Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-01
The Joint Convention.

Of Representatives will be organized by
the Democrats and the 18th Senate.
by the Republicans. These organiza-
tons are foregone conclusions that can
hardly be upset.
The joint convention met to elect
the Secretary of State, State Treasur-
er, Attorney General, Commissioner OF
Agriculture, and the seven members Of
the council will be puzzle until the
accomplishment of the elections is
registered.
In the Senate there will be II Re-
publicans and IA Democrats; in the
House there will be, apparently, ~
Democrats, 20 Republicans, and Pro-
gressives. What are some Of the
things which may happen when the
Legislature convenes and the states
men gathered at the capitol are con-
fronted with these figures?
With the elections standing as they
do now, on joint ballot the Republicans
WOulO l0SC 90 tOlCSs kiC DCAASSA Aio
81, and the Progressives 4. Should
the Progressives become, as they nat
urally are, the allies Of the Republi-
cans and should the president Of the
convention, who will be Republican,
choose to vote, the balloting would
stand 81 to 81 and a deadlock would
occur
Should deadlock occur which could
not be broken. an even amount Of OBJ
stinacy appearing on both sides. It
might be necessary to effect COM
promise and agree upon the election
of an equal number of candidates, o"
rather upon an equitable division Of
Offices as eleven men are to be elected
&c. by the convention. Such a deadlock
is perhaps not probable, but it is GER
tainly more than merely possible.
The Democrats may proceed to un-
seat Levite Thbodeau, Republican
Buren, and thus preclude the possibil-
ity Of deadlock, though it has been
rumored that Paul D. Thibodeau.
Democratic member elect from Fort
Kent and brother of Levite, is pre-
pared to side with the Republicans if
the Democrats unseat his brother who
. has been declared elected. And there
may be other Republican members
elect whom the Democrats will at
tempt to unseat. There seems to be
strong feeling in Democratic ranks,
however. that the majority of the
Democratic members elect will not
sanction this unfair method and many
will not lend their vote to such an end.
Certainly the mass of voters in Maine
would not be pleased with such action,
for they believe that if their votes are
the decisive factor in the choice Of one
candidate they should be the decisive
parture from their election in one in
stance would endanger the whole plan
Of popular government in Maine.
Shortly after the September cleo
lions it was suggested by. Democratic
newspapers and interested workers in
Democratic ranks that a coalition was
to be effected between the Progress
sives and the Democrats so that the
Democracy would be assured a ma
-, I1f RI ho
in return for their aid the Progress
sive party was to be awarded certain
offices. 1t does not now appear that
any Of the Progressives who will sit
in the House have a mind to be classed
as Democrats. for anti-Democrats Of
whatever name can work together for
the stronger anti-Democratic organi-
cation with fewer pangs Of conscience
than they would experience If they
And further, the Progressive vote in
September was so small that Republic
cans and Democrats throughout the
State would not forget the startling
effrontery of the Democratic organi-
zation should it give power into the
hands Of an insignificant minority.
There may arise some debate in the
convention on the question whether a
majority Is required for election or q
plurality suffices. The Journal has its
own convictions as to this PROPOSE
ton which is discussed elsewhere in
this ISSUE However this may be
decided the result will still depend
largely upon the attitude Of the Pro.
gressives and the action of the Demo .
Gratis in unseating Republican mem
bers-elect. II q plurality suf1ce. the
Democrats would win should one Re-
publican member elect be unseated, or
one Progressive vote with the Demo-
Gratis or for a third candidate. II a
majority is required the unseating Of =
Republican or the winning Of Pro-
gressive would still mean easy victory
~ TIA D>vnocrafa hut If the four