Evening star., 1940-09-08
Maine 6. 0. P. Margin
Viewed as Reieciinq
Mostly State Issues
Few Republicans See
Majority of 5000
Predicted by Martin
BY SAM E. CONNER.

special correspondent OF The star.
AUGUSTA, Me-. Sept. 7.-While
Maine is expected to name Repub-
lican Governor, Republican Senator
and three Republican Representa-
tives at the election Monday, II
would be difficult to find a leader
who believes the majority will be
anywhere near the rs, 900 Represent
ative Joseph w. Martin, jr., chair
man of the Republican National
Committee, said he expects the State
to give Wendell L. Willkie for the
presidency.
But whether it holds at the 10000
of four years ago or drops to 35 600
which one of the candidates has ex-
pressed his belief it will be, or climbs
to $4,000, as Republican leaders hope
it will, the majority in no way will
reflect Names attitude in the presi-
Dental contest.
The size Of this majority will de-
pend upon the reaction Of the voters
to the so-called scandals which have
developed in the State administra-
ton in the last five months. They
center around charges of defalcation
of more than $l57,000 in the State
controllers office, first made early in
April. AS a result, legislative in
vestigation was begun and is still in
progress. 1t brought designations OF
the State commissioner of finance
and the State auditor.
Old Shortages Indicated.
1t also brought to light, evidence
tending to show that the defalca-
tions had been in progress through
out the four-year term of Demo
cratic Gov. Louis j. Brann, and that
there was reason to believe they hac
begun back in the administration o1
Gov. Baxter in 1921, when the ac-
cused official was bookkeeper in the
State Highway Department.: con-
tinued through the administrations
of Gov. Ralph o. Brewster, now g
Representative and the Republican
candidate for United States Senator
as we'll as of Gov. Gardiner, only to
expand when the accused official
moved into the once of State
controller.
No other shortages or thefts have
been uncovered by the legislative
committee. It was brought out that
State police trooper connected
with the Secretary of States Office
did accept $500 from the head of q
big trucking concern as a campaign
contribution in 1886, for Gov. Bar
rows, then Secretary OF State.
No leader in either party, speak
ing privately, will say that he has
any positive idea what public reac-
tion is going to do Monday.
Sole Issue In One Campaign.
The Democratic Candidate for
Governor, Fulton j. Redman, has
made his entire campaign on this
issue. His Republican opponent
Sumner Sewall. president of the
State Senate, who has insisted on a
thorough investigation, has cam
paigned on a theme of good govern
ment, national defense and the ex-
cellent financial condition of the
State under Republican control
Representative Brewster has based
his claim for election to the Senate
over former Gov. Brann upon his
record in Congress and upon opposi-
ton to the New Deal and the third
term.
A notable feature of the campaign
has been the defense Of Gov. Bar
rows by Mr.. Brann. The Democrat
senatorial candidate has charged
that the Governor was being perse-
cuted by enemies in the Republican
party itself. They are seeking to
make a goat of the Governor" is
the way Mr.. Brann has put it to his
audiences.