New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-14

Nobody viii dispute the tact that
Maine went hell-beut'' in an opposite
direction from that in which the Repub-
licau party in that state was headed II
would have caused no great surprise II
only the Democratic candidates for state
offices had been elected But very few
Democrats in Maine expected to carry
TWO II the four Congress districts and
10 capture the Legislature and United
States Senatorship. The decislYeness OF
the Democratic victory is obvious.
Maine has turned temporarily 10 the
Democratic party as an agency to ac-
complish results which it thought that
the Republican party was dereiict in not
accomplishing.
So far as the state administration was
concerned its overthrow this year was
pretty clearly forecast in the elections of
1906 and 1898 In the former year the
Republican plurality for Governor fell
10 7.S6S lit had been 26.S00 in 1901. and
in the latter year 10 1853. although for
President Nj Taft carried the state by
a plurality Of 81 .5S4. Dissatisfaction
with the prohibition amendment 10 the
state constitution and with the methods
used III enforcing the prohibition laws
has been growing steadily The Demo-
cratic candidates in 1866 and 1908 stood
for reSuhmission Of the prohibition
amendment The Republican state ad-
miuistration opposed resubInission and
also enacted ! law taking the response
hility for enforcing prohibition out
of the hands of the county authorities
and inrusting it TO a state commission.
The Tribune said on September is. 1908,
commenting on the result of the Maine
election Of that year, that the Repub-
.-lican party had been put on the de-
..fensive by declaring against resubmis-
sion 1t pointed ont that il Vermont,
where a similar situation had existed,
the Republican party had wisely yielded
10 q popular demand for a referendum
on the Issue of statewide prohibition
versus local option. and that the voters
had substituted local option for pro-
hilition. We added: There seems 10
be 10 reason why Il similar course
should not he pursued in Maine. for
there can be no harm in taking the
Judgment Of the community on such
questions al suitable intervals.
The Republican party in Maine pre-
farred 10 stand pat" on prohibition de
nying the voters = chance TO pass again
or the question directly They have
ROW passed on it indirectly, not only
/ electing an auti-prohibiti0n Governor,
but giving him 4 Legislature anti-pro-
hibition in both branches. The extent Of
the reaction is shown in the capture Of
Democratic in both branches since be-
fore the war But revolution III the
legislative branch was necessary 10
carry out the public will. and the voters
accomplished that revolution. As ex-
Governor Cobb terSely put il Yesterday:
The people apparently wanted change
lin laws and men and methods, and
they made IT,"
Two Republican candidates for Con-
gress Were carried down III the defeat
Of the stale organization aud the other
two won by small piuralities. Governor
Plaisted's plurality was about $3.50.
The joint plurality Of the Democratic
candidates for Congress was 1900. That
difference suggests the greater pressure
of local issues. National questions
played a secondary part in the cam
paiGn. but it would he a mistake to say
that they played no part The loss Of
two seats in the House Of Representa-
tives j. warning to the Republican
party that il must fight this year in
many sections IF The country against the
drift Of sentiment instead of with it, II
cannot win 10y standing PAT lis only
chance lies in united action in sup
port of a progressive policv. by New
York Republicans especially the result
in Maine should he taken as a notice 10
o1It loose from The incubus Of bossism
reaction and rule from the top and 10
- 80 the voters with a programme thor
"uChly i'm harmony with the increasing
public demand for fuller popular rule
and higher standards IF government.