New-York tribune., 1920-09-09
Maine Victory
OF Republicans
Set at 10000
National Committeeman Pre-.
diets Sweeping Triumph
for Entire Ticket After
Careful Canvass of State
Women Voters Aroused
Democratic Campaign of
Mudslinging Declared to
Have Proved Boomerang
BY Charles T. White

PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. S.-Guy P.
Gannett, Republican National Commit
teeman for Maine, to-day claimed Maine
for the Republicans in the election
Monday by plurality Of from $4,000
to 10000.
Mr.. Gannett, who is a member of the
Maine State Senate, has visited every
county and town of any size in the state
in the last two months. Mrs. Gannctt
one OF the state woman organizers, has
accompanied him most Of the time, and
the prediction of an unprecedented Re-
publican sweep is made after a careful
review of the entire situation.
The tide is Enthusiastically Republi-
cen,' said Senator Gannett to The Trib-
une correspondent.
lhlngs were somewhat dead until the
Democratic state organization people
possibly in collusion with the Demo
cratic National Committee, sprang an
attack on Colonel Frederic H. Park
tlcally charging him with irregularity
in connection with government con-
tracts during rlte war.
Republicans Aroused by Attack
Colonel Parkhurst's standing is such
that instead of hurting him the alta ok
aroused Republicans all over the state
putting spirit of fight into them and
sending them to the registration places
in increasing numbers. There is nc
longer any doubt of sweeping victory
on Monday. Four years ago Judge
Hughes carried Maine by about 5000
! while Governor MilliXen had margin
OF about 10000. Twosyears ego Gov
ernor MllIiken won by a margin of
5000. Two weeks ago it looked as if
10000 would be all that we could rea
sonably expect foc our state ticket
! am glad that the facts warrant boost
ing the figure higher
Our danger two weeks ago was over
confidence and apathy. Now from all
over the state we get the same story
that the Republicans, men and women
alike, are IN fighting mood and that
the stay -at-kome vote will be small
thousands Of women who were indif-
fercnt ten days ago are aroused by
the Democratic campaign of vilifca-
tlon and mud throwing.
"They not only are registering for
Mondays election but are enrolling
as regular party members and asking
for chance to work. The women of
Maine remember that the Wilson &d-
ministration fooled the people four
years ago on the He kept US out of
war slogan, and they do not take any
stock now in the Wilson League of
Nations. The Republicans will elect
their entire state ticket and all four
congressman, all by increased plural-
ties.
The Democrats have not tried to
make campaign outside of the coun-
ties OF Androscoggin and Knox, where
they have good organizations, but in
those counties the Republicans will
give their opponents the stiffest bat
ties they ever have had, and we expect
to increase the Republican vote in both
Of those counties. Many Democratic
leaders concede the state to us by in
creased pluralities. There is every in
dication that Maine Republicans will
await the battle with confidence. AS
Maine goes so goes the nation"
State Chairman Ham and Senator
Gannett say Representative Ira G.
Hersey will be reelected in the fourth
district by largely increased margin.
The Fourth district includes Aroostook
County, the potato belt; Penobscot
County, producing lumber and wood
products, and Piscataquis County, all
of which are rock-ribbed Republican
The northern Maine Republicans de-
mand a protective tariff. They are close
up against New Brunswick. Canada
where potato raising and lumber
production arc az profitable as in
northern Maine, and the Maine farm
ers always have demanded a protective
| tariff as against cheaper labor condi.
tions across the Canadian border
These northern Maine Republicans
know that they are operating under
the Underwood tariff of 1914, which
! before the opening of the war; brought
. about widespread business stagnat or
! They argue tha: unless there is &
Change III admins H:.t on at Washing
ton the depressed business conditions
VIII return.
Solid for Harding and Protection
Whether their reasoning is sound OF
not they arc almost solidly shouting
for Harding and Coolidge and a pro.ec-
tive tariff. Aroostouk County has TO
been carried by til: Democrats for q
state or county office for the last gen
| Grafton. Piscataqu's County has al
most the same kind of record of un
broken Republican control. Perobsco,
/ County is the largest in pop.lat;on
containing Bangor, Brewer, and Old
town. While Penobscot has gone Dem
tcratic half dozen times in the last
twenty years, four years ago II Wen'
solidly Republican, ard the lc;<;cr:
there say that the Republicans wi!
sweep it this year.
Representative Ira G.. Hersey, whose
reelection seems assured, served ir
the Maine Legislature in 1909-'12 anc
| in the State Senate in l913-14. HI
was president Of the Maine Senate ir
19l5'l6. He was elected to the 65tt
Congress in 1916 by vote Of IT,,
CAT TO 12,969 for his opponent. Leonard
Pierce, and he was reelected in 1918
Halbert p. Gardner, of Portland, Pro.
gressive candidate for Governor in
1914, who has ca, paigned all arounc
the state this year for the Republicans
in commenting to-day on the situa.
tion in the state said:
''The fight is all gone out of the
Democrats. They do not seem to be
Androscoggin and Knox counties, anc
80 far as | can see they are not look
ing after the registration of womer
voters as the Republicans are doing
The attack by Pattangall, the Demo.
cratic state leader. on Colonel Park
hurst has proved to be boomerang
After talking around the state l am
Of the conviction that the people are
tired Of the League of Nations and
are reads' to dump it at the first op.
portunity. know that platform
declaration to that effect will get Q
rise out Of an audience more certain.
! ly han anything else"
Colonel Charles g. Prescott, owner
Of The Biddeford Journal, in Portland
! to attend the Coolidge meeting, said
the vote for Senator Moses in the