The Portland daily press., 1879-02-12

rreu L OK auu 6eO7g6 w alker were not over
much relished as candidates for Mayor, an6
that in the event of the nomination of Fox o.
Walker, Charles E. Clifford would be run as al
Independent candidate: and a little later it be-
came evident that not only Fox and Walker
but the Turner's, Cushmap, King, and even
John NJ. Todd were equally likely to be bolted
if nominated A little close investigation
showed to the PRESS that Mr. Clifford shared
in this feeling, and that he had resolved not tc
allow his name to be presented at any conven
tion, but was disposed to stand up and fight as
candidate of the people, and that new and
unexpected element had entered into our CITY
politics, the question of prohibition, and that
the friends of G. E. Clifford had resolved tc
place that gentleman before the people on a
platform advocating license and retrenchment,
Mr.. Clifford, in the event of success here, to be
supported as the license candi1 late for Govern
or, hs having received numerous let.
ters from various sections of the State, REQ
ing him to put himself at the head of move.
ment to obtain license law, and also to run
againstthe machine" Democratic-Greenb,ck
candidate or candidates. no matter who he or
they may bs. Mr.. Clifford, as is well known.
is an earnest advocate of the necessity Of Il.
cense system, as is also his brother the Hon.
W. ii. Clifford, aad as his father Mr.. Justice
Clifford, is understood to be- Ths PRESS,
therefore, feeling that it is bound to give the
freshest news always, sent reporters yesterday
to Mr.. Clifford, and also to active politicians of
the Democratic and Greepback order, and pre-
poses to state what they were able t, gather,
fully. freely, and honestly.
Mr.. G. E. Clifford, who was the principal
star to be interviewed, was found By our re.
porter IN his law Office on Middle street, and
VerS busy, owiog to The absence of his brother,
the Hon. w. H. Clifford, ia Washington, to
attend to important cases there, but be cor
sented to taIF. He said he had not proposed
to be candidate at all; that he had business
enough, and should have taken no part in
politics this year, if complete and utter disgust
at the selling out of the Greenback party, by
its self-constituted leaders had not compelled
him to. He had not proposed even under such
circumstances, to go into any Convention.
What will the Greeoback convention 10 this
city bs?" said Mr.. Clifford, "a machine-ruu
thing. Ruu by whom? by little riag, a mere
handful of politicians. By our city committee
aud few others. don't propose to go into
any convention OF that kind. do propose to
10 j1st this propose to say to every m au
who asks me to stand as a caudidats, vote for
ne if you please, but 90 it as an independent
candidate, as man outside of all the existing
parties, and do it remsm oering that have but
hree planks in my platform:
l. No more machine management of our
State and local politics
Rstrenchmeut and reform.
3. A license. in place of prohibtory liquor
law
Now" added Mr.. Clifford, ",f any man cares
10 vote for me, fully understanding where L
tand and what would like to see accom-
,lished, why he can do so, bnt certainly shall
lot ask any man to do so, and shall jdst as
certainly not go before any convention aud ask
or nomination"
"But do you regard yourself 10 the lid as
for Mayor" was the next question
''Yes, so far as 1 have stated. shall not go
before any convention, and L shall not decline
he duty of making a fight against the riyg
politicians. Look at this question of license
aw," said Mr.. Clifford with some manifesto
ion of excitement; "what has been the course
II tee Democratic party ia regard to that great
ues ion? Or. better, what has been the course
t is leaiers? Look at the last two con ven.
ions for the answer. The dealings of COW
'rd. Nothing more nor Less am sick of the
machine management. L am sick of rings. 1
lm sick of cowardly evasions of plain and
vident issues an sick of nominating can
idates who are opposed by nature and educa-
ion to the party that nominates and elects
hem; aud If the people care to vote for me, be
for mayor or for governor, as a protest
lganst all this, l am willing for them to do it.
did not come to this at once, have been as
ured over and over again that what is needed is
or some one to lead the way; and have at last
concluded to say, as now say, and as shall
continue to say, if any man chooses to vote for
ne, With full understanding of my views,
md with full approval of them, let
lin do it. And object to one thing more, I
'bject to this buying and selling that has baen
.oing on at Augusta. Look at it, Cove was
lscted Secretary of State, BY means of a bar
.ain with Hail. and Stacy was defeated, and 1
uppose that Stacy was hoisted into his place
IS State Librarian, by means of bargain with
ou1e one else. The whole Legislature has
,een one grand sell out, and not single Dem
'cratic principle has boen regarded. Blaine
las looked ou, and laughed, and well he
night. The wav offices have been managed
las made it clasr enough that be ia sure of the
'tate again, it bsing oaly question of time
fhe druggist bill defeated; the Fox-Wiu-
hip bill the same as defeated; thu Demo ,ra.
ic Governor presiding over Neal Dow's Con-
'ention; buying here. selling there, nothing
lone, nothing doing, aud nothing likely to be
lone; words, words. words, and nothing of
aud the thing which will send
his same Democratic-Gre Com bnation
Town to history, will be- the speech OF the
Governor against the use Of spruce gum
"What do you think of Mr.. Fox as candi-
late?
"Fox," said Mr.. Clifford, "is man who has
10 element Of personal popularity, aud yet he
las strong points, which go far to recommend
lin to the present Greenback leaders. He is
10 Greeubacker, and he is no Democrat. He
s capitalist, aud lives on the interest Of
hereditary wealth. He ia just the man, there
ore, to be run as ths Greenback candidate for
Mayor of Portland,
"Whas do you suppose will bs the course of
he press in regard to this new departure of
7ou,s Mr.. Clifford?"
"The Leader, uni Ter Colonel Montgomery,
'ught to fall in aud help on any movement
ooking toward license law. The New Era is
! semi-free love paper, filed with the insane
'avings Of Colonel Blood Victoria Woodhulrs
divorced, or self divorced husband. and the con-
Of George Francis Train, and it
makes but little real dfferance what cours, il
axes. The Argus ought to be friendly, but
yery likely it wont, inasmueh as what advo-
,ste is just aud Democratic The PRESS is
and of course will oppose any
movement rot strictly Republican From the
which has no politics, 1 certainly
Expect fair AMI honorable treatment"
"What about the rumor that at one time you
bought of running for the Office of Secretary
)f State?'
Il never thought of doing any such thing. 1
'aid so when it was mentioned to me- II was
not an Office that under any circumstances 7
L