The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-14
The Maine Election.

The reduction IT the usual Republican
majority IN Vermont meant nothing IN
PARTICULAR, several thousand Republl-
can voters took To the woods rather
than vote for their candidate for Gov
ernor. But the great Democratic vic
tory IN Mains, - full IT significance. and
IL il a danger signal Ia the Republican
party in th. nation.
II Is plain as day that many Republ-
cans IN Maine voted for the Democratic
candidates for Governor and for the
Legislature They did not take 20 the
woods. Tn" total vote il said TO be
greater than the vote polled IN larS,
when Mr. FFRNNLp. the Republican
candidate for Governor. had "A plurality
of $50 The election Of Democratic
Governor and Democratic Legislature"
bv substantial majoritl"s proves he
yond cavil that the people were dissat-
isfied with the Republican admlniStra-
ton and desired legislation which the
Republican party would not gIy" them.
There was no Progressive movement
in Maine. organized or otherwise. The
PEOPLE were tired Of the prohibition law
when II was not enforced and they were
more tired still of the law when II was
partially enforced a. had been the case
lately They evidently voted for IN" re-
zeal OF he Sturgis act and they want 20
reconsider prohibition We should say
that they will demand local option az the
least unsatisfactory liquor legislation
was undoubtedly a strong factor IN the
verdict on state affairs. but there were
other causes OF discomfort, among them
a feeling that owners Of extensive forest
tracts had escaped equitable taVatlon.
and a conviction that the state had been
ruled for years bv a selfish and arbitrary
Clique that stained itself 10y favorltIsm
and bv letting out npportuniti,Sfo for petty
graft II - significant that the Demo
Gratis elected thirteen out II sixteen High
Shsrlif-. and Il ~ even more significant
that IN" Republicans IN suffering defeat
Jos" rich -polls of patronage In State
Affairs a revolution occurred. There I,
no other term for what happened.
When an angry electorate arises IN ~
might Ia sweep from Office a party that
has misconduCt,-d itself straight tickets
are voted and little time - given to dis
eliminating between candidates. There
is To be- Democratic Jnite,l States Sen.
ator from Maine chiefly b,caIl-e he I.-D-
ple wanted a fresh deal ~ legi-lat ion
Chiefly for the same reason there will be-
two Democratic Representatives from
Maine IN the SiNt y--econd Congress. The
two parties fought out the battle with
local orators for the most part Va
tional ISSUES were discussed little. stat,
ISSUES day and night. Doubtless Their
was some dissatisfaction with the tarif
for reciprocity with Canada would b.
welcome in Maine. Doubtless the polit
zeal reetlessncSs that exists in SOM
other States had spread 10 Maine An,
no doubt the factional strife that impair
the efficiency OF the Republican part,
as an organization IN some other State
had a disconccrting effect on ID" mind
Of the Republican voters in Maine. y
one, We think. can analyZe the par
national issues had IN tina Democrats
landslide IN Maine but II ~ certain tina
discomfort with local conditions was h
prepondersting Caus" OF Republican DIS
aefar