The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-08-25
ELECTION OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
BY NO MEANS CERTAIN
Final Outcome Depends on Future Manage
ment of Campaign

state OF MhlnHs the NfFeThA AVfNA NJ ,
Pert NJ Fsrnald In as sure TO meet
defeat In September al that tomorrow
follows today This conclusion, stated
thus cautiously but emphstically, has
no, been reached after hasty re-
view OF the political conditions; IL Ia
not deduced from the strongly parti-
san press OF Maine: nor is 1t result
OF reading democratic discussions of
political questions from the stump; Ii
is, we believe, fairly drawn from
numerous interviews with Republican
rarty leaders In various parts of
Maine and from inquiries made of
those living In sections not personal
ly visited This conclusion actually
sets forth the present condition and
fairly states the minds of nine out
OF every ten voters. II vote were
to be taken today, Mr.. Plaisted would
be elected Governor of Maine by a
very safe margin. But the revolution
Will stop at that; the Legislature will
remain safe.
While this represents the present
condition 1t is difficult now to forecast
what the next two weeks will bring
to pass. The campaign, or that part
of it operated by lungs, Is still young
and it may be that many importan;
matters can be explained and strong
appeal be made to party loyalty. The
quality of the campaign speakers
yes, and the quantity, for they will
need to visit every last town and
plantation of Maine to be of help
will have much to do with possible
change. Let US see who they are.
The chiefest are Fernald, Philbrook
Kinds, Haines, Swasey, Powers
Heath, Emerson and Goodwin. The
rest are of good quality but not OF
great political weight Some are from
outside Maine and-they will have
about as much weight as schoolboys
This campaign is Maine campaign
on Maine issues, for Maine men to
discuss. This importation of outside
talent is the worst kind Of a mistake
but wholly in keeping with Chairman
Boyd's old-time way of running cam
paigns. This reminds us to interpose
that Boyd has failed to keep UP with
the procession. He has always re-
lied for success ON bonfires, bands
nuisances and noises, but the day OF
convincing people in that way has
long since been passed. Today it is
chairman pnu0
has no more eye to organization than
has Governor Fernald for real state
craft.
But of the speakers, Kinds, Swasey
Powers, Heath and Goodwin, will be
of greatest service. They are strong
speakers, convincing because we'll in
formed. Philbrook ranks very high
but of late years he is getting a little
too judicial for good campaign ora
tor. We are glad to see the change
for DR.. Philbrook Is a growing man
of good gubernatoria1 timber. The
war-horse variety of campaigning re-
sorted to always by Mr.. Haines is
as out-of-date as Byron's campaign
methods. Besides, the Waterville
timberland owner is not always ac-
curate. Anyway, he does not always
size up the political conditions &C
curately; witness, his premature dec
laration on resubmission before the
Legislature, later his letter of an
nouncement, and still later the shock
he gave his followers at the 1908
convention. OF the lot, Heath is the
most convincing man that ever stood
before a political audience. II the Re-
publican party could put him into ev-
cry city and large town in Maine the
State could be saved. While Kinds is
not an orator his reputation gives
him a hearing. His candidacy will
alone pull the First District through.
The Governor Is a smooth talker,-
too smooth; but he could talk until
the opening of the next century and
still not convince a dozen people that
he has any right to be Governor of
Maine.
OF the democratic speakers we note
Plaisted, Gardner, Pennell, Pattangall,
O'Brien and Johnson. OF these, John
son is far and away the best man for
the campaign. He is strong con-
vincing speaker and one in whom the
people have trust. While Pattangalls
fame as a speaker is far spread, SO
dlC bOInc OlucI QudiIHSdtiOub VI tuc
Waterville politician. The people
flock to hear Pattangall as they do
to the moving picture exhibitions;
but the people will have none Of him.
MIR. Plaisted has long been harping
on one string-Republican extrava-
gance, Republican corruption and
graft, and all that sort. He IL not
big man at all, although the comb of
his moustache would fool the ordin-
airy voter into thinking him very
wise and keen man. Gardner Is a
strong man but with the record of
some mistakes behind him. The worst
Of them all, that Pattangall of all
men should have been permitted to
Gust him from his candidacy. Mr..
Gardner said unkind things about Mr.
Pattangall before the convention; af-
terward, he held q love feast with
Candidate Plaisted. II report is ac-
curate, Gardner IL to get slice of the
pie" after the votes are counted.
Pennell is known of old. He is the
father Of the Sturgis Commission
the greatest nulliner Maine ever
knew. O'Brien 10 fat and lungy and
about as we'll informed on the facts
about Names government az q hve-
year-old boy.
With this array of talent It is, a.
stated before, difhcult to predict what
the outcome II likely to be. The Re-
publicans have the best of 1t 70 far