The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-13
See Much In
Decision OF
Maine Voters
BY DAVID LAw2ENcE
tCopyright BY The lItelltGencer)

washinston, sept 12.-"As SoH'
Maine - goes the nas!on"-ts's an old
political slogan. but for the hTst time
IN man. years both Democratic and
Republican chieftains agree nHon 'tS
broad significance The Republicans
have carried Maine for United states
senator and governor and believe the
yicrsry signifies national success: the
Democrats have cut down the Repno-
lican majority OF 1920 so2extensively
that they say n tne same percentages
OF sa!n. Is made by the Democratic
party In doubtful states as was made
sy the Democrats In normally Renao-
Ncan state. the control Of congress next
autumn would seem certain o; change.
More interesting as reflection q
vha, the Republicans really felt about
the Maine election was III" statement
o. John r Adams chairman of the
Republican national COMMITTEES. issued
lust before the election than after. Mr.
Adams cautiously pointed out tnat
Maine although safely Republican. Is
not Overwhelmingly so. and added tnat
the Democrats have put NJ good
rSht all along the line" and tha, NUM-
Der Of Republicans who were S'hedned
to s2eak had 20 cancel their meetings
and remain in Washington because "t
press or lsS'Si5'sNs MAT 'S'~'
This guarded language simply mean:
that the Republicans knew they would
lose votes but they did not know how
badly :hey would fare as compared -
1920. The Democrats. OF The other
hand. were privately iuh'lanc and really
expected 10 pull through the governor
ship.
In analyz'ng the Maine results. II
must not be- forgotten that major.ties
are practically double what they used
TO be. To- n" :n'al vote has been
swelled ny the enfranchtscnen OF
women. TIE Republicans carried Maine
n 1920 rCr Harding by 65."Op. which
represented what would ordinarily have
been a landslide with 10000 votes Al
though fnal rNSI'ts are not a"a'lab!e
at this moment. e I. should turn out
tha, the Republican majority for United
States senator was IN the ne'Choorhood
o. 10000 to 20 N0o this would mean the
equivalent ot ahou, 10000 20 $4,000 In
tho DAYS when women were not voting.
There are. oc course. varying view
rr!nts on what constitutes n normal
Republican majority In Maine. bu; me
political history .oc that STAT" shows
,ha, Il has rarely gone Democratic. $"
that tho Democrats were abcu: as far
of IN their calculations Of victory IN
Maine this year as they have been in
the past with -"specc 20 rocS-r.bhcd
PENNSYLVANIA Their most telling point.
however $ with respect 20 the per-
centags OF Democratic gain over Two
years ago. They insist. oc course. that
tho same ratio ~ gam applied else
where would mean a national victory.
The Republicans ar" ready % admit this
nuch--tnat me elections this fail win
show Democratic gains in many parts
or the country and that this - newt
ehIe N congressional year IN. the
Republicans refuse 70 coHcede that the
,ercen'aEe Will 10 sufNcen, 20 ca3tUr"
:he house Or senate
The argument In 4 nutshell. resolveR
ltxA', Into what percentage ~ Demo-
ratio gain will develop this November
fo- both sides adni: the conditions ot
1870 when the country was reactsng
from various HIS. arc not going 20 re
duplicated n 1922. Many cs those who
deserted rho Democratic party IN tho
hope OF fndlng something bet.er are
turning back - Their old Affiliations
srd even Republican leaders Will agree
hat certain districts which wc-a swApt
into the Republican column BY tho
Harding landslide Will ne found back
N tho Democratic column. The party
IN power always loses votes after \
tar'r 5Ill Is passed and there have been
many other controversial issues which
work against The Incumbent party
whether = be Republican or Democratic
Maine has proved that there vii! he
Democrat'c co.rS-'h" biz question Is
how much and whether the symptoms
"f discomfort in Maine are acu;" enough
- change the complexion ot congress
Ft's really too early - say ne Maine
e tho only northern safe wher" final
elections are held N September.