Evening star., 1926-09-15
Politics at Large
By G.. Could Lincoln.

the Nation" the Republicans snoulo
be fairly we'll satisfied with the re-
suits in the Pine Tree State on Mon
day. They reelected their governor
Ralph o. Brewster, by 10000 majority
and reelected the States four repre-
sentatives in the House, all RepuDh-
cans, not to mention electing a large
ma jority of the State Legislature.
1t was estimated by Chairman Old
field of the Democratic congressional
campaign committee that cut IN
the Republican majority to 10000, or
even $4,000, in the gubernatorial race
would be tantamount to a Democratic
victory, in view of the fact that
Maine in more than half a century
has gone always Republican except
in very few instances. Two years
ago Gov. Brewster was elected by
a majority of about $4,000. The Demo-
Gratis argue that to cut this down
to 10000 Is a respectable showing.
The Republicans, on the other hand.
point out that this Is an off year, with
no presidential election. and that as
matter of fact the vote on Mon
day was $1,000 less than that cast In
1924, when President Coolidge carried
the State by a big majority. There
seems to be some comfort for both
Democrats and Republicans in the
results.
** x 4
In view of the strong republicanism
of Maine, it is scarcely fair to say that
as Maine goes. SO does the Nation.
Maine is as surely Republican as Ten
nessee, for example, is Democratic.
But the Maine election is held in Sep
tember, almost two months ahead of
the rest Of the States. 1t is the first
test Of strength at the polls. For that
reason some significance has been at
tached to the result, though the size
of the Republican majority rather
than victory or defeat has been the
index used.
Only once since the Civil War has
Maine gone Democratic in a presi-
Dental election. That was in 1912,
when the Bull Moose split the Repub-
l1can ranks wide open, and Wilson
carried the State by minority vote,
the combined Republican and Progress
s1Ve votes exceeding the Democratic.
X X *
Stalwart Republicans in Wisconsin
are taking satisfaction from the VIC
tory of Fred Zimmerman i'm the race
for the Republican gubernatorial NOM
Ai'ANANh' <hStS oCiis L. ILhCI
the choice of Senator Robert NJ
La Toilette, jr., and Gov. Blaine for
the nomination, was defeated by about
$4,000. Zimmerman ran as a La Fol
lette Progressive" but attacked the
Madison ring, which is the name given
the La Toilette organization since the
death of the late Senator La Toilette
more than a year ago. Zimmerman's
victory was due to a shift of about
100000 stalwart votes from the bona
fide stalwart CT candidate, Charles b.
Perry, to Zimmerman. Evidently the
stalwarts hope that Zimmerman, if
elected governor, will be forced to
align himself with the stalwart faction
of the Republican party in Wisconsin.
If he does. and does this openly, it is
a question how long the Progressives
who supported him in the primary
held a week ago will remain with him.
The La Toilette Progressives are
considering the advisability of run
ming either Ekern or Philip La Fol
lette, the second son of the late Sen
ator, as an Independent Progressive
against Zimmerman in the general
election. There is some doubt as to the
wisdom of such course. 1t might be
better strategy to permit the election
Of Zimmerman. Zimmerman will be
compelled in the end either to join
forces with the La Toilette Progress
sive organization or swing over to the
stalwarts. Whichever course he fol.
lows should in the long run be for
the benefit of the La Toilette Progress
sives. Any actual and open union with
the stalwarts would probably spell his
political downfall in 1928.
X X x X
Perry, the stalwart candidate fol
governor, received only about ,00t
votes in the primary, as compared tt
about 140, 200 polled by the stalwar1
candidate for the gubernatorial nom
| ination two years ago. 1t is not diff
ficult to see what happened in Wis
consin this year. The stalwarts art
| playing a desperate game to breal
up the La Toilette organization.
Senator Lenroot, recognized as ont
of the ablest debaters on the Repub
lican side of the Senate chamber
will not be a member of the mex
| Congress, having fallen before Gov
Blaine, the La Toilette Progressive
| in the Wisconsin primaries. Senator
Lenroot's defeat was expected, fol
| the La Toilette leaders have long haC
| their knives Sharpened for him. HI
ran, not as a stalwart, but as {
i Progressive, too. The charge wa!
made in Wisconsin that his candidac!
| was linked up with that of thinner
man. Whether it was or not, he die
not receive sufficient Progressive sup
port to put him ahead of Gov
Blaine.
Democrats in Pennsylvania and Ou
of it are beginning to ask themselve!
seriously whether former Secretary O
Labor Wilson, their nominee for thu
Senate, really has a chance of winning
against Representative William S
Ware, Republican nominee. Not few
Republicans have declared their in
tention of voting for Wilson a.
against Ware, some of them because
| Ware is wringing wet, others be
| cause they have been shocked by th'
I revelations of expenditures of none.
1 for Ware in the primary campaign
The most recent happening which ha
heartened the Democrats is the an
| nouncement Of Gov. Pinchot that h
will not be a candidate for the Senat
| on the Labor party ticket, and that h
cannot support Ware. If Pinchot ha,
run, the opposition to Ware, which i
| considerable, would have been spill
between the governor and Mr.. vii
| son. Now the Democrats hope thi
| opposition will solidify around thei
| candidate. The drys will do thei
utmost for Wilson, who is a prohi
bitionist. Much of the Pinchot follow
| ing is expected to swing to him
| Progressive Republicans will be urge,
| by Senator Norris of Nebraska t,
| get behind Wilson, too. Senator Nor
ris will campaign for the Democra
in Pennsylvania. He served with Mr.
| Wilson in the House of Represent
atives before Wilson became Secre
! tary of Labor in the Wilson cabinet
| Officials of the American Federation
of Labor have announced also the,
Will do their utmost to help elec
Wilson.
| Ware. on the other hand, has th
strength of the Republican organiza
ton Of Pennsylvania back of him. in
Cluding the Philadelnhia poocbioe