The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-08
MAINE WILL GIVE
new ENGLAND TEST
Primary Next Week to Show
the Strength of Taft and
the Colonel.
(Sational News Association

BOSTON, Mas, April S. The first
real test of the relative strength OF
Taft and Roosevelt among the Repub-
1icans of New England will commence
this week. when Vermont and Maine
will elect their delegates-at-large and
district delegates to the national con-
vention. These will be the first dele
gates named in New England to at
tend the Chicago convention. The re-
cent visit of President Taft to Massa
chusetts and New Hampshire and the
experimenting tours Of the same sec
ton by Colonel Roosevelt who also
included Maine in his itinerary, gives
evidence of the fact that both candi-
dates consider the New England
states to be as interesting politically
this year as some of the other states
that have been known in the past as
doubtful"
Vermont is perhaps the least inter
esting of any Of the New England
states this year from the viewpoint of
the Republican campaign managers. II
outward and visible signs count for
anything President Taft can safely re-
1y upon the support of the Republicans
of the Green Mountain state in his
campaign for denomination and re-
election. The progressive movement
which has found fertile soil in the
neighboring states of Massachusetts
and New Hampshire appears to have
made little or no Roadway among the
Republicans of Vermont.
The situation in Maine, on the 9th
;er hand, is entirely different. There is
a vast amount of Roosevelt senti-
ment in the Pine Tree state, but the
conflicting statements and counter
claims have so confused the fight be-
tween the two candidates as to make
an accurate forecast of the result diff
ficult
In the rural sections, especially in
.AroOstook County, the great potato
growing region, the feeling against
the President on account of his re-
ciprocity policy, which removed the
duty from potatoes, is said TO be very
strong, although Taft supporters say
that this has been exaggerated. The
Taft sentiment seems to predominant
in the cities, where the attempts to
organize the ftOOSeF6lt supporters
have not been very successful.
The Roosevelt sentiment is strong
est in the country towns, and it has
been figured out that it is the towns
of 1,000 population or less which con-
troll the Republican State convention
in Maine. AS Aroostock is the strong
est Republican county in the state and
stood faithful two years ago, when he
state went Democratic. it may be seen
that Roosevelt feeling is something
to be reckoned with. -
1t is generally conceded that the
First district, which embraces the city
of Portland, will elect Taft delegates,
notwithstanding the fact that when
the Roosevelt Club was formed in
Portland several weeks ago a represen-
tative gathering was present and when
Colonel Roosevelt visited the city a
few days later he was given a cordial
reception.
The Roosevelt boomers in the First
district are those who supported Col
onel Frederick Hale, the son of for
mer senator Hale, for the Republican
nomination for Congress against Con-
gresham Asher Kinds, and this fac
tional quarrel has overshadowed the
main issue and enlisted the Kinds sup
port for the President
The Taft managers believe that
solid Taft delegation from Maine is
certainty On the other hand, the
Roosevelt supporters declare with
equal confidence that Roosevelt will
sweep the state, with the possible ex-
ception of the First district. One of
the immediate results of a Roosevelt
victory in Maine would be to give re-
newed energy to the efforts of the pro-
gressive Republicans to win out in the
presidential preference primaries in
Massachusetts on April 80
IL