The Portland daily press., 1875-09-28

| SOU ietters oi reply and explanation:
BRIDGToN, Sept. 6, 1876
To the Editor of the Press:
We not only have the Charles III. Haskell
party in this locality, but we have the Little.
| field party. Indeed, for many years the Lttle-
field party has controlled the Democratic party.
1t has nominated its candidates, run its eau
cuses, and when it has not managed the prima-
RES, has set them aside and named others of its
own. In other words the N. s. Littlefeld party
has been the guardian of the Democratic party
| in this vicinity.
But just now the Littlefeld party has a spe-
ciai interest In the pending election. The son
Ut the Littlefield party, +. j. Lttleield ESQ.
is the Democratic candidate for Clerk of tbe
| Courts, and in this town in particular the Lit
tlefields and their followers are making person.
al appeals to Republicans to insert the name of
AtGsneld in place OF that of Mr.. Fessenden.
also learn that in many towns in the county,
the N. 5. Lttlefeld party will undertake the
| same game. The Ettlefeld party will UNDER
take to tradeiout the Democratic as did the o.
| ID: Haskell party last year.
Now what about Mr. f. j. Littlefeld? Is he
| fit to be Clerk of the Courts? Does his past
| business success warrant the conclusion that be
has the qualifications for this intricate office?
tne pu9nc has right to ask these questions
| for Mr. Lttlefield Is not known outside OF this
| LOCALITY: He is between thirty five and forty
years of age. Years ago he undertook the
practice OF law, but in this business he was not
success and retired. The Pondicherry Wool
Il
the infence of father N. s. son +. j. was made
| agent. ln this capacity, and at time when
Wooen mills generally were making money,
Mr.. Llttlefeld SO managed this concern that no
prohts were made, and after a business by
| which the property was so impaired it was dis
posed OF for about half cost to a company
which has since declared dividends. A few
years since the village district started to buy q
hne school house. Mr.. Littlefield had charge
OF the matter, particularly the financial part.
| The building has been a very expensive opera
tion, and unfortunately Mr.. Littlefe.d has
| been unable until this time to make satisfac-
tory financial statement of the business. WITH
| in year he asked to be discharged from furth-
er responsibility in the matter, but bis fellow
citizens refused to do so. There are In addition
| 10 these matters of fact, some unpleasant ru-
mors respecting Mr.. Lttlefelds private fnap-
cial practices. At one time he was borrowing
| money; and in .wo cases where notes were en-
dorsed by his father, it is reported that he in
duced the holders to let the day of demand
| upon the ehdorser to pass without notice by
promising to pay the whole in a few days after
the note matured. He could not pay aud the
endorser claimed exemption by law.
| Perhaps Mr.. f. j. Littlefeld has shown him
| self the man to succeed d. w. Fessepdea. but
several of us do not think so in Bridgton.
DEMOCRAT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF BRIDGTos.
The foregoing article appeared in the PORT
land Daily Press of to day. [ want every citi-
| zen of this my beloved town to read it. It's
not my purpose to say single word about the
| political offence charged on me. / have ever
considered that it was my right aud duty to
| think and act as pleased on all such cues.
tions and have always allowed those who
dffered from me in opinion to exercise the
same right. have never abused political
opponent. Scurrility and lying have never
been my weapons. Nor is it my purpose in
this reply to defend Frederick j. Lttlefield he
IS fully equal to that task, but cannot forbear
to say that so far said article charges him
dishonest
false as tie same charges against myself
| have lived in this town 48 years, during all
which time have been engaged in an extern
| sive professional business and not unfreouent-
| ly been engaged in other branches of business.
