The Portland daily press., 1878-07-04
THE GREENE ACKEKs.
Possible Candidates in the First District
Interviews with Some of the York Ma
tionals.

WardneSs OF the Greenback movement in the
First Congressional district, the PRESS had
recourse to the services of special reporter,
who left the city on the afternoon train Tues
day for Bddeford, intent on interviewing Mr..
e. I'll. Cove, the somewhat noted Greenback
leader in York county. The Special found
Mr.. Cove at his house, which is situated in a
very pleasant locality, about one mile from the
Boston & Maine Railroad depot He is quite a
farmer, and is besides rather extensively en-
gagged ia the business Of growing Strawberries,
just now employing quite an army of boys
and girls picking and boxing. The reporter
first interviewed some Of the Deacon's berries,
and then the Deacon himself, with the follow
lowing result, Tin the latter case.)
In reply to question of what he thought Of
his chances of being nominated for Congress,
Mr.. Cove said that che held the interest of the
National party as paramount, and shall hold
his own advancement, subject to that interest"
To question of what he thought of the project
of nominating Mr.. G. E Clifford or Gen. An
derson for Congress, Mr.. Cove said: "As it
might be construed that [ am somewhat
interested party, it would seem that the opin-
ion of others, would be of more Importance.
In my Judgment, the one thing the electors of
the Greenbsck party will demand, will be
candidate beyond question identified with its
interests, and without regard to former politi-
cal connection" Mr.. Cove 10 reply to ques-
ton as to what he thought of the Hon. Thomas
b. Reed said, 1.-THE base of my action against
Mr.. Reed has been purely political In my in
tercourse with Mr.. Reed have never found
him anything but gentleman Mr.. Cove it
may be remarked, was an active supporter of
Mr. Reed when that gentleman was nominat-
ed before. To draw out" Mr. Cove more
fally on the subject of the nomination of An
derson or Clifford, the Especial" pat this ques
ton: lin the event of the nomination of any
prominent Democrat or Republican, coming to
the new party with the plain intent of obtain
ing the nomination, what 10 your Judgment,
would be the result?" And Mr. Cove prompt
~ replied, 81 do not deem such nomination
possible" Mr.. Cove rather evaded the ques-
tlon OF what be had been doing to secure his
election and to advance his own cause, by say
ing, Il have no own cause which for moment
anticipates the will of the party The quiet
smile with which he gave this non-committal
interview worth a cent. The reporter then
took another tack and inquired if he had read
an article published 10 the Springvale Reporter
which gave York county away, as far as the
nomination for Congress was concerned, and
requested his opinion of it. He said he had
read it, and thought it did credit to the literary
ability of the writer, thus leaving one at
liberty to infer that political move it did not
amount to much. The Special then respect-
fully inquired in the name of curious public
what he Mr.. Gove) meant to do about the mat
ter of the Congressional nomin nation and the
adroit reply was, "The honor of a nomination
l believe, should be given as the free express
sion of the majority of those who are associated
in this movement" To the question of what
his course, and the course of his party would be
IN the event OF the nomination Of Gen. Ander-
son or Mr. Clifford, with an evident UNDER
standing hat they would be supported by the
Democratic party, Mr.. Cove said, 81 think we
must find the expression and sentiment of the
party in the New Era, when quoting from the
Sun, No coalitions, nor entang-
ing alliances, but a square, stand up fight
against both the other parties."'
After trying Mr.. Cove with one last question
as to his knowledge of the plans of the Demo
cratic leaders to capture the Greenback nomi-
nation, and being informed by him that 81 can
only say that have not interested myself in
The movements or purposes of the leaders of
the Democratic or Republican party, but have
sought in every way to support and preserve
the integrity and independence of the National
w the If oil
job. and tried his luck with an intensely earns
est Greenbacker, worker, speaker and writer
Mr.. Perkns, who was an earnest Cove man
and inclined to resent the idea of nominating
any one else, while he was ready to admit that
the nomination mi light be carried elsewhere. in
which case, it was clear, that Mr.. Perkins
would not very much object to some one be-
side the regular candidate to cast his vote for.
Gorham N. Weymouth, esq. "believed fully
in the principles of the Greenback party, and
did not believe fn compromising for the sake of
policy"
Capt "Bob' Stevens, Greenback candidate
for sheriff, was willing to be voted for and
didn't care who knew it. He wanted to see
vote cast for the sake of the influ-
ance it would have with those who might be
elected to Congress. Politicians are quick to
catch the drift of public sentiment, and when
they can't guide it they will yield to it. No
man owned him, and he should speak his
mind freely, and was dead set against all jobs.
A prominent Greenbacker was then inter-
viewed, and was found deeply depressed. He
expected to see Cove defeated in the Green
back convention, in Which case he should vote
for Reed He didn't admire this cry
Of anything to beat Reed. If candidate was
to be nominated on that issue he should vote
for Reed. He did not believe that Cove was
opposed by single Greenback man who was
ever connected with the Republican party, bat
while Cove had many of old friends in among
the ex-Damocrats the most of that class were
men, which isn't a bad way to
mix liquor, said he, bat IT is bad in politics.
Those ex-Democrats wanted to rule or ruin,
and he wished them back to the party of their
first love. he denounced Anderson as a
"cowaid," Clifford as political adventurer,"
Emery of Alfred as TRAITOR in that, after
being nominated for county attorney, he was
infringing to secure the nomination of some
Cumberland county man, on a one term plat
form, so as to give chance for him Emery
next time.
The next victim of the reporter was N. p
Allen of Saco, Greenback candidate for
Senator, who was "Gove first, last and
always which he said were the sentiments of
all the Greenbackers, who had belonged to the
Republican party. He wanted to seq man
nominated for Congress, who had done some
thing for the movement, and who was known
as Greenbacker, bat it seemed to be evident
that he had fears, that such would no. be the
case.
+. NJ. Cove thought that with fair chance, /.
and in fair convention, E H Cove would be
nominated.
"An original Greenbacker" as he called him
self, said elf it isn't Cove, it will be bolt ,and
Reed will walk over the cours e, unmolested"
Cove is evidently popular in his own section,
but his dafeat in the convention, is an event,
which is not unlikely to occur, in which case,
while he would accept the verdict of the con.
vention, as final, it is not clear that his friends
would. The issue may be regarded as fairly
before the Greenback leaders, and the anti
Cove men will back down.
The general impression in Biddeford seems