The Portland daily press., 1879-06-04
GREENBACK CONVENTION.
JOSEPH L. SMITH NOMINATED FOR
GOVERNOR.
A Row Over the Resolutions.

Long before the hour announced for the call
ing of the Convention, strings of delegates filed
through the streets in the pouring rain bound
for City Hall. With that delightful ignorance
of system, in which our Greenback friends
take so much pride, strangers as we'll as dele
gates were permitted to throng into the hall in
such numbers that in order to carry out the
promise that the floor of the house should be
reserved for delegates, the hall had to be
cleared, and the crowd took up a location in
the corridors. Finally, just before ten O'clock
the doors were opened and the delegates per-
mitted to enter. City Hall seats usually 1871
people AT this Convention the stage was
built out, and thus some of the space occupied
but the additional settees on the stage made
up the loss When the Convention was called
to order there was not over three-quarters of a
house, or some 1900 people; still it was a very
large convention. The galleries were reserved
for spectators, but during the morning session
the rear gallery was only sparsely occupied.
At 1O.15 a. m. Chambers Band, in full uni
form. appeared in the right hand gallery and
for 40 minutes discoursed splendid music
which was received with great applause
"Whoa Emma" out of compliment to Solon's
steers was greeted with more enthusiasm than
the "Red, White and Blue" Delegations
were seated, as usual, by counties. A peculiar
feature OF the convention was the apparent
lack OF acquaintance of the delegations with
each other. Everybody had to be introduced
to everybody else. 1t was probably ON this &C
count that the morning session proved so tame.
o IN U oh, 10 hue,
Scion appeared apd moved recess Before he
could opef{his mouth the house "tumbled to
him..
At eleven a. M, Chairman White of the
State Committee called the convention to Or
der, and, returning thanks for the privilege,
made rambling aud confused address, in
which he expatiated on the wickedness of the
two old parties, and the goodness and disinter-
ested movements of the Greenbackers. This
sentiment ought to have provoked frantic ap-
plause, but it failed to bring out a cheer, and
Mr.. White did not even win a success d'estenae.
He was especially severe on John Sherman
apparently because that gentleman borrows
money. Mr.. White is understood to be always
severe on the borrowing class. At the conclu-
sion of his speech he announced as the temper
airy organization, w. M. Rust of Belfast, Presi-
dent, and a list of sixteen Vice Presidents, one
for each county. AS Mr.. Rust was making
his way to the front of the platform, the chair
man stayed him and said prayer would be
offered by the Rev. Mr.. Butterfield, of Deer
ing. Therefore venerable gentleman with
long white locks stepped to the desk and pro-
ceeded to deliver a little Grafton ON his own
account, in which he quoted from all parts of
the Old Testament to prove that the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans were damned beyond
redemption, and followed up the quotations
with quaint prayer more secular than relig-
ious in character. At the conclusion of his
discourse, the band played selections from
Pinafore, the strain "What, never" with the
refrain "hardly ever, seeming especially
adapted as an answer to the reverend gentle
mans statements. While the band was play
ing some one sent these wicked lines round to
the reporters table:
Oh, am the chaplain of the Greenback clan,
And long winded chaplain too.
You are very, very good, and be it understood
1 talk to windy crew.
Tho minister be, I'm gamey, as you see,
And want greenbacks so free.
And the money-power bold, as often you've been
Is nothing but the big, big D.
What nothing!
No nothing!
What nothing,
Well, almost nothing
b,,+