The Portland daily press., 1879-02-17
THE mAYORALTY.
Mr. John M. Todd's Views Clifford
Bound to sticlk-A Paper to be Started
in His Interest.


in His Interest.
Feeling it to be duty to give to the public
the ideas of prominent Greenbsckers on the
mayoralty question representative of the
PRESS called on Mr.. j. M. Todd Saturday
Mr.. Todd was found at his tonsorial rooms ON
Middle street and appeared happy and serene
Several gentlemen were seated about the stove.
there presumably to discuss the political situa.
ton and perhaps incidentally to get shaved.
In reply TO a question as to his views regard
ing the msyoraly Mr.. Todd replied that he
was not in the ring. The question of the cur
rency was not involved in the election of
mayor, and that was the subject he was partc-
ularly interested in-that and religion which
latter subject he discusses on Sunday at the
meeting of Free Thinkers at Arcana Hall.
Here Mr.. Todd depressed little and gave his
views OF the character of Tom Paine He was
brought back to the subject in hand, however,
and pressed for an opinion on the mayoralty
Mr.. Todd again said that he was not 10 the
confidence OF the party leaders, but as between
clifford and Walker, he thought on the whole
that the latter would carry off the Democratic
nomination. His own personal choice would
have been Fox
In answer to question if the Greenbackers
would support Walker, Mr.. Todd replied that
that depended on bow he was nominated. The
| impression left on this reporters mind by the
remark was that the Greeubackers would sup
port him if he would endorse their soft money
views, but he must come out squarely on the
subject or he would not get their votes.
The reporter then asked Mr. Todd if he would
accept nomination himself His reply was
that he would not. He was entirely disnter-
ested IN his political work. Politics with him
were means and not an end. Two years ago
his Greenbsck friends insisted that he should
accept nomination for Senator, but he had
fatly refused, telling them that he was fight
ing simply for principle and would accept no
office in the gift of the people. Hs would not
even accept nomin alton for councilman.
As regarded the two Greenback papers in the
city Mr.. Todd said he supported both as far as
they labored for an issue of more Greenbscks.
lie was not in favor of license law and in
this respect differed with the Leader. "By the
way" be added, shave you seen my open letter
to John Sherman in the New Era?" The re.
porter replied that he had not read it when Mr..
Todd went on to gay that he had written TO
Sherman asking him to send some Greenbacks
to the Greenback committee of Cumberland
county, and he was waiting snxiousy for the
Secretsry's reply.
On state politics Mr.. Todd seemed to be bet
ter posted than on municipal. He said the
Greenoackers were going to renominate Smith
and he predicted his election By $4,000 majori-
ty. Mr.. Todd admitted that come of the
Greenbackers were disappointed by the diyis.
ion of the spoils at Augusta. He wasn't for
he expected nothing and got what he expected.
"aowever," added Mr.. Todd. call the Green.
back representatives have got jack-knives and
that must be good deal of consolation to soma
OF them for know good msuy Greenbackers
who never had i,ck-Inife' Mr.. Todd
thought the Greenbackers would not combine
with the Democrats but would paddle their
own canoe.
AT this point gentleman stepped in to con.
gratulate Mr.. Todd on his speech at the Green
back meeting of the previous evening, and Mr..
Todd switched off from state politics to his own
speeches which he described as compounds of
poetry, politics and religion. The reporter was
torcbly struck with the accuracy of Mr.. Todd's
description and withdrew, feeling that if the
contest between Clifford and Walker bscame
warm Mr.. Todd nigh be available as a COM
promise candidate. 1t would be difficult to
prevail upon him to accept no doubt, but per-
haps he might ba induced to sacrifice his per-
sonal preferences to the good of the city.
Mr.. Clifford's friends say he is still in the
field as a candid ate, and ''has come to stay"
and the announcement that the Democratic
leaders propose to fix the slate tonight, does
not seem to alarm them. Meanwhile the un-
willingness of the Democratic leaders to join
hands with the Greenbackers in supporting
Walker, is fast making the average Green
b. cSer mad; and Clifford is reasonably sure of
a p spectacle Greeubsck following The party
leaders have labored in vain with Clifford. He
will not withdraw, AID every hour brings him
new encouragement to ''stick" Clifford is
manifestipg no wish to get the Democratic
nomination for Mayor, and will very likely run,
as he stated that be should in the PRESS inter-
view. outside of all party lines One thing is
sure in any case, Clifford will defeat Walker
and will accomplish his object in being a can
didate which is to make the license question
direct political issue. There ia no doubt but
what many will vote the Clifford ticket by way
OF protest against the present law and that
many men who prefer Mr. Walker as a candi-
date to Mr. Clifford, will yet vote for Clifford
as license candidate, and because of their de-
sire 10 show the strength of the license senti-
ment and of their wish to stand up and be
counted" for license.
At the meeting Saturday night of the Demo-
cratic and Greenback committees there APP
peared t, be disiGcliuation on the part of the
latter to accept the name OF Mr.. Walker for
nominee for Mayor However the mater will
probably be decided tonight. As the PRESS
stated the ward nominations will probably be
the sa me for both parties The caucuses will
probably be called Wednesday or Thursday
evening.
The Sunday Times sets Mr.. Clifford's proba-
BILE voe at 1000 with an even chauce of larg-
er following. That Journal considers that Mr..
Clifford's strength has been underestimated,
and says that paper will be published 10 his
interest until after election.