The Washington herald., 1913-11-26
With the Political Procession.
BY r. d. G.

Senator johnson of Maine, counted re-
markably favored to come as Democrat
from so loyal a Republican State, credits
much Of his good fortune to the fact that
he was born on st. Valentines day. Out
side of a term or two in the legislature
he failed to connect with Official place
until the senatorship came along. but
he was busy enough making campaigns,
the Lord knows.
An occasional spasm of over virtue, po-
litically speaking. would come upon the
stiff necked Republicans OF Maine now
and then with the resultant slipping in
Of a Democrat, and johnson had the rec
ord OF several defeats emitting him TO
something good in a year Of Republican
woe. He has but one Democratic House
colleague, McGuiIlicuddy, of Lewiston,
who came In with the Republican break
up of 1910, and again last year, but he
is not over confident Of keeping his dis
trict in line. TIE other three members
of the Maine delegation. Asher Kinds,
Forrest Goodwin and Frank Z. Guernsey,
are Republicans without any progressive
tendencies and promise to continue in
lne house several TERMS III AccPiub WIN
the usual Maine custom.
Both Kinds and Goodwin are graduates
of the House clerical service and are
proud to come back as members where
they were once modest employees.
Kinds was Speakers clerk under Reed,
and again under Uncle Joe Cannon.
showing good judgment in coming in as
a member Just as Uncle Joe gave way
to q Democratic Speaker. Goodwin was
also Speakers clerk with Reed, but went
home for some actual politics in the
legislature. The quiet and resourceful
Guernsey Is really the practical politician
of the delegation. and Is young enough
to plan a considerable career in Maine
affairs, not excepting the duty and pleas
ure, as a Republican, OF defeating John
son for Senate two years hence AS a
matter, perhaps of modesty, possible of
discretion, Guernsey has not disclosed
his age to the Washington end. but he
looks young enough to expect much
more from his beloved Maine and his ad-
miring constituents along the Piscataquis
Creek. Guernsey began political opera
tons, oddly enough for one who had
Congressional ambitions in mind. for his
first office was that of county treasurer,
with six years handling OF the ducats.
The legislature invited him next, and
meantime he helped the nomination OF
Taft at Chicago, as a delegate. After
all this getting next to the dear people,
it was easy enough for Guernsey to
reach Congress when Powers died in the
midst OF a term. and three subsequent
elections make him the dean of the whole
delegation, Senators included. Incl
dentally it might be added that he is
president of a bank of Dover. and in
clined to figure as a conservative busi-
ness man type Of Congressman, even IL
his profession is that OF lawyer
Guernsey comes from the upper Aroos-
took region of the State. and. geograph-
ically speaking, his section is entitled TO
the next Republican Senator. with Bur-
leigh in the lower county Of Kennebec,
so that the Senator Guernsey proposition
looks probable with the returns of Re-
publicans to control at Augusta last
winter.
OnoRdaga is the name of a populous
county in upstate New York containing
the city of Syracuse and a citizen. II. S.
who has suddenly jumped TO
fame, thanks to a check book and over
admiration for Roosevelt.
Wilkinson. who is a member OF the
State Progressive committee, gave twice
as much to the campaign fund Of his
party as Munsey and Perkins. long rated
high up in the millionaire class Not only
in the compact little Con-
gressional district of two counties COM
prising the Wilkinson home are interested
In his enthusiasm and generous contribu-
tons. but John Richard Clancy, the
member of Congress, is a
trifie agitated and wondering what VIII
kinson may do in next years campaign
Clancy was very much a minority victor
in last years Congressional contest, with
the Republican member and
needing only 136 votes to win
put.
Clancy had 1s.OO9 votes, while the COM
bined oposition counted up 3, SS3 votes
against him. the Progressives coming in
third with II, ,626. The splendid campaign
ing by DriscolI did much to keep down
the Progressive vote and give shivers to
Clancy, who admits that he had no hope
of election, anyhow.
He even takes pains TO conclude his
official biography with the sentence, rs
the first Democratic Congressman from
this district since 1853 and is spoken of as
a political curiosity" That line was
written when Statesman Clancy was new
IN the game. and it will hardly appear in
the new book.
He is much more concerned in the pos
sible operations of the liberal Wilkinson.
who promises much activity in future
district campaigns and may be
active in actual district affairs a year
hence.
1t will lessen the worries of Clancy IL
Wilkinson keeps stirring up Progressive