The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-08-08
The Greesback Couasy Convention.

| and goes Oft and leaves it, Greenback coz
vention is largely collection Of these voluble
and irresponsible specimens The nomination
Of ticket is simply incidental, the chief bust.
ness of the convention is what in the language
of the street is called ''chinning." This style
Of procedure is growing very distasteful to the
| delegate who has any business of bis own and
cannot give his whole time to his country.
A man of this kind angrily expressed his feel
ings on this point yesterday at the neon ad-
journment of the GIeenback convention at Con-
gress Hall, after forenoon spent in speech
making. In reply to brother delegate who
asked him if he was coming back he replied
testify, "No: if the cussed convention can't az
tend to its business l aiL't going to hang round
| it He had govd ground for his complaint.
The convention wbich was called to nomin-
ate county ticket, had met at little after 10.
I. f. QambJ of Westbrook, promptly called it
to order, and Rev. MIR. Eaton of Cape Elizabeth
offered prayer. Charles E. Clifford of Port
| land was made chairman and Charles B. Nor
| ton and Samuel Berry, secretaries. The coup-
| ty committee was made committee on cge-
| dentials and the temporary organization made
| permanent. 1t looked as If the convention was
| going to proceed Immediately to the business
| for which it was called, when some one shout
| ed King! King! Hope Of short session was
| then crushed, but it was revived somewhat
when Mr.. King announced to the Chairman in
whisper that he had spoken so much for the
Greenback cause tina; hs had lost his voice, and
the chairman repeated it to the convention. 1t
fell again Immediately for there was iI the
hall pioneer Greenbacker from Massachusetts
by the name of Baffum who hadn't lost his
voice. He took the stand and ADDRESSED the
convention. His speech WAS long and RAM
bling one, confined principally to a history of
himself and his achievements He was an
abolitlouist when to be such was attended with
disgrace. He had held to his views however
because he believed them right, and from the
most unpopular man his city (Lynn) had be-
come, he modestly informed his hearers. the
most popular and been elected Mayor twice.
He did not discuss the financial question to
any extent, but contented himself with assert
ing that he was Greenbacker from principle
and that he had suffered on account of his
views. His Tote had been refused by Boston
bank because he was a Greenbacker. He re-
lated rather dramatically a few of his many
victories in debate with Congressman on the
financial question. He eulogizad Kearney
(great applause) and prophesed that Ben But
Ter would be the next governor of Massachus-
etts. Ca perfect storm of applause
The committee on credentials reported full
delegation PA present, when it was discov-
cred that the convention had no vice presidents
and on motion of NJ G. Dow OF aDsering this
lack was supplied by appointing A. 81. Waite
of Portland, Caleb A. Chaplin of Harrison and
Oscar Moses of Dsering. A committee on
resolutions consisting of A. G. Ames, Wesley
Sawyer, Elliott King, J. F. Turner, all of
Portland, aud Moses G. Dow Of Deerng, was
appointed. Itlooked as if the convention was
going proceed to ballot for candidates in.me-
get chance to warn the people against the
Rothschilds as much as they needed. at the
district convention, saw an opportunity to IL
iect speech and so suggested that candidates
be not nominated It'll the committee on reso-
lutions reported for the convention might, you
know, nominate men who could not stand on
the platform. This suggestion seemed emf
nently sensible to the convention, who didn't
probably know that Mr. Todd's desire to make
speech was behind ii, and the nomination of
candidates was postponed
Mr.. Todd Immediately seiz d the opportuL-
ity and mounted the rostrum. He remarked
as he has several times before that be was an
abolitionist He then read from the PRESS
report of the Greenback county convention OF
last year and proceeded to comment upon the
wonderful increase of the Greenback party
He next devoted himself ia his usual style to
the Rothschids and the Money Power He re-
pudiated the idea that the Greenback party
was only tail to the Democratic kite. (Later
when Mr. Todd wanted the convention to re-
pudiate by their ballots tue idea that the Greet
back party was only q tail to the Democratic
kite he found himself repudated)
When Mr.. Todd sat down Rev. Mr.. Eaton
got up About all Mr.. Eaton had TO say was
that the financial question is about the largest
question that the country ever had on its hands
and that we needed statesmen and not politi-
clans to solve it.. The Inference intended to bs
suggested was no doubt that the Greenback
party was the party TO solve it because it con-
tanned all the statesmen. Mr. Eaton, however,
is not good man to suggest such a notion.
He is too much of politician himself.
The com mittee Oh resolutions reported as fol-
lows:
Resolved, That we. the delegates of the National
Greenback party of Cumberland county, here in con-
ventlon assembled endorse the platform laid down
in the Toledo convention, and reafirm our faith in
the principles enuncated and set forth in the plot
form adopted at the Greenback State Convention
held in Lewiston on the 9TH day of June, 1878.
RESOLVED, That we are opposed to all entanging
alliances with old political parties.
1t was NOW - O'Clock and Mr. Todd moved
that the convention adjourn until half past one.
There was some dissent, many Of the delegates
who have business wanting to get home aud
attepd to it, but the men of elegant lei-ure
were in the msjority AID the convention ad-
journed.
1t reassembled at half past one. Mr.. Joseph
W. Holdea of Otsfeld, promptly movad
committee to receive. sort and count votes for
candidates, and such commlttee was appointed.
The convention decided to nominate Senators
by reclamation, and Charles E. Cl'T,rd of
Portland, Edward A. Gibbs Of Br.dgtou, Isaac
f. Quimby of Westbrook aud William B. Skill
lings of No. Yarmouth, we're nominated for, as
Mr. M. G. Dow, who announced the result
(Mr. Clifford's modesty not permitting him to
declare it) put it, "Senators to the House of
Representatives"
| that of County Treasurer. Candidates were
scarce and after some delay it was moved that
| Hon. Caleb A. Chaplin of Harrison be nomin-
| ated by exclamation. The motion was car
| ried.
For County Commissioner candidates were as
thick as bees around hive, and it was
decided to proceed to ballot. The first ballot
| resulted as follows:
| Whole number of votes. ................137
| Necessary for a choice. .............,.... SO
Joseph W. Holden. ......,.,.........6l
| Moses q. Dow.
| A. y. dearborn. ......,......,.,. ..,ZS
| a. d. M0rflll, ....IU
| Geo. LeaVltCs ..............,....
| G b. LeaV1 IT,.
| Aud there was no choice.
The convention proceeded 10 ballot again.
AS soon as the counting committee appeared
| from the ante-rc room where the votes had been
| conntA1 il was evident from the face of Mr.,