis law and urged tn voters to support its stringent meth ods in the enforcement of the caus of prohibition. The result of tn hard work by party managers an, speakers on both sides was a larg 1nCredSe III the LurI1-Dut OI Ine NOters nearly 140,o00 going to the polls, number which was within few thou sand of the record for the state
 The democrats gained over four year ago In nearly every county and city although some of tho municipa itie which went democratic two years agr returned to the republican fold to -da, notable Auburn. Augusta. Belfast Port land, Ellsworth and South Portland.
 Every effort was made by the com pliers of the votes to send In the re turns for governor so that the resul in the four congressional districts wa not definitely known until well alon In the evening. Early returns, how ever. indicated the election of Cor eressmen Allen in the first and Bul leigh in the third, as well as John swasey of Canton. republican in tt second, and Frank F, Guernsey, of Dc yer. republican. in the fourth district,
 The next legislature from the r' turns received to night will undcubter ly be republican, but the size of the me 1ority will not be definitely known LII til the little towns and plantations fe up in the woods are heard from, Whic may not be for several days