National Affairs: Disordered Barometer

The polls opened. Maine walked in and cast its ballots. The polls closed and the count began. A few hours afterwards the Democrats shook their heads and admitted defeat. For Governor, William R. Pattangall, Democrat, went down by what the final count will probably show to be 40,000 or 50,000 votes before Ralph O. Brewster, Republican. Senator Bert M. Fernald, Republican, was reelected. The four Republican Congressmen were also reelected.

Maine, although normally Republican, is usually considered a barometer of the national election in November. This year, however, there was friction in the Republican ranks over the Governorship nomination. Mr. Brewster, supported by the Ku Klux Klan, won the primary after a recount. The Democrats thereupon made the Klan the issue. They called in Senator Underwood as a speaker. The Republicans called in General Dawes, Senators Watson and Willis, Speaker Gillette. They were scared. The Republican press went so far as to say in advance that Maine was no barometer this year because of the Klan issue.

Then Maine went Republican as usual.