Evening star., 1912-09-06
NEITHER SIDE SURE
Mixed Conditions of Political
Situation in Maine.
DEMOCRATS ARE HOPEFUL
War of Republican Factions Ex-
pected to Affect the Balloting.
BULL MOOSE Anglers TAFT MEN
Kinds, Republican, Likely to Return
to Congress-No Change in
Other Districts.
From a STAFF Correspondent.

rom Stan Correspondent.
PORTLAND, Me. September 6-As
election day draws near the political
situation in this state becomes dramatic
ally tense. l have the confidential, in
side reports from leaders in both camps
ana when 1t comes right down to cases
neither side is assured of victory
The democrats seem to have the better
prospects, judging from outward appear
ances, but at that their leaders are not
growing The point is that nobody can
tell TO what extent the republican fac
tlons will knife the republican ticket. If
$500 Taft republicans vote their resent
ment against Roosevelt, and If $500
Roosevelt men vote their condemnation
of the Chicago June convention, the state
goes democratic. If the republican rank
and file bury the hatchet for this occa-
sion, in accordance with the agreement
of the leaders, the state goes republican.
We know that there Is bitterness be-
tween the factions but we do not know
and have no meansr of ascertaining how
deep-seated it is, nor to what extent 1t
Will be voiced at the polls.
Democrats Present United Front.
The democrats are united, enthusiastic
more ginger into the campaign and the
democratic national committee decided to
help the down-east folks to the best
there is in the national shop As a re-
suit Of a meeting of the executive COM
mittee In New York yesterday speakers
and cash came to Maine. Representative
Burleson. In charge of the speakers
bureau of the national committee, breezed
into Portland today. and will be follow
ed by other spellbinders.
The fact that the democrats of Yer
mont made an increase of . per cent
over their vote for governor In the last
presidential year cheered the democrats
OF Maine immensely. The further fact
that the Bull Moose party In Vermont
apparently drew its strength entirely
from the republicans furnished additional
comfort.
The Vermont outcome also had its ef-
feet upon the republicans of Maine, as
We are beginning to perceive. 1t enraged
the Taft men, who lay the blame for the
lamentable showing of their party at the
door Of the bull moosers. We hear
curses loud and deep against the bull
moose outfit.
IF that's your game say some Of the
TAFT men, two can play at 1t, and we
will see that you don't get any patronage
out of this state election"
Counted in Wilson Column.
They count Maine in the Wilson column
in November, and some of them are say
ing that the tail might as we'll go with
the hide" and let the democrats take it
all OF course you understand that the
bull moose republicans are the majority
faction Of their party In Maine
For their part some OF irreconcilabIe
bull moosers are bitter against the COM
promise on the state ticket and would
prefer the democrats to carry the state
rather than that q republican victory
should be credited to the regulars.
Unquestionably the democratic stand on
the liquor question is winning strength
for the ticket in the cities. The repub-
leans carrying water on both shoulders
Is not as attractive to the urban COM
munities as the democrats with a flask in
the hip pocket. And in the rural COM
munities. where the republican failure to
advocate a change in the law is approved
there is the factonal split to be reckoned
with.
There is fair prospect. 1t would SEEM
Of Asher Kinds. republican, being re-
elected to Congress from this district
There are no indications of change in the
other districts. unless the election turns
out to be democratic landslide.