Evening star., 1916-07-19
MAINE POLL ST|RS
DEMOCRATIC HOPES
Claim Made That President
Wilson Is Stronger Than
Four Years Ago.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

| political opinion. Both political parties
are profoundly concerned over the cleo
ton in Maine. which will he held Sep
| tember IL, for the choice of governor.
state ticket, two United States senators
and representative in Congress. The pres
| idential electors will be chosen in No
| vember
| Always the voting in Maine has been
regarded as important. not only in
| dicative of general popular sentiment. but
| for the moral effect upon the wavering
vote of the country at large. This year
the campaign takes on added Importance
| from the fact that. owing % a vacancy
occaSioned by death. two United States
senators are to be elected.
Control of Senate at Stake.
As the control of the Senate in the next
Congress is prize valued by each party
as second only to the presidency, Maine
will be fought for never before, since
it is regarded that the Senate will be
exceedingly close at best and a single
senatorship may give one party or the
other control
The first returns cover the polling of
one county complete. This county in 1912
gave Wilson LOO. while the combined
Taft and Roosevelt vote was 1890. Roose-
velt leading. The poll this time indicates
| a marked change of form. the democrats
running up to $3.50 and the republicans
dropping to 2,250. These figures are evil
IDENTIFY approximate and stated to dis
guIse the particular county. reference
to the returns for 1912 does not show
any such exact division of the vote The
point is however, that according to the
democratic count the ratio has changed
and indicates growing strength of Presi-
dent Wilson. The poll is being continued
renewed he
Gratis find themselves heartened by the
first showing.
No Republican Figures.
The republicans. who have not got
steam up yet in their campaign in the
nation or even in Maine. have no figures
10 give out. although individual re-
ports OF conditions will no doubt be laid
before the joint meeting next Thurs
day OF special committee of senators
and the national campaign committee
ms special committee, appointed by
senator Gallinger. chairman of the re-
puolican conference. which is to work
with the national committee and have
special charge of the campaigns for the
election of United States senators, con-
sists of Senators Weeks chairman:
Smoot. Curtis, Sutherland and Wads-
worth.
Chairman Mccormick of the demo-
cratic national committee stated some
time ago that Senator Salisbury of
Maryiand would head special commit
tee OF democratic senators which would
be charged with like responsibilities
and duties for the democrats.
The republicans are very much inter-
ested IN the meeting next Saturday at
syracuse of the progressive state com
mittee, which is to determine the in
dorsement or refusal of Endorsement by
the progressive organizations in New
YORK state OF Hughes and Fairbanks.
spirit of revolt such as was exhibited
in New Jersey last SATURDAY. against
Endorsement. and which was successful
In the meeting of the Jersey state COM
mittee by vote OF I to 5, exists among
the progr essives in this state, although
10 what degree can be shown only by
roll call. George w. Perkins, who still
is the utular leader of the progressives
IN New York, while also a member of
the campaign committee of the reeu-
lars. is confident that he will be able to
hold the state committee of the progress
sives in line and secure an Endorsement
OF the regular ticket.
Lively Fight in Prospect.
He is promised a lively fight, however,
by the insurgents. and the approaching
meeting is regarded as of Importance.
1t is realized that the refusal Of in
dorsement by the New York progress
siye organization would have consider
able sentimental effect upon the or
phaned bull moose in other states and
lerd weight to Col Parker's proposition
Tor another national convention to
choose stepfather for the orphans.
AT present the republican managers are
doing everything in their power to pla ca te
the progressives and to offer them warm
hospitality in the republican camp, with
fun freedom of the range and the best
Of browsing. Candidate Hughes will ac-
lr<-NH on b f1 t,r...
Orders have already gone out to the re-
publican managers in the cities where Mr.
Hughes is to stop, to invite the pro-
gressives TO take part in the receptions
to be provided for the candidates and
they are to be given front seats in the
synagogue
Speaking of progressives. ii is said that
the democrats will not announce their
campaign committee until after Mr.
Hughes speech of acceptance when they
will put a number Of progressives on their
committee
Wants to Debate Poindexter.
Democratic national headquarters to-
day gave out the following:
"Ole Hanson, a leading progressive Of
the state of Washington, who has an
nounced his intention OF supporting
Woodrow Wilson. has sought the assist
ance of the democratic ma tional COM
mittee to force Senator Miles Poindex-
ter of Washington into joint debate with
him on the general subject of whether the
Wilson administration should be return
ed TO power.
We can carry Washington Mr.. Han
son telegrap phed today. Can you shame
Senator Poindexter into debating with
me the subject. Shall Wilson be returned?
Poindexter is afraid. and like Hughes, is
a trimmer. Both have indorsed the
American flag. but refuse to get down to
fundamentals. Have challended Poindex-
ter repeatedly, but to no avail
Hanson Former Republican.
Mr.. Hanson is former republican
Two years ago he was the candidate for
United States senator in his state and
polled $4,000 votes, which was approx
nlately one third of the total vote cast,
Roosevelt carried the state in 1912 by
26,s5S. Mr.. Hanson is now actively and
aggressively supporting the President
Poinde xter. whom he challenges to de-
bate is a candidate for reelection on
| the republican ticket. although he was
! elected six years ago as a progressive"
| Former Representative William F. Muir
raw. now postmaster OF Boston. was re-
1 To fis do,,