Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-09
Maine Goes as Usual.


is nothing new in the political history
of the Pine Tree State. The unusual
would have been Democratic victory
for Governor or any of the congress
sional Offices. Maine, however, has re-
elected its Republican Governor, elected
another Republican Senator and sent
four Republican Representatives to the
House, its entire delegation.
Doubtless the Republicans will take
courage for the coming national congress
sional campaign from this clean sweep
The Democrats, on the other hand
will point to the greatly reduced ma
jorities of the Republican candidates
rs compared to 1928 and even to 1926.
They will point to the fact that the
vote cast is one of the lightest polled
in years and interpret 1t as an indica
ton that the voters. in strongly Re-
publican State, were Indifferent to the
fate of the party.
The truth of the matter is that the
people of Maine have not been aroused
in the campaign-with the possible ex-
ception of the gubernatorial race. That
contest was fought out almost entirely
on State issues. Gov. william Tudor
Gardiner, triumphantly elected in 1928
by a majority of 10000 votes, appar-
emily has lead over his Democratic
opponent in yesterdays election of
about $4,000 votes. Gov. Gardiner, how
ever, had lost much of the popularity
which he had two years ago. His adj
ministration of State affairs has been
under IRE from his opponents, who
have charged extravaganza and fall
ure on the part of the Governor to give
due consideration to the wishes Of q
majority Of the people in regard to
certain legislative matters. Further
more, the Governor, in clash with the
Highway Commission. which he found
In ONCE when he became chief execu-
tive, forced the retirement of the COM
missioners, and some of them, good Re-
publicans, have resented this bitterly.
The Democrats, therefore, can scarcely
claim that national issues have had
anything to do with the cut in the ma
jority by which Maine has elected a
Republican Governor. Representative
| Wallace H. White, the G. o. p. candi-
date for the Senate, won over his Demo-
cratic opponent by about 81, 900 votes.
In 1925 the Republicans elected Senator
Gould by q majority of $4,000. The
vote cast in the senatorial election this
year as compared with 1925 is approxi-
mately the same in size. Here, appar-
emily, the Democrats have made gain,
in q contest for the National Legis-
lature, although the final vote may re-
duce this gain.
In the second congressional district,
which is represented in the House by
M. White, now elevated to the Senate,
Partridge, the Republican candidate,
defeated his Democratic opponent by
approximately 5000 votes. This Is about
the same lead which Mr.. White had
over his Democratic opponent in 1926,
the last off-year election. 1t was in
this district that Democratic leaders
hoped they might be able to win yes
terday. The result, i9wever, has not
much comfort for the Democrats.
It viii be difficult to figure the re-
suits Of these congressional elections
in Maine yesterday as q political ba-
rometer for the rest Of the country.
It is true that In some instances the
Republican majorities have been re-
duced. But that has been due partly
to the light vote cast and partly to
State issues rather than national. The
Republicans have held fast to what
they had. On the other hand, the
Republican national organization made
desperate efforts to aid the local Re-
publican organization to carry all these
elections, while the Democratic National
| Committee left the Maine fight almost
entirely to the Maine Democrats.
If the people throughout the coun-
try are as little interested in politics
this year as they have apparently been
| In Maine the threatened uprising
against the Republican party may not
be SO severe as the Democrats have
claimed. 1t must be said, however, that
the people Of Maine have not been hit
by the business depression to the extent
some other parts Of the country have
suffered in the last year.