The business men of the town know what nv
character and standing has been in that re-
spect SO far as charges or insinuations in the
article above are made against me, the father
OF lies could not have done better. There is
not shadow of foundation that as endorser
claimed exemption by law. 1 never signed a
note on tie face or on the back alone or with
anybody, and declined to pay it, never All
that ever signed or endorsed are already paid,
or am ready to pay them. 1 never knew that
y nag siRPaadd deoht 1itb1s to pay. have money
enough on deposit to pay every cent / owe. II
the cowardy sneak thief wno wrote that arti-
cle VIII collect every note whereon he can find
my name on the face or back. and present them
TO me, L will give him check on banking
house in the city of Portland, which will be
duly honored, for the amount. There may be
ulutIeuC6 Oh opinion among my friends and
townsmen, whether should notice this sour
rilous article. 1 have pondered the matter
we'll and my conclusion is that at my age, duty
to myself and to my family does not ALLOW me
to let it pass unnoticed.
think it justice to say that do not believe
that Daniel w. Fessenden, Esq, countenances
this attack on his opponent and myself. Some
BODY must be run against him for the Office he
holds Nobody ever heard us lisp a wort
against him only that be had had his turn
we know our own hearts oSr relations win
him are of the most friendly character We
would not assail him in the false, scandalns
and defamatory manner his friend has VI il
the office could be secured to his opponent for
life, by so doing. 1t would be buying the Of
flee great deal too dear.
can guess but 1 cannot knoU who srote
that article. can say this in relation towhat
he has said against Frederic j. Littlefeld-that
L conscientiously believe every word TO be false.
And so far as he has made charges or iIsinua-
tions against me as to all matters of bisiness,
let him be who he may, il was in the nabit of
using epithets L might call him COWARD, -
LIAR and sCoUNDREL, but only say that he
has entirely disregarded the compaadment
"Thou shall not bear false witness ssainst thy
neighbor" NATH'L S. LI-fLEFlELp.
Bridgton, Sept 8th, 1875. -
STATEMENT ON F.~1 LTrrLEPIELD.
Citizens Of Bridqten:
Herewith present to you copy OF letter
this day published in the Portland Press, to
which l ask your careful attention, and also to
few wordS or comment upon tnat part OF IL
which assails me.
L have only to say in regard to the first two
paragraphs that until within the last three or
four years haze had more or less to do with
the management of the Democratic party in
this town, and think my record among my
party associates is open and clean, and / have
yet to learn from them of any dissatisfaction
on this subject; and 1 take this opportunity to
challenge any man, or men, in or out OF my
party, to produce the proof of single mean or
transaction raOarQ
maie,ess, ssd state il as fact that cannot be
g, ga'osalo or contradicted, that even at the time
Sa;oh,p mHoh pa,Sy was at its greatest
upon me for labor aud support, and ~Isp was
dealing with men of all grades of society,
the various branches oil, business in which
was engaged, never allowed myself to use
the advantages my position might have enabled
me to, to control the vote OF Gny man. And
say here, that the man can't be produced that
was ever approached by me, and even solicited
to vote contrary to what knew were his con-
vctons while employed by or under me.
In regard to my fitness for the position for
which l am a candidate, 1 consider 1t a per-
fectly pertinent and proper question, and the
proper and legitimate manner) the better 1t
will suit me.
In the article above, the statement is made
shat years ago 1 undertook the practice OF law
but in this business was not success and re-
tired
have only to refer to the books and records
of the law firm of N. s. & +. j. Littlefield,
and to their hosts of clients in this and other
towns in this county with whom was brought
il contact for the seven years was engaged in
the practice of law in this town, for complete
refutation of the implied 'slur' contained in
that sentence.
On my retirement from the practice of law,
(and it was done for that object) I, unaided
and alone, worked up the project of the build
ing of the Pondicherry Wooten Mills. L in
duced capitalists from neighboring city to in
vest their money in the enterprise, and with
an energy and determination which l kn0,o the
citizens of Bridgton honor and respect me for,
pushed the operation to successful compile
ton. 1t is idle aud unnecessary for me to
state or explain 10 you how its affairs were
managed so far as this public is concerned, how
it built up or town and village, how it created
and added to the value of the taxable properly,
how it increased the value and brought INTO ac-
| tive demand all those articles necessary for tne
maintenance of the best class of people ever
| brought within our borders-tne Enghsn anu
Scotch residents whom am proud 10 CAL my
| friends. .-,s Co.
It is true that after a successful career OF hve
| wears owing to a depression in the manufac-
| fnring business and for reasons Tor wnicn