Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-09-17

ency ami took the bull by the horns.
In six weeks campaigning he covered
over 1000 miles by train, automobile,
trolley, steamboat, carriage and affect.
In this time he made 81 long speeches,
ard score of l0-minute talks. He went
without sleep and without meals but
never once showed a 'streak OF yet
low" although his strenuous work
pulled him down 40 pounds. His great
constitution, and above all his marvel
Gus voice, carried him through to vic
tory. His ability to make speeches
without end and as often as called on,
surprised his campaign managers. He
improved with every speech ana cnly
once did his voice show the slightest
trace of huskiness, and then for night
only, after an unusually, hard two
days speaking at open air meetings.
The personality Of the man, more
than anything else was the source of
his success. Wherever Fernald show
ed as the theatrical people say, he
made votes and could he have appear
cd in every town he would have car
ried the State by an overwhelming
plurality His big heart. his true de-
mocracy and his sincerity carried con-
viction. Although I was with him most
Of the entire campaign and every day
for three weeks even when his work
vas the most trying, | never saw Fer
nald lose his temper or his Self-com-
posure for a single instant. He treated
friends and foes alike, and had CHEEKY
smile for everyone. He turned enemies
into friends and made friends 1rmcr.
This is we'll illustrated by an incluvnt
that happened in one of the small towns
in which he spoke. Before the rally. as
Fernald was sitting on the veranda of the
local hotel, a discontented Republican ap-
preached him, bent on making trouble. He
scored F'ernald for his stand on resubmis-
sion, told the Republican candidate that
he could never ID elected. and die every
thing but call him hard names Not
feather was ruff1ed. Fernald's face was
as cloudless as a summer sky. think it
was just seven minutes he talked with
that man, and at the rally in the evening
this same malcontent who had vowed he
would never support the farmer candidate
took a prominent seat on the platform
and was quoted as saying that he'd fix
any Republican in that town who didn't
vote for Bert Fernald, the whites st man
that ever lived.
Characteristic Of the man again was his
attitude at the finish of the great political
battle last night. Surrounded by fash
ioratlv dressed men and women who
pressed about him to offer congratula-
tiOnS. with telephone calls pouring in on
him from politicians and newspapers all
over the State, and with the wire which
meant defeat or victory clicking at his ell
bow, the bg-hearted man never once for
got those who even more than himself
were interested in his victory, and as ev-
cry fresh bulletin came in he excused
him self from the throng surrounding him
and hurried to the telephone to send the
welcome news to the woman who will
soon be ''the first lady of the State
Fernald did not forget his friends
either. He called up all those whom he
could reach who had been loyal to- him
during his campaign and thanked them
for heir aid in the big battle
The first to congratulate the Governor
elect was the Hon. Jesse NJ Libby of Me-
chanic Falls, who also reported great
Republican victory in that town and who
has been a mighty factor for the Fernald
cause.
After this the Evening Express, the
Lewiston Journal The Associated Press
and newspaper men who had the early
returns 'phoned their congratulations.
and then. the result assured. Mr.. FerIald
waited to hear no more
Other members of the party wanted to
stay until after midnight to get the COM
plete returns. but again it was the farm
er Governors big heart that prevented
mo, sir" he said firmly: that little tel
ephone girl has worked enough FOR one
night. and she's going home if every other
town in the State goes against me-"