The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-21
MAINE VOTERS
GIVE VICTORY
TO BACHELORS
Senator Hale and
Others Win IN
Primaries.
BY HELEN HAVENER-

COnSOllQaJeu Press correspondent
Copyright, 1922, by The Argus-)
Portland. Maine, June 21.-This
is a poor state for married men to
seek office on the issue that they are
better qualified than bachelors. II
you don't believe this ask Senator
Frederick Hale, Governor PerciVal
p. Baxter, Sheriff King F. Graham
of Cumberland county, and some OF
the other candidates for minor
offices who were successful at the
recent primary election. Informa-
tion available here today indicates
that the bachelors had a clean
sweep defeating all of their married
opponents. So disappears another
sweet assumption: That women
with the vote would see that the
married men were rewarded.
Both of the opponents of Senator
Hale in the primaries, former Rep
resentative Frank E. Guernsey and
former State Senator Davies were
married men. OF course it was in
behalf of Mr.. Davies that the mar
riage issue was raised. In letters
sent broadcast by both the candi-
date and his wife the superior ad-
vantageS of married man for hold
ing office were set forth. But it
did no good and Senator Hale, the
first bachelor senator Maine has
had for more than half a century,
triumphed.
This Sounds Helpful.
1t was recalled today that the
senator is a great grandson of that
John Orr of Bedford, n. H., who
! fighting under General Stark at
the battle of Bennington, was
crippled but later married and
raised a large family. Congress
woman Alice Robertson of Okla
lhoma, the only woman in the house,
lis another descendant of that mar
| riage.
! Governor Percival P. Baxter, re-
nominated by liberal majority,
also is a bachelor. while the two
men who opposed him, Judge John
P. Deering of Saco, and Leon +.
Higgins of Brewer, are married
and their friends urged this fact as
a reason why they should get the
votes of the people. Sheriff King r.
! Graham in Cumberland county was
fought rather bitterly on the issue
of non-marriage by married op-
ponent but he triumphed in an over
whelming manner.
Women Prefer Bachelors.
! incidentally, to make the issue
seem more certain three bachelors
were nominated for office here in
Portland with the women recording
their preference for the first time IN
a primary contest. The women
turned out in great numbers to vote
DESPITE the fact that one Of the
worst storms of fifty years pre-
vailed in this vicinity. But that
made no difference to them. Ihey
pIodded to the polls and cast their
ballots and the campaign managers
agree that they voted right.
The unique contest, especially for
the senatorship, provided a lot OF
amusement for many Maine resi-
dents. Lieutenants of Mr.. Davies
find an excuse for his defeat but
when he was asked for a statement
he replied:
comment at all"
Benedicts Blame Weather.
| Despite this TACT MS IolIo"els SdJ
that the result was hardly fa1l
test for their side The strength oi
Senator Hale in the cities had beer
conceded, they point out. But tht
severe storm was a distinct handl
cap to the people getting to th'
. polling places in the rural secuons
incidentally they also declare tina
the newspapers in every sectlol
favored the incumbent and 1t wal
, inpossibIe for them to get theil
, side of the case before the voters.
There is some talk today tha
desnite his defeat at the polls Mr.
; Davies may become an Independent
candidate at the fall election. How
t ever. up to the present this is onl,
talk and Mr.. Davies has made NJ
announcement of his intentions