Evening star., 1912-09-04
Grumbling Among the Regulars and
Bull Moosers.
RANK AND FILE ARE STUBBORN
Surface Indications Point to Demo
cratic Success Next Monday, But
Prediction Is Impossible.
From a Stan Correspondent.

1nere IS an apparent anomaly between
surface Indications and a deep under
ground feeling. 1t is the underground
condition which throws the leaders into a
cold perspiration. The surface indications
all favor the democrats. The meetings
have been attended by immense crowds
and marked by almost hysterical enthu-
siasm. The democratic audiences have
outnumbered the republican assemblies in
the ratio OF about five to one. All the
principal democratic speakers who have
been through the state have received
great ovations. while the republican
speakers have complained of the cold
ness Of their listeners and the smallness
of the crowds.
The other side of the shield shows two
salient features: First, that Maine nor
mally is about fifteen thousand republi-
can in state election. The democrats
last year wiped it out and rolled up ten
thousand on their own side, by reason of
split In the republican party heretofore
explained.
The other feature is that the repub-
licans are now united for this election
and are out for blood with all their old
time war paint on,
The uncertainty of the underground
condition lies in lack of absolute knowl-
edge IS to how far the mass Of the re-
publicans will follow their leaders in car
IyinS OUT tne comDlnatlon agreed upon.
Rank and File Grumbling.
That there are grumblings among the
rank and file Of both bull moosers and
regular republicans cannot be denied
Some of the irreconcilables in both fac.
tions are willing to carry the war to the
point Of determination and let the state
patronage go hang. The leaders are
pleading with them to come to the
scratch just this time and then take up
the Roosevelt-Taft fight afterward.
Nobody can tell how these embittered
feudists will stack up at the polls If
they carry out the plans Of their leaders
to man. Maine ought to go republican
next Monday. If a material number of
Roosevelt men and Taft men still harbor
grievances and voice them at the polls,
Maine ought to go democratic.
The Democratic Record.
The strongest asset OF the democrats is
the record Of their administration since
they came into power two years ago.
That 1t is good record cannot be con-
troverted. They have been especially
fortunate in finances. They have paid of
state debt of $500, ,OOO and at the end
of this calendar year will show a surplus.
They have cut general expenses down
same time they have exceeded the ex-
penditures of the republicans for chari-
table and educational purposes. They
have collected more revenue from rail-
road, telegraph. express and telephone
companies by way OF taxes. They have
suffered no scandals in the state admin
istration.
Out Of 1t all has come feeling Of re-
newed confidence in themselves. But
back of them stalks the specter of that
n.sf ovn1 - fhat
proposed republican harmony.
Democratic Apprehensions.
Some Of the democratic leaders fear
that the seeming apathy of the republi-
cans in attending political meetings may
mean that the old-time republicans have
made up their minds as to what they in
tend to do. and don't care to hear any
talking about it, and that what they in
tend to do is get back the state patron
age.
There is no difficulty in recognizing the
bitterness between the Roosevelt and the
Taft republicans. which is to come to the
surface in November when Maine votes
with the remainder of the country for
presidential electors. There will be some
grand tusking by the elephant and horn
ing and antlering by the bull moose
come next November's election day.
Fight for the Senatorship.
As side issue of the approaching state
election is the contest for United States
senator. The voters next Monday Will
indorse a candidate for the Senate, but
the Endorsement is not obligatory upon
the legislature. But If the democrats
carry the legislature it is reasonably sure
that Senator Gardner will succeed him.
self. If the republicans win former Rep
resentative Burleigh will be a candidate
for senator. AS he is recognized as a
regular republican with Taft leanings, the
bull moose men may oppose MIN, IN Which
event there would be danger Of a dead
lock.
The democrats, II they win, will prob
ably pass a local option bill and put the
sale of liquor under state regulation. II
is estimated that the state should De re-
ceiytng $4,000 a year from this source,
whereas 1t is not getting cent.
The Liquor Issue.
The liquor traffic, and OF course every
one knows that liquor Is sold clandes-
timely in Maine. is now solely in the
hands Of the sheriffs. They can wink at
it or suppress it as their judgment die
tates. II the sentiment of community
preponderates in favor Of leniency to the
'blind tiger" sale of liquor, the voters
elect q sheriff who they know will not be
too strict. II it is the other way they
put in a man who will enforce the law.
and there is no difficulty in enforcing it.
knowing that liquor selling cannot be-
totally suppressed in the wet communi-
ties the local option advocates want to
make the best of what they say is a
bad situation and get the revenue from it.
The voters will express their choice
for representatives in Congress next
Monday. In this city Asher c.. Kinds,
republican. the sitting member. is being
opposed by Michael T. OBrien. Mr..
Kinds has been quite Ill for some time,
clan says he will soon be all right.
OBrien is making an aggressive fight.
The socialists and prohibitionists have
also put up candidates for Congress.
The candidates for governor are Will
liam T. Haines Of Waterville. republican;
Frederick w. Plaisted OF Augusta, demo-
crat; George A. England Of Woodstock.
socialist, and William L Sterling Of Wa
ict n