The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-06-16
MAINE DEMOCRACY
IS DISCONTINUED
Prospects Much Dimmed
in Past Week
Life Long Democrat says State Will
30 Republican.

or this year.
So declared & Ney Holman Of Ban
gor a life long Democrat and a man
who has for years made the study OF
political conditions hobby, in dis
eussing the situation at this time in
Maine. Mr.. Holman belongs to that
portion Of the democratic faith which
believes in the principles upon which
the party was founded and claims that
today the party, so far as Maine is
concerned. is far astray from them.
Gntil they get back, says he, to those
ideals the democratic party can ney-
er succeed.
As said continued he. the pr
y is not sufficiently strong numen-
eally to carry the State. There is a
lot OF talk to the effect that discon-
tented Republicans viii flock TO the
standard of the democratic candidates.
There wont be any great hocking.
mark my word. | have been over the
State and studied the situation over.
You never knew a man in office TO
satisfy all, but the majority of the
people realize that Gov. Fernald has
given most excellent administration.
There will be no great desertion from
the Republican party this year.
Is discomfort in Maine confined TO
the Republican party?" was then ask
ed.
Il was coming to that said Mr.
Holman. That is the rock uDon
which the Democratic ship would go
to pieces this year if there were no
other. The party is not a unit. There
is deal of dissatisfaction All the
things which the party leaders have
done do not meet the approval of
the rank and file. | feel confident
that for every Republican who. be-
cause of dissatisfaction. votes the
Democratic ticket in Maine this fall
there will be a Democrat vote. for
the same cause, the Republican bal
lot.
whatever prospects the democracy
had of carrying the State few
months ago have dimmed much of late.
i ~ bN6hl III L Vi llduu It.
Gently. The hope of the democratic
leaders that the influence OF Senator
Hale would be sufficient to force the
nomination of Col. Frederick Hale
for Congress, was shattered there
The nomination of Col. Hale for Con-
gress would, so those leaders believed
have been a great factor in carrying
the first district for the Democrats
The nomination of Mr. Kinds will put
an end to all such hope.
This dimming was the eclipsing of
the last hope of the party for success
this fall. The decision of Senator
Hale not to contest with Judge Pow
ers for the United States senatorship.
did much to clarity the political air
of the State. At that time il was sur
charged with dissension and trouble
and the democratic leaders were
building many hopes on it. Those
hopes are gone"
GARDNER OR PLAtSTED.
Mr.. Holman was asked what differ
ence ii would make to the party in the
event of Col Plaisted supplanting Mr..
Gardner as the standard bearer 10
which he replied:
1T will be all the same in my
udgment-defeat Col Plaisted is the
weaker candidate of the two. He Is
my personal friend. | think a great
deal of him. | would rather see him
governor than to see Mr. Gardner. but
do not believe that he would be so
strong. He is a professional politi-
clan. From his earliest manhood TO
the present time he has made politics
a business. Mr.. Gardner is not He
has been a farmer. When you make
man like Mr.. Gardner, who has new
er played politics. step aside for a
man like Col. Plaisted who has made
them his business it doesn't matter
much how good or able a man he may
be the party is weakened.
The situation is this: Mr.. Gardner
was selected two years ago as the
candidate, because he WAS not a poll
tician, and because ii was thought he
could carry large portion of the
farmer vote. the Grange vote. if you
please He got the largest vote OF
any democratic candidate for gov
ernor. To turn him down today for
a professional politician would have a
tendency to make those farmers who
supported him angry. They would say
when a leader for forlorn hope was
needed they came to us, our Candi-
date having brought them to within
what they believed is the sight of vic
tory they cast him aside that the pro
fessional politician may reap the re-
ward.
Nov, 1t may be true that Mr.. Gard
ner did draw some republican votes
to him, because of his utilization with
the Grange; it may be true that as d
result of his attitude on certain meas
ures before the Legislature in 1903
those are disgruntled at him. but what
is there to hold those men to Plaisted2
Not a thing. On the other hand, Mr..
Plaisted would lose many of the farm
ers votes which Mr.. Gardner would
hold. He is, by all odds the weaker
man of the two
NO SHOW FOR COBB.
When asked his opinion as to the
possibilities Gov. Cobb had of winning
against Judge Powers in the contest
for United States senator Mr.. Holman
declared that there was not the re-
hottest in his Judgment.
He pointed out that the manner OF
Gov Cobbs coming into the contest
was such as to weaken him. Judge
Powers was the only man in the state
who had had the temerity to oppose
Halo Halo oct ont laoyinp tho fold