Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-20
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seven eighths Of the votes counted
| although the combined votes Of his
I two opponents, classed as drys, ex-
ceeded the winners total by 100000
His opponents in the three corner-
ed primary fight. which ended at the
polls yesterday, Senator George
Wharton Pepper and Governor Gift
ford Pinchot, conceded his nomina-
ton as returns from outlaying dis
tricts failed by a wide fargin to over
| come the Philadelphia lead.
His nearest rival, Senator Pepper,
whose candidacy had the backing
Of some of the dry forces and Of Sec
rotary of the Treasury Mellon. at
| tributed the Ware victory to "the or
ganization" and declared an ANALYSIS
of the returns failed to show any is
sue upon which the contest turned.
The greatest majority of the vot.
ers throughout the state wanted me,
while the organization wanted Vare,"
he said
Governor Pinchot made on attempt
to explain the result.
Mr.. Ware has won and have lost"
he said. After admitting it had been
his hope by winning the nomina-
ton, to carry on his work lin defend
ing the 18th amendment, forestry
conservation and giant power" he
declared he will continue that work,
anyhow"
Reports that Governor Pinchot
may become an Independent candi-
| date for- the senatorship were in
the air during the campaign, but
even when brought to the governors
attention, failed TO bring any express
sion from him. In his statement to-
day he said he had made a "cleancut,
open fight for certain great, definite
principles and I'm glad made it."
I'm the battle for these principles
! it is better to have fought and lost
than never to have fought at ALL" he
said.
Asked If anything in his state
ment could he construed as meaning
that he would run independently in
the general election next November,
he replied.
II have nothing TO add to the state
ment."
Returns tonight from 7,415 districts
of the S,2S1 in the state gave Ware
plurality of 103,SS5 over Pepper.
Vare's vote was 5S5.1s9 and Pep
per's 4S1.314 in the same districts,
Pinchot received 312.I06.
The total Republican vote was the
largest ever cast in a state primary.
With S66 districts still to report it
was 1,379.219.
Other candidates on the Ware
ticket were leading their opponents
in the incomplete returns although
by smaller pluralities than Congress-
man Edward Biedelman. former Lieu
tenant governor, who had the support
of the Ware organization, had
plurality in 7271 districts of 22,459
over John S. Fisher. former state
banking commissioner, who was the
candidate of the Mellon Fisher for
ces.
Political observers and supporters
of the opposing candidates sought, in
analyzing the returns today to de-
termine what issues and influences
were responsible for the result. They
differed as widely as the candidates.
Ware workers and leaders in
Philadelphia attributed it to much
the same influence as that ex-
pressed by Senator Pepper-ths eff
forts Of tn organization In the city.
which returned a plurality for the
congressman of 220,92S.
Advocates of modification of the
prohibition laws. among them Rep
resentative Ware himself, credited the
| outcome to desire on the part of the
voters to repudiate the present liquor
| laws. The congressman, without
waiting to receive the congratulations
of his friends and supporters here.
! slipped out Of the city early in the
day to Washington.
This Is not a personal victory"
he said in statement upon his ar
rival there. Il regard it rather as
| a victory for the people of the com
monwealth of Pennsylvania, they be-
~lieving in my platform and feeling
| that i am an agency for the express
! sion of their will and desire for a re-
turn of personal liberty and further
non interference with American
rights. which the Constitution of the
| United States originally granted
| them"