Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-06
Primaries To Be
Contested in n. -.


Boston, April 5.--(AP)-Contest
for Governor. although overshadowed
this year by the Congressional cleo
tions. promise lively primary and
election campaigns in New England
With regard to the primaries this is
particularly true in Maine. New Hamp-
shirt and Vermont.
All three of these states at present
are strongly under Republican control.
Vermont always has gone Republican.
Maine has had very few Democratic
governors and the last one was Oak
ley c. Curtis, elected In 1914. New
Hampshire. usually rated as a Repub-
lican state. occasionally has had an
overturn and as recently as 1922 elect
ed Fred H. Brown. Democrat, as
governor.
In Maine. Governor Ralph o.
Brewster. whose home is in Portland,
Is seeking denomination. He will be
opposed in the Republican primaries by
Majof Arthur L. Thayer of Augusta,
member OF his staff. Governor Brew
sters campaign for nomination and
election two years ago attracted wide
attention because he received the sup
port Of the Ku Klux Khan.
Governor John G. Winant Of New
Hampshire, who lives in Concord, is
ambitious to achieve a feat which his
predecessor tried unsucessfully to ac-
complish--the overturning of a poll
teal tradition. 1t has been unwritten
law in the Granite State that no gov
ernor should be given second term.
Governor Brown, who had received a
majority of 1854 in 1922, was the
Democratic nominee for reelection
but the Republicans rolled up a ma
jority Of 1899 for Winant.
Before he can test his ability to
break the tradition in the election
Governor Winant must overcome OPP
position within his party. He will
have as an opponent in the primaries
Huntley N. spOlding of Rochester.
chairman of tht state board of educa-
ton. The governor remarked some
time ago that his campaign would con-
sist of sticking to his Job.
Vermont also has an unwritten law
In politics. 1t demands that it's gov
errors be chosen alternately from the
east and west sides Of the Green
Mountain range which separates the
two sections for the whole length of
the state. Governor Franklin S. Bill
lings lives in Woodstock, on the east
side. He will not attempt TO upset
the tradition by asking for another
term. Two west side candidates al
ready have announced that they will
seek the Republican nomination for
governor, Judge John e. Weeks of
Middlebury, state commissioner of
public welfare. and Max L. Powell of
Burlington, attorney and hotel pro-
prietor. who was defeated for the
nomination in 1914.
Mayor Ernest L. Mclean of Au-
gusta Is unopposed for the Democratic
nomination for Governor of Maine.
The only candidate thus far announced
for the Democratic gubernatorial
nomination in New Hampshire is
Mayor Eaton D. Sargent of Nashua.
No one seems eager for the Demo-
cratic nomination in Vermont.
In the three southern New England
States 1t Is expected that the Repub-
lican governors will try for another
term. Present indications are that
there will be no opposition to the re-
nomination of Governor Alvan T. Full
Ter of Massachusetts, Governor Aram
j. Pothier of Rhode Island and Gov
ernor John H. Trumbull of Connecti-
cut. There have been no definite an
nouncements of candidates for the
Democratic nomination for governor
In these states, but in Massachusetts
the name of Joseph B. Ely of West
field has been put forward by one
section Of the party and there has
been much speculation as to whether
former Mayor James NJ. Curley of
Boston defeated by Fuller for COVER
nor in 1924, will try again.
Issues in the state campaigns are
still hazy. The Maine Democrats in
convention last month called for en-
forcement of 1.-The prohibitory law
and all other laws" favored tax revi-
sion and opposed federal and state
Capitalization Of government. The
Maine Republicans will adopt their
platform at Portland tomorrow. Con-
ventions In the other states Will come
later in the year.