New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
THE RESULT IN MAINE.

One certain conclusion can be drawn
from the vote in Maine, namely, tha'
there Is to be no Democratic landsllde
this year. The country is not anxious
TO turn TO the Democratic party fol
leadership in national affairs. 1t could
hardly be expected to welcome Demo
cratic control of the executive ana
Legislative departments, in view OF Its
texperience with the tricky and ire
ssponsible performances Of the present
democratic majority in the House OF
Representatives. The voters Of Maine
rid themselves of a Democratic Sen
'stor and one of the states two Demo
cratic Representatives. They replaced
n Democratic Legislature with Re
publican Legislature and a Democratic
administration with a Republican adj
ADMINISTRATION, in spite Of the handicap
of the antagonisms engendered by the
Bull Moose secession,
The split-up Of the Republican party
on national issues did not enable the
democrats to retain their grip on
Maine. Their vote this year fell
nearly seven thousand below their vote
in 1910. Democratic performance has
therefore not only failed to make new
converts but even driven away former
supporters. Names action indicates
that if Mr.. Wilson should carry Maine
IN November he would carry it as the
candidate Of a minority party. If he
should be elected President he would
owe his success TO a division in the
Republican ranks. not to any general
demand by the country for his services
as a leader. He would be President
bv sufferance, seated against the
wishes Of a considerable majority of
the nation.
The Democratic managers have been
taken aback by the outcome Of the
Maine campaign. They had been an
ticipating a Democratic ground swell
and had not realized that Mr.. Wilson's
eyaSive and hedging attitude since his
nomination had been steadily weak
ening him. He is no longer floating
with the tide. and were he forced TO
depend for election on his own per-
sonality and efforts and on the present
normal strength of the Democratic
party he would probably be beaten as
decisively as Alton 3. Parker was in
1901. If he wins it viii be only be-
cause Republican dissensions have lit
orally thrust him into office.
The result Of the Maine election Is
@ startling commentary on the futility
and superhuousness Of the third party
movement. If the Republicans In
Maine can still unite TO recapture their
state government, what excuse is there
for a Gripping division In the field Of
national politics? In most Of the Re
publican states there would be, except
for the Roosevelt candidacy, no OBJ
struction whatever TO union on ma
iional as we'll as state candidates The
schism created at Chicago was created
from the outside. 1t does not run deep
snto the state organizations, in which
there are no irr'econcilable differences
between Taft supporters and Roose-
welt supporters. The Maine election
makes short work Of the pretension
that the Republican party is moribund.
Its vitality and efficiency have not
been permanently impaired. If Names
example points to anything IT points
10 the fact that the Republican or
ganization viii not merely survive, but
regain its full strength whenever the
chance Is offered to its members and
former members TO come together
again in brotherly concord.