The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-09-05
A REPUBLICAN GOV
ERNOR
Is Now Certain To Be
Elected
Estimated Plurality of 10,00O-GOY.
Plaisted's Broken Promises the
Boomerang.

Boomerang.
Two years ago, near the close of
the State campaign, the Independent
Reporter made prediction, after it
had made a brief summary, of the out
defeat of Mr. Fernald and the election
of Mr. Plasted
Now, near the close of this cam
paign, we shall venture another pre-
diction, after a very brief summary
This prediction is based upon a
study, first-hand, of the same sections
of the State as served for a basis of
judgment in 1910.
In respect to the summary. it must
be remembered that two years ago
the Democrats had a clear-cut issue,
Resubmission and the repeal of obnoX
ious liquor legislation. More, they
had clear-cut declaration from a
candidate for Governor that if elected
to office he would faithfully and con-
sistently enforce all law. Things
We're not sweet for the Republicans in
1910. They had made bad mistakes;
they had not been wise in many things
which count with the voters; the
Governor, furthermore, had been a
stumbling block-he had made sever
al expensive mistakes. But the clear
cut issue of Resubmission and the
wholesale promises Of the Governor
caught the doubtful voter and swept
him into the Democratic camp.
But this year it is different. The
Republicans are well organized. well
officered, are campaigning without
outside assistance, and propose to
carry the State for the gubernatorial
standard bearer. Determination is
half the battle Confidence is a quart
er more, and good square issues may
count the other quarter. The Repub-
licans have all four quarters this
year They have no apologies to
make; they are not concerned with
what happened four or two years ago;
this is brand new deal and the peo-
pie know it.
The Democrats are tremendously
handicapped. The Governor is not the
same Governor that campaigned two
years ago. Then he was full of prom
ses-to-day he is full of denials. The
two do not harmonic. On this issue
alone. they are losing thousands of
votes. Two years ago, they harped
much on fnancies-promising to re
trieve the State; this year they are
trying to explain why they raised the
tax rate to 6 mills last year and drop
ped it to mills this year, if it was
not to fool the voters. They are fail
ing miserably on their discussion of
financies.
Furthermore, Lamont \. Stevens
has been held up all through the ad-
ministration as great wizard; now it
is discovered that he allowed Se2re-
tary of State Davis to shove in little
bill of some 500 for printing, which.
as true bill, should have been about
$70-and it got his approval, the Coy
ernor's Councils approval, and Mr..
Davis received his money. To cap the
very climax, it is discovered that the
Auditor has not seen fit TO order this
money turned back into the State
treasury. This one instance of what
two-thirds of the voters of Maine call
graft" has ruined every claim that
the Governor has made in favor Of
Lamont A. Stevens, the great financial
wizard.
Never before did the State Dem
ocracy make such an effort to retain
the State as this year. A dozen or
more big guns" are loaded upon the
State committee, and pulled up on
platforms to amuse the crowds. What
the people want in this campaign are
facts about the State; they do not
seem to be interested at all in national
issues. When ever anyone attempts
to discuss trusts or the high cost of
living which may or may not have any
connection with the tariff, the audi
ence gets inattentiye.
From a careful inquiry and study of
political conditions the State-oyer,
and from a careful study of facts as
brought out in the figures of other
campaigns, this State will be returned
to the Republicans by more than TO-
600 plurality.
1000, 100000 Lost Annually
ny Wage Farmers.