The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-08-19
by TELEGRAPH.
THE FIGHT IN SACO.
A Democratic "Shylock" Who De-
mands Pay for His Crackers and
Cheese.
COL. HARPER'S BLUNDERS IN SACO.
Encouraging Business Outlook.

Especial Despatch to the Press.]
SAco, Aug. 1S.-The Republicans of this city
are united, active, and confident of victory,
and of the election of Corporal Davis while
the Democrats and Greenbackers are about as
happy as the famous 'happy family" that T..
T. Barnum exhibited were when they found
themselves surrounded by the flames, when
their home, the famous Museum, was con-
sumed
The Greenbackers are few and ont of money,
while the Democrats are somewhat more
numerous and richer, and are out OF the fight
and feel it. Of late the Greenbackers have
been trying to induce their Democratic friends
to "pool' their money, but while the Demo-
Gratis are perfectly willing to pool tissues fol-
lowing the advice of Kearney, they are under
stood to mildly in some cases, and not SO much
so in others, but firmly in all, to decline. Col
onel Harper, the Western rival OF the Maine
loud-voiced orator, Fogg, was here recently
and it is supposed insisted that something
should be DONE Meetings must be held, and
the Leader of your city offers tie services OF
lots of Greenback expounders, headed by that
hard-fisted son of toll Mr.. Elliot King ON pay
ment of expenses-and collection, and so last
Saturday Greenbacker interviewed some
what active Democrat who ought to add Il.
o. S. (eternal officer seeker to his name, and
who having run for Mayor and for about every
other office without success, thought that he
could see highland otfice-ahead at last and
so flu finished his "soft" brother with list OF
Democrats who could, if they would, contrib
i 4l,aa Ia1 lxQr
Armed with this list the believer in fiat cur
rency went out, and searched with diligence
for the Democrat who would be willing to
come down with his stamps, and found him
not, but did find hard-money Democrat OF
the Andrew jackson type, who was willing
that the Greenbackers should hold all the fiat
meeting they pleased, but he not only declined
to ante up but also demanded payment to the
tn ne of S31 for crackers and cheese which he
furn ished the managers of Greenback demon
strations held last year, and which had not
been settled for. Every day shows that what the
Greenbackers need the most is a committee
of instruction." to post up their speakers in
regard to what arguments are best adapted
for their section in which they are to do mis-
sionary duty, and serve as educators % OF the
people, The luck of this most useful COM
mittee caused Colonel Harper to make
series of the most absurd blunders when
speaking here. For instance, he deplored in
eloquent and profane terms the fact that
manufactures are idle, mills closed and work
ingmen out of employment, a most unfortunate
statement to make in Saco where the mills
not only run all day, but where the owners are
also compelled to run them far into the night.
There was some danger that if the drought
continued the mills might have been shut
down, but the elements themselves seem to
fight against the Greenbackers, and there is
no chance now of the happening of an event
which wonld have probably been laid at the
door of John Sherman and cited as another OF
the baneful effects of resumption.
The Hon. Roscoe L. Bowers said today, III
conversation with the PRESS reporter, that he
was recently surprised by receiving check
representing dividend number one" OF the
Lockwood Company of Waterville, which
since 1874, has never declared dividend and
is the first it has ever paid. Mr.. Bowers
regards this as a very strong indication OF the
substantial revival of business
The Laconia Company of Biddeford have
recently declared an increased dividend, and
the Greenback cry of "hard times" seems abb
surd under such circumstances.
A prominent gentleman who is thoroughly
acquainted with the shoe manufacturing bust
ness of this city, and of Biddeford, says that
the shoe business is very largely increased
over last year. The firms commenced work
earlier with an increased force and an IN
creased demand. The firms of Dearborn 4
Day and Emery & Newbert of Biddeford may
be cited Both firms report orders largely
ahead Some of our firms in other lines re-
port an increase of % per cent. over the bust
ness of last year. The Greenbackers are work
ing under adverse circumstances, as in York
county their only dependence seems to be on
the potato bug.
The Republican City Committee decided to
postpone the meeting for the purpose of organ
izing Davis Club, on account of the heavy
rain of this evening.
An intelligent Greenback orator at Bidde-
ford last week made the astounding statement
that to-day the valuation of Portland is
$40, 200 600 less than it was 20 years ago, which
is bad for Portland, considering the fact that
the valuation of Portland was less than
$40, 1000 900 at that time. ''No pent up Utica
confines the powers, nor does any fact limit
the Imagination of the Greenback orator.