Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-22
THE MAINE ELECTIOy.

THE MAINE ELKCTION.
The Maine election. held early IN |
septsmbsr. for years has been regard
.si as q political barometer, Its results |
ind,rut,v~ Of the general trend OF the
countryS verdict at tho general elec-
ton contests IN November. This year. |
ihercforu. Tho voice OF Maine as II
viii, bc expressed At the election TO be
held next month II awaited with un-
usual interest. In 1890 Maine gave a
Republican plurality OF $1,000 mt the
September State election, and piu-
rrlity of $4,000 for Prcsidsnt Hard
ns IN November. Thus. the Maine
election In September was strongly
Indicative Of the Republican tidal wave
which deiuscd the entire country two
months later.
Maine began TO be looked upon as
this kind OF . political barometer as
far hack a. 1870. when. az the State
election. n won't. he'll ben. for Gov
srnor Kent.- thus breaking away from
its strong Democratic moorings for a
scoro Of years and indicating the great
,whis triumph which elected General
william Henry Harrison President
that year. But about 1850 Maine be-
gan TO &c, errauc In her September
vcrdiois, and the reputation OF the
STATE as an unerrins political ha-
romc,cr was sadly shattered unrl two
years ago.
Pu. II Is far from probable that
Niaine's reputation in this respect VIII
ne IN any manner sustained By this
yeArs septsmber oontsst The condi-
sions at this time are v~y unusuai.
with che Republican party distracted
all over De country. N u not held
20 hc possh,e that Maine Republicans
can esoAps the effects Of this general
demorai,Aton. and thresore, no such
Republican landslide ~ that Of two
years ago 10 looked for next month.
But while Democrats are hopeful OF
q srea, change At the election soon
20 be held IN Maine. SUFFICIENT in ex-
ten, 70 Be indicative OF conditions
throughout the country. they srs
,,;sely 20 b. disappointed. Maine. In
the nrrs place, has been An almost
assured Republican State since ths
civn War. actually slipping her party
mocr,nss on very few occasions. VIII
no preliminary stats election. Maine
probot,y wvuid vote IN accord viii
tho general trend OF the rest OF th'
country. but the influence OF this gen
,rl trend VIII BE- checked at the Stat
election by the extraordinary efforts
which the Republican party manager
Are putting forth 20 hold Maine 'ru
90 the party by majority sufficien
20 b. somewhat impressive. They d
no, expect anything like tho irnfnens
majority Of 1870. but they hope q
keep IN. state from going over 20 IN
enemy.
Th,, ,rsxpenious Republican enor'
o.ntersd upon . single state. is boun'
20 make a differences. Party lenders ar
aroused ~ q ssnse OF Impending dan
rer ara are bringins al possible in
nuenccs 20 bear upon Maine voter
pr~s,d.nt yInr-iins has Joined in III
rYor, by writing = letter for publics
zion An which he expressed tho hor
that Maine Republicans would,
their September eleciion. give ir
dorssmcnt to the policies Of his az
nin,st,rtion. II is certain, thers1r
ths, ,h,s intense Republican can
taisr. supported by all the infuene
OF the administration. will brins PEI
sonsi pr.ssws upon every 1epubficn
voter IN Maine, with the hope OF II
ducins "a many a. possible 10 fores
th.ir disappointment and disgust
general conditions under the Eepubl
can national administration and col
tinus In loyal allegiance TO their o
party. That these efforts Will fayorab
infect hundrsdA OF Republicans WI
otherwise would have refrained fro
voting. and many others who wou
have supported the Democratic cal
didates. " inevitable.
Democrats also are making a vigo
Gus campaign In Maine. but they ha'
a heavy task IN combating the reg
latlon RepublioAn majority and q
despersts efforts that arc being y
forth ty every agency of the kepub
es4n party to sustain their faiii