Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-07-28
POLITICAL EYES
0F THE country
ARE upon Maine
Outcome of Elections in
Pine State Will Be Watch
ed Turnout u. S.

Augusta, Me-, July 2S.-Wlll Maine
set the pace for the political race of
1916 in the initial state election of
the year? Will the results be indica-
tive of the triumph Of the Republican
or Democratic party in November?
Politicians throughout the country
have their eyes on the Pine Tree state
and will watch eagerly for the re-
turns from the September election
after some 100000 voters have cast
their ballots for, two, United States
senators, four representatives in con-
gress and a governor and other state
officers The state election in Maine
has gained the reputation of being
something of a political barometer,
and the results are generally suppOs-
ed to give some line on the sentiment
Of the country at large.
The Republicans of the state are
confident of regaining control and OF
defeating Governor Curtis, and in
their efforts will have plenty OF out
side help, including that of Charles
E. Hughes, the presidential candidate,
and twenty-five representatives in
congress and a dozen or more United
States senator's from other states.
Whether President Wilson will visit
Maine has not been decided, but the
Democrats are expecting number
of speakers of national reputation.
For the first time in many years
Maine is to lead the way-in fact it
will be the only state in which an
election will be held before the ma
tional contest In former years Ve.-
mont led the country by holding It's
contest On the FIRST Tuesday in Sep
TENDER, but as the state has been I'M
waveringly Republican and maintain
ed it's reputation even in the face OF
the Progressive movement four years
ago, the size of the Republican vic
| barometer for the rest of the country.
| Maine followed a week later and
| usually confirmed the sentiment ex-
| pressed in Vermont, as in both states
| the contests were frequently fought
cut on national issues.
Two wears ago Vermont changed
it's constitution and joined with the
other states in holding biennial cleo
tons for all candidates in November,
thereby losing, in the estimation OF
many politicians, a chance for much
political advertisement.
After being. staunchly Republican
| for nearly half century, Maine
changed its political complexion in
1910 by clecting Frederick W. Plais-
ted. Democrat. as governor by a
plurality of s,7aa:as
Two years. later, despite a Stun.
in the Republican vote in Vermont
on Sept. 3. Maine changed back to
Repnblicanism On Sept 8 by electing
William F. I3aines over Governor
Plaisted by a plura litv of 1926. Two
months later Mr. Wilson carried the
state on national issues by p]ura
atty of $500 over Colonel Roosevelt
with Mr.. Taft poor third.
The strength OF the Progressive
movement was still sufficient to give
the Democrats another victory in the
state election of 1914, when Oakley G.
Curtis was chosen by plurality oil
1877 over Governor Haines. The vote
Of the three candidates for governor
lof Maine in 1914 was Curtis Demo
cra) 62.029. Haines (Republican) 3d.
S62, and Gardner (Progressive) 49,
225
The Republicans this year claim
that nine-tenths of the Progressives
have returned to the Republicans
ranks, and that the outlook for thu
defeat of Governor Curtis is very
encourag ing.
i 1t is expected that the enforcement
of the prohibition law will again play
} a prominent part in the state cam
paign, although the Democrats are
expected to bring national issues to
the foreground