Evening star., 1914-08-01
DEMOCRATIC SKIES
BRIGHT IN MAINE
State to Vote September IA
for Governor, Legislature
and Four Representatives.
GUERNSEY'S REELECTION
BY G. o. P. is CONCEDED
Administration Anxious for Good
Showing Because of Moral
Effect on Country.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
AUGUSTA, Me-, August 1.-Gloom may
hang like a pail over democrats in Mas
sachusetts and dark clouds loom on the
horizon in New York, but in Maine the
democratic skies are bright and the po-
litical atmosphere as snappy as the
| weather.
! Maine is to vote September IA for gov
| ernor. legislature and four representa-
tives in Congress. The national admin
effect on the democrats of the country at
large that Maine should show democratic
gains. and the most vigorous campaign
| this state has witnessed in years is now
| in progress.
1t is not to be denied that the republi-
cans are worried, while the democrats
are sincere in their optimism. They are
confident of winning the governorship:
they think that they have a fighting
chance for the legislature; that they will
hold one democratic representative. gain
| another and possibly may pick up a
third
I'VE want to cheer up the brethren in
New York and Massachusetts" say the
them good occasion for doing So"
hepuDl1can NOW doVernOf.
| 1t will be recalled that a republican
governor was elected in this state two
years ago by something like 5000 as re-
| suit of an agreement between the re-
publicans and the bull moosers that they
| would support the state ticket in Septem-
ber and settle their factional differences
in the national elections in November.
That deal was carried out. as shown by
i hn nVD1 hn Serly hill dorv, nc
Gepublicam received 7O0o0 votes for gov
ernor, Taft received only 26.OOO, Roosevelt
getting 4S.OOo and Wilson $1,000.
No such arrangement has been effected
there is bull moose candidate for gov
ernor and a bull moose candidate for
Congress in each district. This situa-
ton is expected to aid the democrats, al
though the leaders do not think the bull
moose vote will be as large as in 1912, its
strength then being due largely to
Roosevelt's personal popularity.
Curtis Democratic Nominee.
The democratic nominee for governor
is Oakley c. Curtis. four times mayor
of Portland. The republican candidate
| is the incumbent. Gov. Haines. The pro-
| gressive candidate is Haibert P. Gard
ner.
The democrats base their hopes of sue
cess largely on the charges against the
| record of Gov. Haines, although when
analyzed they do not seem very black.
OF course, the moment you begin to talk
politics in Maine you run up hard against
the rum question" For years that has
been the length. breadth and substance
OF political issues in this state, serving
olnerent parties on occasion.
Inc democratic party takes JUNCTION
unto itself for being the exponent OF the
anti-rum sentiment. Its platform de-
| clares:
/ THE democratic party absolutely be-
| heves in Temperance in law and order,
and in enforcement OF law 1t believes In
| prohibition wherever prohibition is prac-
| ucable Recognizing the fact that state
wide prohibition in Maine has proved i'm
practicable, We demand the submission of
| the prohibitory amendment to the people,
| and advocate its repeal in order that the
city or town may be substituted tor the
| state as the basis Of laws designed to
control or abolish the liquor traffic.
| The republicans are in favor of the ex-
| isting constitution ana its enforcement,
| thereby claiming that they are the real
| Toes Of the demon rum. But the demo-
| Gratis declare that Gov. Haines and the
state administration do not enforce the
| law, and they want some. kind Of law
! that can be enforced.
Liquor Now Sold Abundantly.
| some Oh Iue 1lleTSSlS prefer LuS
existing status to resubmission and the
possible enforcement Of high license and
county option. Liquor is sold abundantly
in Maine, as every one knows. In the
county in which Bangor is situated there
are 100 places where liquor is sold. and
in the city itself twentythree open bars
| and twenty-five clubs
No license is paid for these places.
1 a &lo rk,o,
III raids few, they are fined and go
cheerily along doing business at the
same old stand.
Many Maine people would prefer high
license and the usufruct of the fees to
| state Institutions.
The other Charges against Gov.
Haines is that he vetoed a widely de-
manded law compelling railroads to Is
sue JOO-mile mileage books for $40; that
the tax rate has increased, and that the
administration is discriminating against
the farmers in distribution of a two-mil-
lion-dollar good roads fund. 1t is alleged
| that the bulk of the money is being spent
on automobile roads for the wealthy and
not enough on hauling roads.
The democratic candidate for governor,
Mr. Curtis, is a business man and not a
politician. He has a '-bar'l." but he can
not make a speech. His hackers hope it
will be case of money talks with
him.
Congressional Situation Tense.
The congressional situation is tense
in three of the four districts. Asher
Kinds. republican. elected by 2,1OO two
years ago. is running again. although his
health does not permit him to make a
personal campaign. 1t was so two years
ago; his friends elected him. He is op-
posed by John C. Scates, democrat, a
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