Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-01
But Narrow Margin Shown
By Postal Cards.
Portland Paper Makes Careful
Canvass Of Third District.


n postal card canvass OF the voters
|of Washington county indicates the
election of John A. Peters of ELS
worth to the National House of Repre-
sentatiVes Il week from next Monday
by a plurality of 374.
1t has long been known among those
who are interested in political matters
that the ratio of change in a given
group of voters. barring any special
local factor, indicates the ratio of
change in the vote throughout the
State. This is why it has been found
that eanvasses off a certain percent
Iage OF the entire vote give an accu-
rate idea of the vote of the entire
citizenship in given community.
The interest in the Thurd district
election was SO general throughout
the State, and the campaign was be-
ling conducted with so much vigor and
intensity that the, Express Advertiser
| decided to conduct postal card can
vass with the view to ascertaining in
advance. something of the sentiment
of the voters of the district. To that
end it selected Washington county as.
/ for some reasons, best calculated to
give an idea of this sentiment Wash
Stoii Guilty Is tilt lofHt VI E1iWdi u
Nj. Lawrence, the Progressive eandi-
date for Congress, and it was the
birthplace and for many years of his
| life. the home of William r. Pattan-
Igall, the Democratic candidate for
Congress. If any local factor entered
into the situation as likely to operate
against the Republicans, the Express
Advertiser felt that it would make
| Itself apparent as much in Washing
ton county as in any county in the
district, and if Washington county
canvass indicated a strong tendency
| toward Mr.. Peters, it could be relied
upon as established almost. that the
| tendency toward him would not be any
| less in the other parts of the district.
So this newspaper secured copies of
the voting lists of the various towns
| in Washington county, and by a
chance system, assuring absolute i'm
partiality, it forwarded to 10 per cent of
the voters of that county a double
postal card. On the side intended for
the message, the following request
was made:
My Dear Sir
/ The interest in the Third District
election is universal throughout
/ Maine. and for that matter. in all
/ political circles In order to ascertain
| the sentiment of the district the
| Express-AdVertiser proposes to take
/ canvass of Washington county as be-
ing a fair sample of the political trend
/ of the district. If you will kindly in
| dieate on the enclosed card, first, how
/ you voted in November last. and sec
ond, how you intend to vote on Sep
| TENDER $, and return the card, you
1 VIII confer great favor
Very truly yours.
| George w. Norton,
Editor EXpress-A dVertiser.
An on the return portion of the card,
was printed the following:
To the Editor of the Express
Advertiser:
Last November | voted for
| Roosevelt NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
/ w ilSoH
This year i intend to vote for
Lawrence NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Pattangall Observation-Disclosures.
/ ItttIS
(Slgn or not, as you please)
Answers Numerous.
These cards were sent out to as
| many citizens as represented 10 per
cent of the number of votes east for
| Governor in the election in September,
| 1872. The cards came back i'm gen.
| erous proportions. Only one voter of
all the number to whom the reuueSt