Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-09-22
DEMOCRATIC GLOOM.
Circles Disturbed by
News from Maine.


News from Maine.
Washington Correspondent New York
SUM
Washington, Sept 14-The amaz-
ing republican sweep in Maine has
left democrats and republicans here
gasping, the former with dismay, the
latter with amazement.
Confidence featured the prediction
outlook of leaders of both parties in
Washington Republicans looked for
and hoped for margin between
2,000 and $4,000. With the temper
of women voters still an uncertain
quantity, they were prepared even for
bitter disappointment.
On the side of the democrats there
was the usual number of claims, with
one notable exception. Josephus
Daniels, secretary of the navy, con-
coded the election to his political foes
and probably for that reason said
then and repeated to-day that the
Maine election meant nothing so far
as November is concerned.
As a matter of real fact. the wise
democratic leaders are sunk in deep
est gloom. They have excuses to
offer, but privately they admit that
this overwhelming expression of the
sentiment for republicanism and
against internationalism and the
party seeking to bring it about. is of
the utmost Importance.
What might be regarded as a
normal republican majority in Maine
would not have been such a terrific
body bloF to the Cox campaign.
There is truth in the assertion that,
other factors being equal, Maine may
be regarded ordinarily as a republic
can State. The excuse Is being made
that the democrats had not spent any
money in Maine. that the women
were not organized by the democrats
and that democratic women of one
religious denomination refrained
from registering because of a lack of
instructions from high dignitary of
their church. Privately all but a few
OF the democrats here, where judg-
ment means anything politically. ad-
NIT that these excuses do not begin to
explain away the avalanche of votes
under which they went down to de-
feat
Considered with the primary cleo
lions which have been held thus far,
the Maine election not only confirms
a tremendously strong general trend
toward Senator Harding and republi-
cantsm, but an equally powerful cur
rent of opinion of throwing overheard
the administration and all its works
with all aspirants to succession of he
same political complexion The
Maine fight was fought on the League
of Nations issue. Like the recent
New Hampshire and Georgia prima-
ries, the league adherents were
soundly thrashed
The claim is being made here that
the League issue did not mean much
in Maine, but that local issues over
Swallowed it to a great extent 1t is a
fact, however, that the Maine election
was very representative portion of
the solemn referendum" the admin
tstration sought and is going to get
on the League issue.
Gov. Cox is saddled with the
League issue inherited from Presi-
dent Wilson, and it was pointed out
to-day that it is too late for him to
turn back now or openly attempt to
minimize the issue. The tremendous
shocks to democratic hopes coming in
quick succession In New Hampshire.
Georgia and Maine. where the League
was the great issue at stake, have
caused much bitterness on the part of
some democrats because Gov. Cox so
eagerly swallowed the whole Wilson
scheme.