Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1920 — THE MAINE ELECTION [ARTICLE]

THE MAINE ELECTION

As usual, the Republicans are publicly jubilating over carrying the state of Maine in the state election held a few days ago. But there is nothing in particular to jubilate over Maine going 65,000 Republican. It would have been surprising, how-' ever, had it went any other way but strongly Republican. Maine, like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut, with its munition industries which fatten off the blood shed upon the battle fields of the world, is most assuredly against any proposal that will put an end to war or induce a curtailment of the armament of the world. Besides, the Republicans have always put forth great efforts to pile up a big majority in the state- election in Maine for the “effect” it is hoped to have on the party all over the country in bolstering up a lagging campaign, and huge sums of money are poured into the state every four years to make a' big showing at its September election. The Democrats had no money to spend, and especially on hopeless Maine, and made no effort to put up a real campaign there. However, the graveyard whistling of the g. o. p. press is not unanimous by any means. .The Indianapolis Star, the recognized state organ of the Republican party, says: The result in .Maine is encouraging to the Republicans, but it does not go very far. That is to say, it confirms an impression already prevalent in both parties, that New England is unfavorable to the league of nations. • * *

But all this sheds Ijttle light upon the disposition of the middle west, where sentiment for the league is strong, or the far west, where it is even stronger. Nor does it affect in any way the causes of local discontent in states like Indiana, where revolt is in the air against Republican mayors, governors and senators. Equally barren is the Maine result of any evidence concerning the ‘Nonpartisan League of the far northwest or the peculiar conditions in places dominated by eccentric statesmen like Johnson, Capper and Borah. The result, in fact, is to be deplored from one point of view, and that is the encouragement it is certain to give to the isolationist propaganda everywhere. The idea will, immediately be put forward that the people regard the league with horror, and that from now on the Republican battle mudt be waged along those lines. Such a deduction would, not only be unwise, but would also be untrue; for the only chance the Republicans have of winning the Independent which craves to see our position in the world repre- ■ sent sympathy Instead of cold in- j difference toward suffering Europe, l is for Mr. Harding to adhere to his recent utterances favorable to the league in amended form. It has been demonstrated that the east does not control thi presidential elections any more; that they can be won without the east; that the great middle west and west is the 1

factor which must be reckoned with, and while the munitlon-factoried New England states don’t want any curtailment in war preparedness—not only in this country, but all over the world, to which its products are sent —the greater part of the balance of the country’ wishes to see world-wide peace and its people will show in November that it is strongly for the league of nations, which compels peace, so far as It Is humanly possible to insure it, and makes further wars most improbable indeed.