Evening star., 1938-09-11

extraction will work both for and
against him. There are . good many
so-called "Frenchmen" in the district.
On the other hand there Is q group
which will strongly oppose the election
of one Of these Frenchmen.
Mr.. Smith, a member Of the House
Labor Committee, helped to frame the
wage-hour bill and supported it vigor-
ously. This, taken in connection with
the fact that he Is an adroit politician,
makes it more difficult for Dubord to
undermine him. Mr.. Dubord was de-
feated two years ago when he was the
Democratic nominee for Governor, los
ing to Gov. Barrows by 1916 to
130.466. He carried only two coun-
ties at that time and he failed to carry
the second district. in which he is now
running.
Former Gov Brann, who was twice
lected chief executive Of the State,
Is the hope Of many Of the Democrats
He, however, seems no stronger this
year than he did in 1886 when he
was defeated by Senator White in the
senatorial contest, 158,06 to 153,420.
In that year the Democrats did their
level best to put Brann across. The
Republicans claim they will defeat
him tomorrow by from 5000 to 80 1000
votes. His traditional personal popu-
larity apparently is the cause Of their
uncertainty as to the size of his vote.
A Question Of Benefits"
Mr.. Brann has been telling the
voters that if they really want to
benefit from the Federal Treasury,
they should elect him Governor. Mr..
Barrows replies that he was able to
get more money-or did get more
money-from Washington for the State
Of Maine in one year than Brann did
in any year of his tenure Of Office.
Barrows' chief claim to favor. how
ever, is that he succeeded in balancing
the State budget and at the same time
has made provision for paying of
the 100000 deficit which he In
herited from Brann when he became
Governor That is something the
Maine Republicans can understand
and appreciate. He has done it without
increasing taxes. also, they say. Only
recently the State auditor put out
a long and detailed statement, show
ing just what Barrows had been able
to accomplish along financial lines.
The auditor is not appointed by the
Governor. He is elected by the peo-
pie. This makes his statement all the
more effective.
The Democrats have sought to raise
against Gov. Barrows the issue of the
theft of about $4,000 from the
Auburn Registry-received for auto
mobile licenses which happened
months ago. The Governor, however,
responsible. He discharged the chief
of the State Police. Wilbur H. Towle,
soon after the robbery. and Towle
declared that If he had not been dis
missed he would have cleared up
the robbery-intimating that the Gov
ernor was trying to cover up some one.
The voters, however, have not taken
this issue very seriously. The Gov
ernor had other reasons, it has been
pointed out, for firing Towle-who
is now on the stump against Barrows
and for Brann Brann appointed
Towle originally chief Of police.
Former Representative Edward c.
Moran, jr.. now a member of the
United States Maritime Commission.
who has been the fair-haired boy from
this neck of the woods with the New
Deal administration, is not giving Mr..
Brann any support. In fact. he has
turned cold shoulder toward the
gubernatorial candidate. So the Demo-
Gratis are not entirely united. The
Brann-Moran feud is of long standing.