Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-08-27
Political Conditions in Maine

Political Conditions in Maine.
To the Editor of the Evening Star:
Sir-A brief account of political
conditions in Maine, as set forth from
the offices of the Eastern Argus, the
oldest Democratic newspaper in the
world-1O9 years old in October-may
be of interest to the thousands of
Maine born and bred men who are
now enrolled among the true Demo-
Gratis of New Jersey.
Maine will vote on September 8 for
one United States Senator, four Con-
gressmen, a Governor and many State
officers. In November she will vote
for Presidential electors. That both
elections will carry victory to the
Democracy there is no doubt what
ever, as the statement is based upon
exact information acquired from can
vases of every voting district in the
State as made by Democrats and
Republicans of many years expert
ence in forecasting elections.
1t is easy to forecast elections III
Maine, because the total vote is not
ONCI 1DpypOos ANlcbiAAt % POPotAhiOh ~
but a few thousands more than it
was in 1860. Migration and emigra-
ton have been large and continuous
since the discovery of gold in Cali
fornia and Australia Immigration
in the same period has beer small.
There are five times as many natives
of Maine living outside it's bounds as
reside within it's area. The New Jer-
sey counties of Hudson, Essex, Ber-
gen, Passaic, Morris and Union con-
tain more natives of Maine than re-
side in Names largest city. (
Hundreds of newspapers and maya
ziues outside of Maine are edited
or published by Maine men and the
list of Maine-born men representing
other States in Congress is a long
one. These facts account for the
Importance of Names September
election as a political pointer the
nation over.
Political campaigns in Maine are
conducted on a high plane by all par
ties. There is no v~illification, no
buffoonery, no false statements. The
addresses are confined to solid argu-
ments concerning facts. The editors
write cosehlly reasohea ana poHtely
eApresseu statements designed 10
give the readers thereof the truth
as each editor sees it. There are few
yenal votes in Maine. Conversions
from one political party to the other
are rare.
l am a native OF Maine n IA
..s.l, --.4 - - CO.
mlllar with every part or the State
and on friendly terms with the prin-
cipal politicians OF all parties and
never yet have l met a converted
Democrat or a converted Republican.
Many persons In public life outside
of Maine suppose that the great de-
feat of the Republicans in Maine two
a ago was due TO the pouring
of vast sums of money into the
Democratic Golfers by the national
organizations of distillers and brew
ers. The statement was false. Az
a matter IF fact, these interests gave
their campaign contributions to the
corrupt wing of the Republican
party, which had served them we'll
for years.
The position of the Democratic
party in Maine for many years as to
the question of liquor has been con-
sistently in favor of a system such as
exists In Massachusetts high Ii
cense. restricted hours. no sales TO
minors. and all saloons to he closed
OF SUNDAYS and during polling hours
on election DAYS. The orieinal Maine
anti-liouor trade law was drafted bv
Democrats and passed by a Legisla-
ture Democratic in both branches and
signed W a Democratic Governor
Maine abounds with Democrats who
are for the strongest prohibition law
that can be framed. and there are
MANY eminent Republicans who are
for licensing liquor dealers
Maine never had a. real prohibition
law. The office of such liouor lepis-
lation as has been passed in Maine
for eighty years was to nrevant dav
laborers. mechanics. sailors and Ash