The Portland daily press., 1878-08-16
Democratic County Convention.

| 1or the most part there was substantial unan
unity of sentiment as to whom the victims o
the 9th Of September should be.
j. d. Anderson, chairman of the Count
committee, called the meeting to order an,
nominated II. G. Sleeper of Freeport, TO
chairman, and Geo. W. Pierce of Baldwin ant
William 81. Sargent of Portland as Secretaries
Mr. Sleeper made few remarks on taking
| the chair
County committee was made committee
on credentials and reported full delegation
| VIM. NJ. Sargent, the chairman, undertook to
| read the names of the delegates but wa,
| choked off with the motion of Mr. G. f. SWEET
to dispense with the reading and print them il
the Argus. The temporary organization wa:
made permanent, when chairman Sleeper made
another speech in which he counselled cheer
full support of the nomi 1ees of the convention.
The delegates then divided up to select can.
didates for senators. The thing seemed to
be all cut and dried for they soon reported as
candidates David w. True for Portland Dis
trict, Perez N. Blanchard of Yarmouth for
Eastern District, Chas. B. Merrill Of Gorham
for the Middle District and Robert Eads OF
Naples for the Northern. The nominations
were ratified by the convention. 1t was stated
that W. G. Davis of Portland declined re-
nomination.
Convention proceeded to ballot for County
Commissioner after Mr.. Fl. W. Swasey of
Portland presented the name of Henry M.
Chadbourne whose chief recommendation seem
ed to be that he bad frequently been car didate
before Democratic conventions and never got a
nomination. He got one this time unani-
mously because ther9 was no other candidate.
For County Treasurer, Mr.. Ingraham of
Portland nominated Samuel Chadwick, A. f.
Winsow, Joshua Davis and P. j. Larrabee,
Cyrus Green. Their recommendations were
about the same. They had voted the Demo-
cratic ticket since their majority and wouldn't
steal. On the ballot Mr.. Davis got 70 out of
possible 1875, Mr.. Green 26 and Mr. Chadwick
26, and Mr.. Davis was declared the nomi-
nee.
"The next business of the convention is to
nominate candidate for Sheriff." remarked
the chairman. The delegates Immediately
pricked up their ears. Cheating was evidently
anticipated for a delegata Immediately
moved to vote by towns and it was go decided.
Mr.. ID. Ii. Ingraham withdrew the name of
Capt. Deering who was entitled to renomina-
ton by usage. The committee to receive, sort
and count the votes was stationed in front of
the desk. The Portland leaders who it was
understood had pledged the convention to
Cushman if the Greenbackers would nominate
him looked anxious. They had contracted for
sale but were not sure they could deliver the
goods. Several of them posted themselves
where they could look into the committees hats
and they watched each vote anxiously. The
result of the ballot was not pleasant, for il
showed ~ votes for Solomon Stuart of Deer
ing, and 6S for their favorite Isaac d, Cush-
man.
They were not satisfied to accept the result,
Ii appeared that while the numbar of votes
thrown did not exceed the number of delegates
who were entitled to sit ia the convention it
did exceed by four the number actually
present as it was ascertaned that some of the
delegates from Casco and other town were abb
sent. The cry of fraud was raised and the
convention was on its feet in au instant Mr.
G. f. SWEET moved to reconsider the vote. A
delegate suggested that as Mr.. SWEET voted
such motion. The chairman asked Mr..
SWEET how he voted but he declined to tell and
the chairman also declined to put his motion.
A delegate who had voted with theminority
then kindly offered a motion to reconsider
and the motion was submitted to the house
The names of the delegates were called but it
was soon found that men whose names were
not called were voting. Sometimes at the call
of name two persons answered yes or "no."
1t was then decided that the delegates should
stand when they voted. 1t was soon evident
that large proportion was opposed to recon-
sderation and after the vote had proceeded
far enough to show majority it was stopped
and Mr.. Stuart declared the nominee, much
to the disgust of the Portland Boufbons.
Samuel G. Smith of Bridgton presented the
name of N. S. Lttlefeld of Bridgton for clerk
of courts; Mr.. Geo. E. Bird of Portland the
name of William M. Sargent OF Portland, and
Mr.. William r. Field of Brunswick the name
of Thomas M. Given of Brunswick. The
ballot resulted IS for Littlefeld, - for Sar-
gent and for Given, ard Mr.. L!ttlefield's
nomination was made unanimous.
Mr.. G. f. SWEET from the committee on
resolutions presented the following platform
which was adopted.
ReSolUed, That this convention endorses the
platform adopted by the Maine Democratic
State Convention in June last.
ReSolyed, That in the candidates presented
the voters of Cumberland county, we recognize
men of ability and integrity, and we pledge
them our hearty support at the polls.
The following names were reported for
county committee, and the report was adopted:
George E. Bird of Portland.
e. S. Ridlon of Portland.
b. f. Andrews of Portland.
e Ii. Cram of Deering.
j. S. Martin of Sebago.
L. M. Giveen of Brunswick.
d. +. Watson of Gorbam.
A. +. Moulton Of Scarboro.
Alphonso Moulton of Harrison.
Col. G. B. Merrill from the committee ap.
pointed to wait on Gen. Anderson, and request
him to address the convention reported that
gentleman was present. Gen. Anderson then
advanced to the platform and was received
with cheers.
The first part of his speech was the old
familiar TRADE on the Republican party, &C
cusing it of all sorts of extravaganza and
corruption. The mission of the Democratic
party was to restore honesty and economy in
administration of the government. Passing
on to the currency question he continued SUBJ
stantially as follows:
There is another issue that in regard to the
currency. We are broken down in our business,
the failures during the first six months of this
year being larger in amount than ever before.
Distress is Astounding every where. There has
been great contraction of the currency and as
an article becomes scarce it grows correspond
ingly dear. Great tnanciers don't know much
more about money than men of ordinary in-
telligence The great finsnciers predicted that
gold would go up if silver was remonetized in
stead or which 1t went down. reduction in
quantity always produces an advance in price
and it doesn't require a inancier to see
that L admit that the principal contraction
was made some years ago. but it has been
going on all the time. The people did not feel
its effects Instantly. AS money grew scarce
stocks began to shrink and kept going down.
Men began to give their notes, and when these
notes had to be paid they began to fail. The
newspapers have a good deal to say about
legislation in the interest of the debtor classes.
They speak as if debtors were synomomoas
with rascais. The debtor classes are the active
business men of the community. A man
10 business must have credit and it is no
reproach to a man to say that he is in favor of