The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-10
THE MAINE SURPRISE.

The result of the election in the
Third Congressional district Of Maine
was n great surprise. The straight Re-
publican candidate was elected by n
substantial majority, and tho Progress
i've candidate makes poor showing.
Reckoning from the figures of the cleo
tion last November one would suppose
that the race would be between the
Democratic and Progressive candidate;
but the Progressive candidate had less
than half the vote which Roosevelt
had last November, while the Repub'
licap candidate had more than double
the vote cast for Mr.. Taft. The de-
fcated Democratic candidate claims
that he was sold out by the treachery
of the Democrats but since his vote
was 1853. as compared with the Will
son vote Of 1902 last November, he
really has. little reason to complain.
The falling off of 139 votes from the
total for the Democratic candidate for
President last year Of 1852 Is
negligible; he got good stiff vote.
Congratulation on the strength Of
that vote in place OF complaint about
being sold out is the thing that is in
order.
The Roosevelt vote of last November
in that district was 1925; the Taft
vote 715a, and now the Progressive
vote is but CAST or less than half of
the Roosevelt vote Of last year: while
the Republican vote is 1906, decided
ly moro than doubles the Republican
vote Of last November 1t is n re-
markable overtUrn in politics which
cannot bo easily explained, save on the
hypothesis that the Progressive vote
comes out only for Roosevelt.
In our forecast of the election made
on Monday morning, We assumed that
the Democrats would win. hands down.
figures Of last November, from which
it would appear that the Republicans
would have no show whatever to elect
their candidate in that district, their
vote being less than half of the Demo
cratic vote last November and not
much more than half Of the Roosevelt
vote; and yet the Republicans came
out triumphant in that election, a.
sorbing more than half of the Progress
i've vote.
The result shows the strength Of the
Republican party principles and party
name. 1t shows that without Roose-
velt leading the Progressive party,
that party sinks into comparative IN
significance. When it is not able to at
tract enough votes to defeat the Re
publican candidate as against the
Democratic nominee. then surely its
vitality Is gone.
The Progressive party is undoubtcd-
", as we have said heretofore, in the
same relation to the Republican party
that the Populist party was to the
Democratic party for so many years
But the Populists were able to en-
compass the defeat of the Democrats
in the triangular fights, as A rule,
which the Progressive party has not
been able to do in this election in
Maine.
The result is Of special significance.
and is politically noteworthy since
President Wilson took pains 10 in
dorse the Democratic nominee, and to
send Mr.. Bryan, the greatest Demo
cratic stumper that that party ever
produced, into that district TO help
elect a Democrat. 1t is a most crafty
ing outcome all around. and the Re-
publican party men have good reason
to rejoice in the indication which it
furnishes Of a tidal wave in their
favor, which will sweep them into
! power in Congress In the election next