Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-18

Names big Republican majorities in
the early Fall election stimulated interest
in an already hot presidential campaign
and stirred up the usual arguments
among spokesman of the major parties
as we'll as Independents over the signifi-
canoe traditionally given to the result
in Maine by the Republicans.
Studying the general reaction, the
New York Evening Post independently
states: LAS we understand it, after
reading both Republican and Demo-
ton was highly important and not OF
the slightest significance" The Phila-
delphia Evening Bulletin independent
Republican, also considers that the
figures indicate that the breaks in
party ranks due to the occasional issues
OF the present campaign are not mate
rally affecting the political balance"
"Maineites do not do the voting for
other States" the Indianapolis Star
independent Republican, suggests, on
the other hand, but they are typical
Americans and marked drift of senti-
ment among them Is an indication of
what Americans in general are think
ing" And the Chattanooga News Cin-
dependent Democratic and anti-Smith)
offers the opinion: Gov. Smiths
friends are entitled to what comfort, If
any, they can get out of the election in
Maine. But it cannot be explained
away"
National Importance is seen by the
Butte Daily Post (Republican) in the
thought that 1.-The Democrats had been
trying to cut the States Republican
congressional and State-roster vote
down for the sake of the prestige there
might be in it for Smiths uses in No.
vember."
The Hartford Times independent
Democratic) feels that 1T is fair to as
sumo that one reason for having the
State election in September Is to sepa-
rate 1t from the national contest in
presidential years." but concludes that
apparently the election is influenced
quite as much by national questions in
September as it would be In November. u
AS to the standing of the State as a
barometer" the Worcester Gazette Qn-
criminal neglect on the part OF the
Democrats that they do not persuade
one of the solidest States of the solid
South to compete as barometer against
Maine. Then they could offset Repub-
lican claims based on the early Maine
election by claims of their own based on
an early Georgia election say. They
| could even undertake to show, using the
Georgia returns as basis, that the
Democrats would carry the Nation, two
to one"
"As a test of sentiment generally
the size of the Republican majority is
likely to prove unreliable" according
to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Gre
publican), which recognizes the exist
ence of varying cross-currents at work
IN every State and every section, which
make any attempt at prophecy hazard
ous." This view is held by the Grand
Rapids Press independent, which also
remarks, Let Michigan elect its gov
errors and Senators separately from the
presidential poll and in advance of 1t
| and there would be just as much sense
In saying so goes the country as Is
The case with Maine"
Numerous comments indicate a recog-
milton of two sides. The Ann Arbol
Daily News independently sees nc
promise that Herbert Hoover will be
elected President" but adds, Had
Smiths theories in regard to the dry
law made an appeal there, it would
have seemed logical for Democrats tt
be sent to Congress" The Kansas City
| Times independently summarizes its
views In the suggestion: The election
shows what the voters think of the
candidates for governor and Senator
How much else it shows Is problemati-
cal" That paper, however, feels that
1.-The just inference from Maine Is that
the Democratic dry country vote Is of
the reservation" The Haverhill Ga
zette independently holds that "vari.
GUS circumstances prevented in Maine
a political test of great national sig.
nificance."
tits long time till the presidential
election, and time is just as liable tt
be on the side Of the Democrats a!
the Republicans" says the Little Rncl
Arkansas Democrat (Democratic). The
Oklahoma City Times independently