The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-10-03
MEAN SWEEP
FOR WILSON
Democratic Gains In Vermont
and Maine Impressive.
OTHER PARTIES IN PLIGHT.

Third Termers to Poll Their Entire
Strength From the Rapidly Thinning
Republican Ranks - Indications Are
That Taft Will Carry but Two States,
Roosevelt None.
That the results of the state elections
in Vermont and Maine mean a tremen-
dous Democratic victory in November
is freely admitted by all except the bit
terest partisans. Political experts have
done much analyZing, and some claim
to have reached novel conclusions. But
these facts stand out:
On Monday, Sept. 8, 1912, the Repub-
lican and third term parties combined
elected William T. Haines governor of
Maine over Frederick W. Plaisted, the
present Democratic incumbent, by
3,023 plurality; in 1908, presidential
year, Republican was elected COVER
nor by 1858 plurality; in 1904 the plu-
rality was 25,S00, and in 1900 it was
34,132. In other words, in twelve
years the Democrats have cut down
the Republican plurality in state cleo
tions by 1,109.
In this period the Democratic vote
has increased from $4,000 to 6S,00O,
whereas the Republican vote has de-
creased from $4,000 to 1900. The
Democratic vote of this year exceeds
that Of September, 1908, by 1000, but
the Republican vote is about 1900 less
than that party cast four years ago.
. The split In the Republican ranks,
following the election Of William Il
Haines, is pronounced. If the divi |
sion In Maine in November is as it
was In the recent Vermont election |
six-tenths Of the Republican vote will
so for Taft three-tenths for Roose |
welt and one-tenth for the Demo
Gratis. 1t is significant that the latter
party has to date suffered no losses,
as compared with the vote in previous
years, from the third term move
ment. On the contrary, 1t has gained.
The result In Maine may be expected
to be something like this: Wilson, a.
600; Taft. 42,600; Roosevelt, 21,300.
The returns from the recent Vermont
election show in round figures that
the joint Republican and third party
vote was per cent short of the Re-
publican vote four years ago, while
the Democratic vote in that state
shows a gain of 25 per cent over that
Of 1908. 1t is. of special interest to
speculate what will happen next No
vember throughout the nation II the
Republican and Democratic vote for
the national tickets happens TO be af-
'ected as the gubernatorial vote this
month in Vermont has been affected
The New York Post has done some In
:eresting figuring along this line, and
Is net result it is shown that under
he contingencies mentioned President
Taft would carry only two states In
Rhode Island and Vermont
Ill the others going for Governor Will
ION. The conclusions reached by the
Post follow:
To compute this result we should ,
lave to deduct per cent from the
'ote cast for Taft four years ago and
pportion the remaining vote in the
alto of 62 to 3S between Taft and !
roosevelt. and we should have to add
3 per cent to Bryan's vote in 1908 J
nd give the "demntion total" to t
Woodrow Wilson-in other words give s
'aft 81 per cent and Roosevelt 80 per
ent Of Taft's vote four years ago
nd give Wilson 125 per cent Of Bryan's
ote four years ago
The result in round numbers would 4
e as follows. so far as regards Taft e
nd Wilson, 4