Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-29
.G. O.P. SEEKS HEAVY
MAJORITY IN MAINE
AS NATIONAL INDEX
Election September 10 Ex-
pected to Give Little Hope
to Democrats.
STATES DRY RECORD
HURDLE FOR SMITH
More Women Registered This Year.
Pattangall Bolt Held
Significant.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


PORTLAND. Me, August 29--Maine's
Importance in the present national
political campaign is about to be mag
nified out of all proportion to its six
votes in the electoral college. For the
Republicans and Democrats go to the
mat--or rather to the polls-~in Maine
almost two months before the general
election Maine is to be the barometer.
the straw which is 70 show which way
the wind is blowing. toward Hoover or
toward Smith.
The consequence is the Republicans
are going the limit to roll up as large a
majority in the Maine election on Sep
tember 10 as they possibly can; the
Democrats are seeking to hold that ma
jority to the lowest possible minimum
None of the Democrats really believes
they have a chance TO carry the State
That Is the impression given by leaders
with whom 4 have talked. They shake
their heads and say that Maine has
been Republican State for years-ex-
cept when the Republicans have split
and that all Of the newspapers in Maine
are Republican, and most of the money
Resent Early Vote.
Names September election does not
pick the presidential electors. 1t does
elect a governor. United States Sem
ator, all the members of the House and
many State officers The presidential
electors are chosen November s at the
same time as in the other At States.
Democrats are resentful that the
State elections should be held so many
weeks ahead of the national election
They figure, and they figure rightly,
that the Republican forces will make
desperate effort every four years to put
over their State ticket big" just for the
psychological effect upon the campaign
IN the rest of the country. That is what
Is happening here in Maine today.
In addition to so-called whirlwind
tours through every county. particle
pated in by the Republican candidates
for governor and Senator and the con-
gressional and State candidates, speak,
ers of national repute will be sent into
the State during these last 10 days of
the campaign The vice presidential
candidate. Senator Curtis, is to invade
the territory. Other speakers from the
outside will include Senator Jim"
Watson OF Indiana and Col Theodore
Roosevelt. jr. Of New York.
Democrats Not Active.
The Democrats say they are going
through the State campaign with practi-
cally no outside aid this year Whether
the Democratic national committee has
decided that there is little or no use In
sending money or speakers in or not,
the fact remains that few speakers and
little money are forthcoming from the
New York headquarters. Possibly the
Democrats are concealing plans for q
final drive, but this Is not likely.
AS the State eleceion goes. almost in
variably goes the national election In
Maine. There is little so far TO indicate
any likelihood OF a break In this rule
this year. There are those who believe
that Gov. Smith, the Democratic nomi-
nee for President, will do better in the
State than will the Democratic State
ticket. But that Smith will carry
Maine is beyond the widest dreams Of
the most sanguine Democrats.
Smith and his wet platform--a plat
form of his own making, not his party
is playing not little figure In the cam
paign for the State election. 1t was
bound to be SO in view of the emphasis
placed upon the results Of the State
election in Maine by the rest Of the
country. In measure, this Is unfor-
tunate for Gov Smith, particularly If
the predictions now made for big Re-
publican victory o September 10 are
borne out.
Pioneer In Dry Move.
Maine was a pioneer in the prohibi-
ton movement. and Is proud OF 1t. Its
first prohibitory law was enacted in
l849, 10 years ago. In 1851, the law
was strengthened and has been changed
since that time also. But Names dry
nag has been waving so long that any
talk OF hauling IL down now is ridiculed
by the political leaders. And. generally
speaking. the Republican party In
Maine has been the party Of the drys
and the Democratic party, the party of
the vets.
The selection of the Governor of New
York, recognized as q wet, by the Demo-
cratic party as IT. presidential candi-
date. has aroused, /, Is said. many of the
woman voters in Maine as they have
not been aroused in years, and has add
ed thousands of women 10 the list of
| registered voters women who have not
registered before.
There Is wet sentiment in Maine.
Make no mistake about that II is In
evidence today as 1t was II years ago
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