The sun., 1916-08-30
MAINE DEMOCRATS
READY TO DESERT
Governors Friends Want Rest
Of Campaign Fought on
state Issues.
"SAFETY FIRST" Is CRY
Assert Curtis Is Stronger
Than Wilson as Means Of
Gaining Votes.
"SAFETY FIRST" Is CRY

PORTLAND, Me-. Aug. :s.-An attempt
At the eleventh hour to shift their cam
paisn from national to state issues may
he made by the Democrats In Maine.
The plan 10 under consideration. Among
the local leaders who are said to favor
such q shift are friends Of Governor
oakley c. Curtis. who is a candidate re-
slection.
Friends Of Governor Curtis are OUT
spoken In their assertions that he IL
stronger in the State than President
Wilson. II follows, they say, that Cur
tie 10 handicapped by the necessity he Ia
under to defend the Wilson policies, and
that he would make a stronger appeal
to the voters we're he to run solely on his
" record as state executive.
That view. according to report. does
not Hnd fovor with William r. Pattan-
Gail. who has charge of the Democratic
campaign. Up to the present. Pattan-
gAlrs view has controlled and national
issues nave been kept to the fore.
1t h expected that P%attangall, with the
support Of the Wilson administration.
will be able to silence the demand for a
change In campaign plans at least IN
20 far as any open change OF front Is
concerned. 1t Ia not improbable that
without seeming to repudiate the White
House, Democratic speakers in Maine
for the remaining days OF the campaign
will use the soft pedal in discussing ma
,ional issues and seek to emphasize the
record for economy which IL claimed for
Governor Curtis.
National Issues Told.
This will be comparatively easy OF
achievement, IT IL said. because the ma
tional issues have been set forth by
Baker, Redfeld. Gregory and others OF
the Presidents official family. and II
will be assume they have aid all that
was to he said on the subject. Hereafter
the speakers will devote their attention
chiefly to State affairs.
Safety FIRST" is the slogan adopted
BY the friends Of Governor Curtis. Why
try an experiment with a new man like
carl z. Milliken. they say. when the
voters have the opportunity to return TO
ONCE O State Executive In the person OF
curtis. who has shown he Is both willing
and able to save the taxpayers money?
The Republican reply to that cam
paign plea IL q denial Governor Curtis
has in fact practised economy. His econ
omy, Republican, assert. has been a
bogus economy. an attempt to show a
surplus In the State treasury at the ex-
pense Of the efficiency Of the various
state departments.
Emciency II sacriaced.
Curtis, In other words. has been en-
gagged. according to his Republican
critics. In the act known as passing the
buck" He Is able. to be sure. to point
- q asrpt,ts hue tha nav% Cn,ar,or aud
the incoming Legislature will have to
pay the penalty In increased appropria-
tons. or as the only alternative permit
the State departments to run down be-
low the point Of efficiency demanded by
public opinion.
Republicans are prepared to meet the
Democrats or State issues. They have
10 intention though to let the Demo-
cratic campaigners slur national issues.
President Wilson's latest foray into the
feld Of Government ownership OF RAIL
roads, for that, IL is contended, IL what
his stand in the threatened railroad
strike amounts TO. IL going To he used
against him in the Maine campaign.
This is not "A part OF the country
where a d~emago2ic appeal will nave
seight with the voters. The Democratic
campaign managers here are said 70
appreciate the fac; and it may be one
~ t"N i'oephS way p' 'u.u "
have the voters concentrate their at.
tention On State affairs and forget tina,
y vote for the Democratic State can.
didate Will be n vote to sustain tho
Wilson administration.
Already speakers on Republican plat.
forms In this state are asking their gu
diences II they are prepared to stand
with the Democratic national Admins,
tration In its threat of Government own,
ership unless tho railroads surrender
The responses have been of a character
10 give little Encouragement to PRES
dent Wilson'S friends.