Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-09
MAINE POLITICS

Names election today carries more than
usual Significance and interest, not only because
of the fact that the rock-ribbed commonwealth
may swing back into the Republican column,
where it normally belongs, but because of the
fractional strife within the Republican party. 1t
is not true, as one local comment has said, that
the fight lies squarely between the Republican
and Democratic tickets. IF this were So the Re-
Epublicans would be more optimistic than they
have been.
In Maine, weakened and disorganized Re-
publican electorate is at war internally, while a
strong and aggressive Democratic machine is
building up well-handIed minority. Going
Democratic in 1910 the first time in fifty years,
Maine swung into the Bourbon column with a
Democratic governor and legislature Then
came a remarkable series of events helping to
build up the Democratic machine under Gov
Plaisted. A Democratic senator succeeded the
veteran Hale Another Republican veteran,
Frye, passed to his grave and Plaisted named a
Democrat to succeed him. On the supreme
bench, where one Democratic member out of
seven was the record, death caused vacancies
that were promptly filled by Democrats until
cratic judges have supplanted Republicans and
every county but two is ruled by Democratic of
fice-holders. The result is the creation of an
exceptionally streng Bourbon machine in the
unprecedented time of two years
While this machine has been getting into run
ming order, dissension has visited the Repnb-
licans. The real Progressives, SO impartial OBJ
servers maintain, have never been allied with
the Bull Moose faction, largely of diseredited
and out-of-work politicians, which went to Chi
eago At Chicago the Maine delegation was held
away from Roosevelt by frantic appeals from the
"people back homen to stay with Taft or risk
wrecking the Republican party in the state and
thus assure two years more of Democratic dom
nance. s:< -...-
Bull Moose leaders from the state, after a
talk with Roosevelt, stated that he has promised
to keep hands off until after todays election, SO
that the Democratic aggression might be resist
ed. At any rate, the recent Portland convention
passed resolutions pledging its nominees to sup
port the regular Republican party in the state
This has not ended the civil warfare. The
real Progressiyes of the state claim that the Bull
Moosers will not support the Republican ticket
next sNONel1DSf lHuS ~ atiPpOh lHs1O
Maine would go Republican in today's election,
which is for state officers and representatives
in Congress, and in November the Republican
voters would split between Taftism and Roose-
veltism, and Wilson would poll a substantial
Democratic majority. Therefore, while victory
for Democracy in todays election will almost
certainly mean Democratic victory next No
yelnber, Republican victory today may not
mean a Taft triumph two months from now.
This is the state of affairs that is worrying the
political prophets. .:.:- -
To make matters worse, the Maine Republic
ans have not been able to help out their cam
paign by the strength of national issues, because
it is the national fight that is dividing tehir
forces. They have been forced to restrict their
utterances to state and local issues, while the
Democrats have charged down the line on their
national warehouses; with great effect. 1t has
been a matter of comment that William L.
Haines, the Republican nominee for governor,
has steered away from national issues IL his
speeches.
So it is that respectable, conservative, careful
old Maine is as uncertain today as a nervous
elderly lady in front of a street-car.