Evening journal., 1918-09-23

AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. 23.-Maine is
this year more than ever the political
barometer Of the nation. Local is
sues were largely eliminated in the
election and the national issues were
paramount. Therefore. the result in
Maine may be accepted as a definite
forecast Of the national political feel
ing.
And the result in Maine on Sep
tember 9th was a clean sweep Of all
! tickets by the Republicans.
The complete (but unOfllcial) returns
show that the Republican candidate
for United States Senator, Bert NJ.
Fernald, was reelected by a majority
Of 1864 out Of total vote Of t20,252.
This is a net increase in plurality Of
500 over the 1916 returns, despite the
fact that the total 1916 vote was 49,
$40, or 1920 more than the total vote
Of 1918.
The Republicans elected all four Of
their candidates for Congress by hand
some majorities, thus giving Maine a
solid Republican delegation in Con-
gress.
The most notable victory Of the cleo
tion was that of Wallace II. White, Jr.,
Republican candidate for Congress in
/ the Second district. His opponent was
Daniel J. McGillicuddy, Democrat. This
district was Democratic in 1912 and
1914, and two years ago, with the same
| two candidates, Mr.. White was elected,
with a plurality Of only 547. This year
he increased this plurality over Nc
Gillicuddy to the very substantial fig
ure Of 1854.
On the State ticket the results were
no less a victory for the Republicans.
/ They reelected a Republican Governor,
Carl z. Milliken. and they increased the
Republican majority in the State Sem
ate by four and the Republican ma
iority in the Lower House of the State
Legislature by fourteen. The vote Of
the Legislature. as a result Of this
election, now stands:
Senate, Republicans, ii2; Democrats,
80.
Three facts stand out in this result:
First: The decisive defeat Of a popu-
lar Democrat in a district normally
Democratic, and one in which there
was large number of Government en-
ployed labor votes.
Second: The recollection Of Gov
ernor for the first time in many terms,
It having been twelve years since Maine
permitted any Governor, Republican or
Democratic. TO succeed himself.
Third: The decisive refutation by the
voters Of the Democratic cry that a
Republican victory would please Berlin.
Governor Milliken's Big Victory.
This reelection Of the Governor, con-
trary to Names habit. was most graft
flying TO the party leaders, both be-
cause Of the fact of Names curious
inability TO re-elect a Chief Executive
and also because Governor Milliken
was so vigorously fought by the Dem
ocrats because of his strict interpre-
tation of the so-called BLUE Laws,
and especially because his impartial
administration of the draft law, which
the Democrats attempted to pervert at
Camp Devens by falsely telling the SOL
diers that he was diverting relief from
soldiers families.
Despite Names previous inability to
re-elect a Governor; despite misrepre-
sentations: despite all Democratic ap-
peals 10 Defeat the Huns and the Gov
ernor." Milliken was returned to office
by a handsome majority.
MOST Si0niucdnl NONAtrt.
The outstanding significance OF the
Maine election, however, is found in
the Second district This has always
been close and it is the residence OF
the most competent leader the Demo-
Gratis have in Maine, Daniel ]. McGil-
licudy, who represented it in the 63d
and 6ith Congresses. lie is a plausi-
Bile, popular, political personality. He
is an adroit campaigner, and he was
never more active than he was this
time. Two years ago McGillicuddy was
defeated BY Wallace H. White, Jr, by
very narrow margin. This year the
Second was looked upon as the test
district Of the State. In fact, it should
be regarded as a test district for the
entire nation.
The Second contains the large ship
building plants at Bath and Rockland,
and the busy manufacturing center at
Lewiston. These have been built up
during the war by an increase Of labon
employed mostly in work for the gov
ernment in the ship building yards and
in the munltion plants.
Ex-Congresman McGillicuddy was
backed by a very generous campaign
fund and there was no chance lost that
could be utilized by a resourceful cam
paigner. He had won the district in 1912
and in 1914, and thougs, he had lost it
by a very slender margin in September,
1916, il still turned around and went
for Wilson by over 1i,2O0 in NOvem-
Der, 1916.
The Republicans endured a hard
fight, but Congressman White was re-
elected by more than five times the
plurality he received in 1916. His plu-
rality then was 5i7. His plurality In
1918 was 1854.
This disposes Of the Democratic claim
that its organization can count on the
labor vote.
Labor Vote Was Republican.