Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-09-07
BIG CAMPAIGN
will CLOSE IN
maine today
Both Democrats and Re-.
pubIicans Claim Victory at
Polls Monday
Sentiment Changed in Stale
Two Year Ago When Demo.
Gratis Won
Il.
Republicans Endeavorlng to
Name the Governor
This Time aMzliI..
to The Tribune.

Special 10 fhc tribune.
PORTLAND, ME-, Sept. IA large
question mark symDolizes the politi-
Cal situation in Maine at the close OF
the state campaign today. Both
Democrats and Republicans are pre-
dicting victory at the polls on Mon
day, when the voters will name their
choice for a United States senator
and elect a governor. representatives
in congress, both branches Of the leg
lslature, and county officials.
The split in the Republican ranks
and the substitution of national is
sues for the local problems around
which the state elections heretofore
have almost invariably revolved, have
helped to complicate the situation
and make guesswork of all predic-
tons as to the outcome.
Until two years ago Maine was con-
sidered solidly Republican, and the
change in sentiment was noted by the
increase or decrease of the size of
her majorities. Two years ago the
Democrats carried the state, electing
the governor, two representatives in
congress, both branches of the legis-
lature, and a large majority of the
county officers.
The Democrats are now in power,
and have the machinery of govern
ment ct their command. They real
ize that, should they be turned down
by the voters as incompetent and un-
satisfactory, it would likely be years
before they could return to power.
This is not all they are fighting for,
however, for in November comes the
national election and the Democratic
party in Maine feels certain that the
winning of the state next Monday
will, without doubt, mean that they
will land the six electoral votes of
the Pine Tree state for Wilson in No.
vember.
On the other hand, the Republicans,
chagrined at their loss Of power, are
anxious once more. to occupy posi-
tons in the seats of the mighty. New
implications have entered into this
campaign, too, and most of them are
adverse to the Republican cause.
The election OF a Democratic gov
ernor and legislature resulted in the
prohihitory law being resubmitted to
the people, and it was reaffirmed a
year ago by a small majority. This
showed conclusively that the prohibit
ton sentiment throughout the state,
which has always been a great asset
Of the Republicans, has materially
weakened. The liquor question has
been largely eliminated as an issue in
the present campaign, although the
Democrats promise if returned to
power to give the voters an opportu-
nifty to pass upon a constitutional
amendment which will give local op-
ton to the cities and large owns.
The Republicans have %endeavored
tot keep local issues to the fore in the
campaign, while the Democrats have
paid most attention to the tariff and
other national questions. Governor
Marshall of Indiana, Speaker Champ
Clark and a host of other noted Demo-
cratic leaders who have stumped the
state the past ten days have confined
their remarks solely to national
Issues. ..
Opinion differs as to the effect that
the advent of the Progressive party
will have on the result Of the cleo
ton. The P~rogressives have not put
a state ticket in the field and this
has led the old party to believe that
the Progressives as a whole will sup.
port the regular Republican nomi-
nees. e,, it I
The Republican candidate for gov
ernor is William T. Haines Of Water