Evening star., 1932-09-10
RECORD VOTE SEEN
IN MAINE MONDAY
Pine Tree State Winds Up
One of Hottest Campaigns
in Its History.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PORTLAND, Me, September 10-On
Monday, after one Of the most spirited
campaigns in the history Of the Pine
Tree State, the voters of Maine will go
to the polls to elect a Governor and
three Representatives. Because Maine
alone in the Onion still holds its elec-
tions two months before the country
elects its President, political observers
all over the country will examine closely
the results of Mondays ba!loting for
political straws which may give an in
dication Of which way the wind will
blow in November.
Ever since 184O, when Maine went
:. hell bent for Gov. Kent" and the
Nation two months later elected William
Henry Harrison to the presidency, poll
ticians have been fond Of saying, "As
Maine goes, so goes the Union"
Rock-Ribbed Since 1856.
Since 1856, when the Republican
party came into existence, Maine has
been rock-ribbed in its Republicanism.
None OF the Democratic victories since
1856 was preceded by the seating of a
Democratic Governor of Maine two
months earlier, so it is evident that the
Maine barometer Is far from being in
fallible. Generally speaking, however,
the significance of the Maine elections
can be read In the size of the Republi-
can plurality. That Is where the poll
ticians will seek their omens next Tues
day morning.
Leaders of both parties are virtually
agreed that the Democrats can hardly
count on doing more than electing one
of the three Representatives and max
ing a good fight for the Governorship.
The size Of the Republican plurality in
the latter battle is expected to give the
best indication of what may happen in
November. If Burleigh Martin, former
mayor of Augusta, speaker Of the House
and present president of the Senate.
wins the Governors mantle by a plu-
rality Of more thar $4,000 over his op-
ponent, Louis i, Brann, five times
mayor of Le~.spon and one Of the
States most brilliant lawyers, then the
Republicans will feel encouraged over
President Hoover's chances. There will
be little comfort for the G. o. p, how
ever, If the Martin-Bra contest turns
out to be close.
Used Outside Speakers.
Both parties, at the opening Of the
Maine campaign, took the position that
they would stay out of the State battle,
but both have ended by jumping in
actively. The Democrats have sent in
Gov Ely and Senator Walsh Of Mas
sachusetts, former Gov. Nellie Tayloe
Ross of Wyoming, Gov. Ritchie of Mary
land, Senators Copeland and Wagner OF
New York, and even Gene Tunney, the
retired heavyweight king.
The Republicans have sought to
strengthen the party's hold on Maine by
letting the down-Essters listen to the
arguments of Mrs Dolly Gam. Repre-
sentative Luce of Massachusetts,, Sena-
tor Moses of New Hampshire, and. as a
climax, Ogden Mills. Secretary Of the
Treasury
1t has been clear ever since the pri-
marieS last June thai Maine Republi-
cans we're facing the sternest opposition
they have had from the Democrats since
1914, the last time the latter were able
to elect Governor.
It was the Democrats, rather than
the Republicans, who benefited from the
congressional redistricting. which cut
down Names representation from four
to three, The normally Republican
third district has been swallowed up in
new second district. which includes
two strongly Democratic counties.
Soft -Pedaled Dry Issue.
1t Is from this new second district
that 1.-The Democrats feel confident OF
sending to Congress Edward C..
Moran, jr., popular young insurance
man. The Republican vote will be split
between John E. Nelson. the congress
sional veteran who won the Republican