Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-03
KLAN FACTOR IN
some MAINE CITY
ELECTIONS TODAY

Eight Maine cities will hold their
municipal elections on Monday. They
are Bath, PASSPORT, Ellsworth, Lew
iston, Rockland, Saco, South Port
land and Waterville. In all but South
Portland lively contests for the may
orally and the control of the city
government are being waged, so that
they may be regarded as preliminary
skirmishes in which the relative
strength of the Republicans anc
Democrats in the urban centers OF
the State may be computed.
The Saco election has an unusual
factor, in that the Republican can
didate: John G. Smith, has received
the endorsement of ku Klux Khan
members in that city. He is oppos-
ing Walter ]. Gilpatric. Democrat,
who hes served as Mayor for the
past two years, and also a previous
term in 1911.
In South Portland. Mayor William
r. Mcdonald, Republican. is running
for fifth term and is unopposed by
a Democratic nominee. The only
contest is in the election of an alder
man from Ward Four where the
Democrats have nominated Fred w.
Higgins to oppose Albert +. Libby,
Republican.
\ lively contest is on in Bath be-
tween Allen NJ. Irish, representative
of a local shipbuilding firm. on the
Republican ticket. and Ralph o.
Dale, attorney, and Democratic COM
mitteeman. Last year Bath had
non partisan mayor Oliver Moses,
and a nom partisan city council.
In PASSPORT Edward F.. Hebron,
elected last year as the first Demo-
cratic mayor in eleven years, is OPP
posed by Edward c. Firth. former
Republican Mayor.
A contest is on in Ellsworth be-
tween Monroe Y. McGown, Republi-
can ana DR.. Lewis f. HOdgkins.
partisan, had been elected Mayor for
the past three years without OPPOSE
ton. so that this is the first trial of
party strength at city election
since 1920, when Frand D. Heath,
Democrat, was chosen.
In Lewiston, Mayor Louis J. Br;,nn.
who has been mentioned as a posi-
bic Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor, is n candidate for reelection
and is opposed by Prof. J. Murray
Carroll of Bates College. MIR. Brann
already has served four terms as
Mayor, the past two years and also
in 1915 and 1916.
Republicans are making a despor-
ate effort to win the Democratic
stronghold Of Rockland, which they
, have captured but once since 1914
in a mayoralty election. and then by
so narrow Il margin that it required
Il Supreme Court decision to settle
the dispute. Frank \. Richardson,
an eX-alderman and member or the
school committee, is the Democratic
nominee, while the Republicans have
named Lieutenant Commander Garlic
laon. +. Snow, member of n historic
Roekland family, as their standard
bearer.
The election is the first under II
new city charter. which has abolished
the common council and gives the
Mayor Il two-ycar term.
Republicans and Democrats have
nominated their strongest candidates
in Watcrville. The Republican cam
didate is DR.. Luther G.. Bunker, mem
Der of the Republican State Com
mittee. and Mayor in 1907 and 1908
He is opposing Mayor Leon O. Teb-
| belts. who has served for two years
Mayor TehhettS is the Democratic
candidate for Congress in the Third
| District and n former chairman OF
the Democratic State Committee, and
former Internal Revenue Collector
for the State of Maine.