Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-16
MAINE IN DEMOCRATIC EYES

10 Itediueu as u
MAINE IN DEMOCRATIC EYES
The Free Press has discussed the record
bres king triumph for the Republicans IN
Maine from the standpoint Of the princi-
pies of the Republican party. We believe
1t will he profitable for all to note the
way in which representative Democratic
newspapers view the situation. The New
York Times. a thick and thin supporter
Of President Wilson, says:
1.-THE Democrats Of Maine were soundly
drubbed in the State election on Monday
and they deserved a drubbing because
Of their non esistance to the we'll organ
lied and powerful assault made upon them
by the Republicans. Through the votes
Of the women, the Republicans are able
to add more than $4,000 to their guber-
material vote of 1916. The total vote falls
some 10000 short of what 1t should have
been with the women voting. That doubt
less represents Democratic abstention.
'Nvth little effort the party might at
least have added that number to the vote
It actually cast. Democratic apathy is
plainly shown by the fact that the party
vote is only very slightly increased over
that Of four years ago The Democrats
Of Maine were called upon to spend their
own money, to make the fight altogether
by themselves. The national committee
ipto ba Cfato
the best of reasons it sent no money.
'-rhe Republicans are entitled to the
full glory Of their great and unexpected
majority. They made n spirited campaign
3. and have a right to enjoy its fruits, but
Democrats would be very weak and fool
ish should they permit themselves to be
cast down by this victory Of their OPP
ponents The November election will be
determined. not in Maine. but In the West.
AS a portont Of tire presidential election
on the League Of Nations issue the result
of the New Hampshire senatorial primary
Is vastly more significant than the Re-
publican majority of 65, ono in Maine"
The New York World on the other
hand is encouraged by the fact that
1910, It says
"Douhlng the electorate is likely to pro-
duce surprises Of many kinds, and the
Maine election is a case In point. About
half the women in the State voted. The
other half did not go to the polls. OF the
women who voted, most Of them voted
the Republican ticket. The Republicans
with plenty of money and workers. had
been engaged for year In organizing
them in anticipation Of the ratification
of the nineteenth amendment. The Dem.
ocrats, with no money and few workers
did little In the way Of organizing the
woman vote. The result shows that the
Republicans We're able to get out large
percentage Of their woman voters and
the Democrats were not. which means
anything anybody wishes II to mean.
''Senator Harding is certain that the re
turns from Maine indicate return tt
Representative government under the con
St'tutlOn -tnat If, tne government OF tn'
United States by little ring of Repub
liz an senators. We have no desire to chill
the fine enthusiasm of that amiable gen
tleman or mar his front porch medita
tons. hut much ADLER Republican
Charles f. Hughes, was badly fooled b,
the Maine election in 1916, and the Yves
has acquired the habit of forgetting tina
Maine is on the map"
The Brooklyn Eagle is wiser. It woul'
have its party profit from the Maine yer
dict. It says
THE Republicans have carried Main
by an unprecedented plurality. The Dem
ocratic party Is not we'll served by thos
who attempt to belttle the result or VIII
argue that it has no relation to the pres
idential campaign. Secretary Daniels 70
instance, talks of Maine as a State whic
it as 'rock-ribbed' in its Republicanism a
Texas Is in its Democracy. regardless @
the act that Democrats have won Main
than comparatively small puralites res
istered against them.
ut is the height of folly for Democrat
to close their eyes to tho significance {
the result or to try to explain II ava
on the sheer assumption that Republica
women went to the polls where Demo
cratic women stayed at home. The pos
mortem specialists in the Democrat
ranks may discover and explain cause
fiji the cows come home, but the fact r.
mains that the Republican plurality is s
extraordinary that it cannot be disregard
cd as merely an expression of sentimer
nn local issues or the personalities of Il
cal candidates.
"The lesson of the Maine election Il
the Democratic party is that more inten
i've work IL required in other States b.
tween now and election day. If, as son
insist the Democrats made no real e
fort to carry Maine, we can only hoI
that such apathy does not prevail In 9TH
debatable States, If. as Mr.. Daniels a