Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-21
DEMOCRATS WILL APPEAL
TO POPULAR DISCONTENT
Hope to Profit by Factional Differ
ences Among Republicans.
OLD REGIME rs WEAKENING
-Four Representatives, the Legis-
lature, Governor and Numerous
Other Officers to Be Chosen.
,ial From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From Staff Correspondent.
PORTLAND, Me-, July 21.-National in
terest attaches to the elections in Maine
which will be held September L. Four
representatives in Congress, an entire
legislature, which is to choose success
sor to United States Senator Hale;
governor and numerous county officers
are to be elected.
Republicans all over the country have
their eyes fixed upon this election, which
will be taken as indicative of the drift
of general public sentiment If the DEM
ago-should elect one of their representa-
tives in Congress. as they are confident
of doing-such an outcome following the
democratic gain in the Foss district In
Massachusetts, the Rochester district in
New York and the De Almond district in
Missouri would make their jubilation
countrywide. and undoubted impetus
would be given to the democratic cam
paign in all the states.
1t falls out that the voters of Maine
are more interested in the state election
than in the Congress election, although in
} this particular district and in the second
district the congressional campaign has
peculiar personal and LOCAL features that
accentuate the interest
Belief of the Democrats.
THE democrats believe they have the
best chance in years to carry the state,
said one Of the big democratic leaders to
me today. Asked for his reasons, he
went on to say that the democrats hope
to profit by unquestioned factional differ
ences in the republican party. by the
,, dissatisfaction of the people over the high
cost of living, by the attitude OF the
''standpatters' on the tariff. by the fear
that the republicans are not sincere on
the question of Canadian reciprocity, by
dissatisfaction over alleged republican
extravaganza in the conduct o. state az
fairs and generally from the disgruntie-
ment Of the voters and the supposed de-
sire for a change
The republican ma jOrity for governor
two years ago was 1878 in a total vote
Of 142,UOO. Democrats regard that narrow
| margin with satisfaction and are en-
cOuraged to believe they can overcome it,
They admit that if the republicans get
together and work harmoniously and Wig
orously for their ticket the democrats
cannot win. Maine being republican
state normally. But they believe the re-
that the progressive movement will ex-
tend to Maine sufficiently to lessen the
republican vote Of two years ago.
Political Changes Indicated.
Indications point to political changes
in Maine. The old regime is weakening
The Hale influence. which dominated so
long, has been shattered. Senator Hale
himself is eliminated; his son has been
defeated in his ambitions for Congress-
mems views are altering. That element
of the party which believes in conserving
the water power of the state and other
natural resources instead of exploiting
them for a ring is in the saddle, led by
such strong and resourceful men as the
Rickers. ProgresSiveness is spreading ;
the high protective tariff and the spirit
of standpa tism are being questioned.
do not mean to say that q demo-
cratic victory is imminent; ! only en-
deavor to point out the conditions which
the democrats are counting upon to re-
dound to their advantage. The election is
still a number of weeks off. the campaign
is not under full swing and the old gray
fox doesn't predict so early in the game
The republican governor who won by
that 1900 majority has been renominated
Bert NJ Fernald. In his term the state
expenditures have exceeded the resources
by some $1,2OO,OOO. The money has not
been wasted; even the democrats admit
that 1t has gone for state improve
ments but the Maine temperament does
not countenance policy of exceeding
ones income The state institutions will
have to borrow money to on for
the near future and the democrats are
playing strong on that key.
The democrats have nominated as their
candidate for governor F. w. Plaisted,
who has been three times elected mayor of
the rockribbed republican city of An
gusta He is young man, full of en-
| thusiasm, and possesses ability. His
platform advocates tariff for revenue
reciprocity with Canada. opposition to
| state extravaganza and resubnfission of
the constitutional prohibition of the liquor
traffic It blames the republican tariff
| for the high cost of living.
Republican Plans.
The republiceSS will stand pat on
the tariff. praise the Payne bill, in
dorse Taft and Roosevelt policies play
m the tariff commission as evidence
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