Evening star., 1914-08-01
DEMOCRATIC SKIES
BRIGHT IN MAINE
ASELECT|0NN NEARS
State to Vote September Ia
for Governor, Legislature
and Four Representatives.
Administration Anxious for
Good Showing Because OF
Moral Effect on Country.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

! AUGUSTA Me. August i.-Cloom may
, hang Ike 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 os the
weather.
! Maine is 10 vote September "A for gov
/ elnor, legislature and four representa-
tives in Congress. The national admin
istration deems it advisable for the moral
i effect on the democrats of the country at
! large that Maine should show democratic
gains, and the most vigorous campaign
4 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
I, chance for the legislature; THAI they will
| hold one democratic representative. gain
another and possibly may pick up a
/ third.
We want to cheer up The brethren IN
New York and Massachusetts. say the
| leaders here. And we intend to give
| them good occasion for doing so.
| Republican Now Governor.
! 1t will he recalled that republican
governor was elected in this state two
years ago by something like 5000 as re-
suit of am 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
the result and the ngures. While Haines
| Cepubiican) received 1U0Vo votes for gov
| ernor, TaIt received only 5000, Roosevelt
getting $500 and Wilson $1,000.
| No such arrangement has been effected
T! for this campaign. On the contrary,
! there is bull moose candidate for gov
. ernor and a bun moose candidate for
| Congress in each district. This situa-
| ton rs expected to aid the democrats, al
! though the leaders do not think the bull
! moose vote will be as large as in 1872, Its
strength then being due largely to
| Roosevelt's personal popularity.
I Curtis Democratic Nominee.
| The democratic nominee for governor
! is Oakley c. Curtis, four times mayor
i-e6s-RertlaHd. The republican candidate
l 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
: ailalyzeo they do not seem very black.
Of course, the moment you begin to talk
politics IN Maine you run up nafd against
the rum question. For years that has
| been the length breadth and substance
cf political issues in this state, serving
different 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 oil law. 1t beieveS IN
prohicition wherever prohibition is prac-
ucaole- 1iecognizlng the fact that state
VIDE prohibition IN Maine has proved i'm
practicable, We demand the SUBMISSION of
the prohibltory amendment to the people,
and advocate its repeal IN order that the
city town may De substituted Ior the
state the basis of laws designed to
control or abolish the liquor tratric."
The republicans are in favor of the eS-
isting constitution and it's enforcement
thereby claiming that they are the real
foes of the demon rum But the demo-
d; Gratis declare that Gov. Hajnes and the
. state administration do not enforce the
law, and they want some kind Of law
thar can be enforced.
Liquor Now Sold Abundantly.
Some of tine liquor interests prefer the
existing status TO reSuDfnlSslOn anu tae
possible enforcement of high license and
county option. Liquor is sold abundantiy
III 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 twenty-three open bars
and twenty-five clubs
No license is paid for these places
When they become tco fragrant the sher-
IF raids a few, they are fined and so
cheeri!y along doing business at the
same old stand
Many Maine people would prefer hlgh
license and the usilfrict of the fees to
state institutions.
The other '-ei,1rses'' against Gov.
Haines is that he vetoed widely de-
manded law cor. 2e!iing railroads to is
sue 50O-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-
+. Iion-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,
1 Mr.. Curtis. is a business man and not a
4 politician. He has '.bar'l," but he can
not make a speech. His hackers hope it
will be a case OF money talks with
! him.