West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-10-08
MAINE VICTORY GROWS
Democratic viii Control Legislature
for Second Time In Sixty Five Years
and This 10 OF Vastly More Import
snce Than Most People Realize

Augusta. Me-, Oct. 1.-OAicial returns
now compiled in the office OF the Secretary
OF State show that the Demo or Itic yc,ory
in Maine was more pronounced than
was at first supposed The compilation
gives the Democrats control OF the legis-
lature on joint ballot for the second time
in sixty-five years. The only other time
that the Democrats have had a majority
in that body was following the election
OF 1910 and their control then resulted IN
the election of Charles +. johnson as
United States Senator
While, of course, the United States
Senators are now elected 10y direct vote
of the people, the Senatorial situation
would not be affected even il there were
Senator TO be chosen this year. still the
control OF the Legislature is OF much
greater importance than most people out
side of the State are aware. In Maine
all of the State officers, with theexception
OF the Governor and the State Auditor,
are chosen by the Legislature. Demo-
cratic control, therefore, means the
election of Democrats as secretary of
state, as attorney general, as State treasur-
er, and the appointment of all State
commissions and bureaus, and the heads
OF all departments and state institutions.
In view OF this prize to be determined
by the complexion of the Legislature the
Republicans made an especially hard
HUht IN Win tnatAr,Nx, I,,,t .-;.
failure.
All that has been left 10 them is few
scattering county offices and three Con.
gressmen whose pluralitIes were material
ly reduced. The new Democratic ad.
ministration will be installed on January
/, 1915.
Washington, Oct. 1.-Sufiicient time
has now elapsed since the election in
Maine to enable the political experts 10
make their deductions from an analysis
of the result of the voting in the Pine
Tree State.
The effect of this analysis has been de-
preston, Encouragement and dismay in
the Republican ranks and a corresponding
feeling OF optimism and rejoicing on the
part of the Democrats. Both effects are
warranted by the showing made. In adj
| dition 10 the election of Democratic
governor and a Democratic Legislature,
which means the control of the State
| government, the fiat increase in the
Democratic vote as compared with the
Democratic vote for President i'm 1912 is
more than ten times the fiat increase in
the combined Republican and Progressive
vote for President in the same year. In
other words the Democratic tota! was an
increase of more than 10000, while the
| combined Republican and Progressive
increase was only about 200. The vote
| OF oil 900 for President Wilson i'm 1912
was increased to more than 81 900 for
Mayor Curtis, the Democratic nominee
for governor, or about 20 per cent
These figures have staggered tie Re-
publicans, for their significance is ominous
for them. Few, il any, Republicans have
| ever expected that their party would
| carry the next House OF Representatives.
The most that they have hoped for has
been to cut down the big Democratic
| majority in the present House, but the
vote in Maine has sent that hope glim-
merlng, The rate of increase i'm the
Democi attic vote in Maine if carried out
and applied to the Congressional vote i'm
other States would show most astound-
ing result and one which even the Demo
| Gratis have. never considered, but which
speaks for itself.
An increase of 20 per cent in the Demo-
cratic vote, as was made in Maine, APP
piled to the Congressional districts else
where, would not only elect Democrat
from every district now represented by
Democrat, but it would, i'm addition,
result in a net Democratic gain of up
wards of forty members in the House.
This is something which has given the
Republicans pause and has greatly added
to the aggressi veness OF the Democrats.
Another significant showing in the
Maine election is the fact that for the
first time in seventy years, with one ex-
ception, the combined vote cast for
Democratic candidates for Congress ex-
ceeded the combined vote cast for Re.
publican candidates for Congress, which
is clearly an endorsement OF the national
administration and its policies. Repre-.
sentative McGillicuddY the Democratic
member from Maine, based his claims
for reelection upon the fact that he had
been consistent supporter of President
Wilson and the measures put forth and
enacted by the Democratic Congress
The result OF campaign along these
lines was far better than the most opti-
mistic Democrat had expected Mr..
McGillicuddy's plurality was increased
more than four times what it was two
years ago. In 1912 he had plurality Of
less than 800, whereas this year hls
plurality was approximately D 800, which
was in excess Of the combined pluralities
OF the successful Republican candidates
for Congress. Only in the election OF
1910, when there was a Democratic land.
slide in Maine, has the party been able
TO accomplish this result
The showing was that the Democrat
who stood for the Wilson policies was
the man who gained tremendously in
the esteem Of his constituents.
Our East Side Man
Our people are very sanguinc over tho