The Portland daily press., 1879-12-17

A reporter for the PRESS visited several of
the well known Portland Democrats yesterday
to get their opinions on the State steal. They
spoke as follows:
HON. WILLIAM L. PUTNAM.
Hon. w. L. Putnam said that if the morning
papers yesterday correctly reported matters
the Governor and Council have acted neither
according to law nor justice. The clear course
for them to have pursued was to have re-
ferred all questions of law of a novel character
to the Supreme Court as provided for by the
state constitution. The Supreme Court has
always been non-partisan on these questions
from the beginning of the state government to
the present day, which non-partisanship has
been expressly shown in the late mandamus
hearing by Judge Virgin, who with two ex-
ceptions is the newest conner from the Repub-
lcan party on the bench. l., from not con-
sulting the Supreme Court. the Governor and
Council have made serious mistakes the
Democratic party, throughout the country,
must bear the blame, although the Governor
and Council in no sense represent the Demo
cratic party, as majority Of the Council con-
sists of men who never voted the Democratic
ticket. If the action of the Governor and
Council had been correctly reported yesterday
morning, it is the duty of every citizen in the
state of Maine, whatever his position on ma
tional matters who desires henceforth fair
dealings in the matter of elections to unite
with the Republican party in Maine for the
purpose of crushing out this coalition which
now controls the state government.
CHARLES F. SWEET.
Mr. Charles +. SWEET, eX-counclman from
ward four, and member of the city commit
tee. did not know anything about
matters as far as the rest of the state was con-
cerned, but knew that in Portland the four
original candidates of the Republican party
had been fairly elected. AS for Mr. Verrill he
was not so sure as he thought the Legislature
should first declare vacancy to be filled He
considered the depriving of the Republican
candidates in Portland, Of their certificates
would work very iniuriously to the Democrat
ic party. He didn't believe there had been
any more bribery, corruption and fraud on the
one side than on the other. He believed in work
ing hard, and by every honest MEANS to defeat
your adversary, but when you are beaten your
self to gracefully accept the situation. He
would have certificates issued to the Repubi-
can representatives before a single act was
done by the legislature.
HON. L. D. NJ. SWEAT
was not prepared to speak as to the legality or
illegality of the proceedings as he had not
given the matter especial attention. If the
Governor and Council had gone by the con-
stitution they were legally right. The stat
ute of 1877 was merely legislative act it was
not an amendment to the constitution which
had been Esubmitted to the people. He
thought it a mean thing, however, to take
away Portland's representatives when it was
| evident who had been elected.
| EDMUND DANA
was not prepared to give an opinion until he
knew, officially, who wero counted in. He
thought the Governor and Council would be
guided entirely by the law. If men were
counted out on technicalities surely the Re-
| publcans had furnished enough presidents.
He didn't believe that the various cities would
not have representation in the legislature
this winter. He thought all would be repre-
! SpOtpd