The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-10-15
NO HOPE FOR DEMOCRATS


The Maine election has been "nu-
merously-. explained by all sides TO
the contest. but no one has given such
a clear analysis OF the result OF the
voting in that State last month as
Congressman Peters. the Republican
candidate in the Third district. who
was returned TO Congress by a hand
some plurality. He declares there Is
absolutely nothing in the final figures
from which the Democrats can ex-
tract any comfort or announcement.
The only way the Maine vote can be
intelligently analysed is by compsri-
SON with preceding years. The year
1910 marked high tide for Democracy
IN Maine In that year the Demo
Gratis. for the FIRST time in many years.
carried the State. electing Governor.
both branches Of the legislature. a
United States Senator and two OF the
four representatives In Congress. In
1912. when there was no division in the
Republican party. the Republicans. at
the State election In September. re-
gained full control OF the State Offices
and legislature. and regained one Con-
gresham. the Democrats stu holding
one. In the Presidential election In
November OF that year the Republi-
cans divided. $1,000 voting for Roose-
welt and $4,000 for Taft. This year
the Progressives nominated a COM
plete and separate ticket for State
and county officers and candidates for
the legislature. They cast $4,000
votes for their candidate for Govern
or as against $4,000 for the Repub,l-
can candidate and GO 900 for the Dem
ocratic candidate. But notwithstand-
ing this the Republicans have re-
tanned their three Congressman. which
is remarkable result considering the
Progressive vote which aggregated
1880 for the four Progressive candi-
dates for Congress.
Congressman Peters very properly
makes his comparisons on the Con-
gressionai vote. as the vote for Gov
ernor was largely affected by local
issues. In dissecting the vote for Con-
gresham. Mr.. Peters says:
In the election OF Congressman ra-
tionai issues are considered. Take Mr.
ondl for example. He has now been
elected three successive times Tns
hrst time he got substantially 10 0Oe
votes. the second time $4,000 and this
1T is about the same IN all the Dis
trtctS-the total Democratic vote IL
shrinking about 5000 every election. In
1910. ~ was 10000; in 1912, 81. 500. and
this year 6o.1O0. Although 10000 Pro-
Eressives who voted for Roosevelt in
1919 did not vote for the Progressive
vote shows its expected shrinkage. in
dtcating that Progressives are not go
ing to the Democrats.
No comfort can be squeezed out or
the Maine situation for the Adminis-
tration. IL was claimed before the mat
ter was thoroughly understood that the
ond District amounted 20 an indorss-
ment OF the Administration The fact s.
Mr. McGillicuddy got 1000 less vOses
than he did in 1912. and from thu nc-
ures would have been DEFEATED had not
! the Republicans been divided. A big
. bunch OF anti-DemOcratic voters being
Congress in that District - what shrans
the Republican vote below normal by
the exact amount OF the Progressive
With the Democratic candidate in
that District receiving less votes by
1000 than In 1919; with the total Dem
ocrattc vote in the four Districts shrink
/ ing $500 from 1912 and 1O.400 from
I 1910. with the Republicans still holding
three Districts out OF four In spite of
the Bull Moose detection Of 1880. the
result represents great victory for the
f, Republicans and shows the inherent and
, increasing strength OF their position.