Evening star., 1922-09-10
MAINE MAY FIGURE AGAIN
AS POLITICAL SIGN POST
Old Slogan Recalled as Voters Prepare
For Test at Polls Tomorrow-Leaders
Watching Result.

were the forerunners of constitutional
prohibition.
In the September election Of 1856
Hannibal Hamlin, who was the run
ming mate of Abraham Lincoln in
1850. was elected governor. This very
pointing of the way" made Hamlin
the vice presidential candidate OF the
republican party in 1860.
Through the civil war period
Names Septembec election gave
heart to the Union cause Lot NJ
Morrill, and Israel washburn, tr.. two
war governors of Maine, became ma
tional characters. After the war Gen.
Joshua Chamberlain. a war hero. was
elected governor of Maine in three
successive September elections. each
announcing to the country the loyal
ty of Maine to the doctrines Of peace
and prosperity"
When the greenback craze swept
over the country I'm 1875 and 1880
and in September. 1879. Maine was
nearly driven to civil war. 1t was
the era OF fusion and the episode
known as the Attempted state steal"
The fusionists united in 1879 and
claimed the election of governor In
the September election. That con-
test attracted the attention Of the
whole country. and all the skill and
wisdom of state and national leaders
were required to escape bloodshed.
Strange certificates of election ar-
peared. followed by charges of
crooked conduct
The controversy was NOT settled
until the state supreme court was
called upon to determine the genu-
ineness of certain certificates of cleo
ton. In this critical priod James G.
Blaine and Nelson Dingley. jr.. were
the republican leaders. The Septem-
ber election was not settled until
January ! following.
Political Sign Post.
The Union did not go as Maine went
in 1880. Garfield was elected Presi-
dent. and the republicans controlled
the lower house of Congress, follow
ing the democratic-fusion victory in
Main in September.
However. two years later and every
two years since until 1910. Names
September election has pointed the
way, to republican victory in No
vember. In 1910 the horoscope was
wrong again. The Maine democrats
elected their governor in September.
but Congress was republican. In 1912
the horoscope was wrong again. The
September Maine election produced
republican governor, but democratic
President and Congress Were elected
in November. This program was re-
peated In 1914 and 1916. The ancient
shibboleth did not work. In 1918 "as
goes Maine so goes the Union" re-
turned to business at the old stand.
The Maine republicans elected their
state ticket in September. and in No
vember the republicans captured the
lower house of Congress
In 1920 there was nothing to it,
for every one seemed to know that
the Maine September election was
the forerunner of a political cyclone
1t was.
Tomorrow. September IL, Maine
elects a governor. all other state off,
GERS and four members of Congress
VIII the old saying. LAS goes Maine
so goes the Union" still be on the Job?
This year. perhaps more than ever.
the country is watching the Maine
election. What effect will the strikes,
the majority party record in Con-
gress, the soldiers bonus and the
tariff have on the vote tomorrow?
Will the result be a guide to pub
lie sentiment? Will the sentiment
registered persist until November?