Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-09-16
A DEMOCRATIC SWEEP
Governor and the Legislature
Captured in Maine.
Also Two Out Of the Four conaressmen-
Next Legislature VIII Elect Demo-
cratic Senator

Also Two out OF the Four congressman
Next Legislature VIII Elect a Demo-
cratic Senator.
Maine was lost by the Republicans Mon
day for the first time since 1880, and by
pluralities which surprised the most SAN
guine Democrats. The Democratic sweep
Included governor and rest of the state
ticket, majority in both branches OF the
legislature, the whole or a part of the
county tickets in 13 out of 16 counties,
two out of the four representatives in
Congress- The next Maine legislature will
elect a Democrat to the United States
Senate to succeed Eugene Hale. Fred
erick w. Plaisted, mayor of Augusta,
whose father was Democratic governor
of Maine 80 years ago, defeated Governor
Bert NJ. Fernald, who was running for
second term, by a plurality of $500 votes
In the first Maine district, which Thomas
b. Reed formerly represented, Asher G.
Kinds, the famous parliamentarian, was
elected to Congress by a plurality Of 743
over William NJ. Pennell. In the second
district which the late Nelson Dingley
represented so many years, Daniel ]. Nc
Gillicuddy, Democrat, has a lead of $500
votes over the present Republican repre-
sentative, John p. Swasey. In the third
Samuel w. Gould, a Democrat, who has
been trying to get into Congress for 80
years, will have his ambition gratifed, IS
his lead over Congressman Burleigh Is
about 1900. In the fourth district the vote
for Frank L. Guernsey, Republican, and
George NJ. Hanson, Republican, is very
close, but the indications are that Guern-
sey is elected by plurality of about 200
votes. Gov. Fernald carried only three
cities, Calais, Belfast and Eastport.
Returns from all except two small rep
resentative classes gave the Democrats Il
out of 81 state senators and Sc out of l5l
representatives. The Republicans elected
gives the Democrats control of either
branch, or both, and they lack but fifteen
votes OF having a two-thirds vote in joint
convention. The vote for governor as
given by revised, unofficial returns. was
as follows with only 81 out of 52l cities,
towns and plantations missing:
Plaisted, Democrat ................ 1920
Fernald, Republican ............... 64,7S6
Maine will have her first Democratic SEN
ator for more than half a century and
New England the first since the election
of William d. Eaton in Connecticut in the
late seventies. Half a dozen candidates
for the senatorship sprang into the field
Tuesday The next legislature will have
full charge of redistricting the state.
AS the legislature has been captured by
the Democrats 1t seems more than likely
it will mean probable reSubmiSsion to
the people of the vexed prohibitory law
and a chance for local option in the sale
of intoxicating liquors. The Sturgs act
which has proved so obnoxious to many,
and was denounced in the Democratic
party platform, can be repealed. Certain
ly the act can be made imperative by
Governor Plaisted withdrawing the pres
ent commission and neglecting to appoint
their successors.
The Democrats also carried a majority
of the counties, some of the old Republi-
can sheriffs including John w. Ballou,
for 80 years sheriff of Sagadahoc county,
went down before the Democratic land
slide
The Republican leaders a rule were
at loss to account for their overwhelm-
ing defeat The weather was perfect and
they could offer no excuse on that line.
The issues were well understood and most
of the speakers had confined themselves
to state issues, and scarcely mentioning
national affairs. Governor Fernald's ad-
ministration was stoutly defended against
Democratic criticism Of extravaganza. and
most of the voters were given an oppor-
tunity of seeing and hearing the candi-
date, while few out-of-the state speak
ers, including Congressman Mckinley of
California, came to help. Close po-
ltical observers, however, early heard
mutterings not loud but deep. The So
called "old guard" had to stand much
party criticism and even the leaders were
out of harmony with a new element which
had begun to manifest itself, especially in
the western part of the state.
insurgency was in the air. The rural
voter had been absorbing ideas out of
the states as well as in it, and this was
particularly manifested in the third dis
trict where Congressman Burleigh with an
is years record at Washington found him
self defeated by his constant opponent,
Samuel w. Gould Of Skowhegan.