The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-15
THE CONSPIRACY.
Some New Developments.
SMITH OF OLDTOWN STILL HOPES
TO BE GOVERNOR.
What is Thought at the Capital OF the
Counting-Out Scheme.
Especial to the Press. !

Especial to the Press
AUGUSTA, Nov. 14.-After bnel luil III INC
contingent" business, there now seems 10
be fresh attack all along the line ms mas |
been occasioned chiefly by the appearance Ill
the CITY of certain Democratic and Greenback
mog,,ls, who have been in close communion.
Mr.. .Joseph L. Smith, il he could be made
Governor was willing to omit from his mes
SAGE certain financial matters, has bounced in
suddenly upon the scene, and has been taken
as suddenly by the coat-collar by that prince
of patriots, Mr.. Eben f. Pillsbury, and wisked
away to private room il the Augusta House
where the midnight conferences of the con-
spirators have been held. 1t would appear
from this, that the plot to make Bion Brad
bury the next Governor is abandoned, and
Joe Smith is to be the man, will. the nope
thereby of galvanizing life into the Greenb&ck
corpse. Should the plans of the consplrators
prove successful, due credit must be given MI
Eben f. Pillsbury. The whole Infamous dish
has been cooked by him. He has been IN con-
sutation with the wire-pullers OF the con-
glomerate parties, has had special appoint
ments in several portions of the state with
parties supposed to be directly or personally
interested; he has been at the depot day and
night on the arrival of the trains, for the pur-
pose of having two-minute whisperings with
those whom he hoped to enlist in his scheme;
he has plead with Governor Garcelon and each
individual member of the Council with the
state officers, and who would like to remaln
such; in fact, he is the arch conspirator III TIE
entire revolutionary transaction. This VIII
make him more notorious than the part ne
bore in the celebrated "kngfeld massacre
and is a similar attempt to overthrow the con-
stitutional government of the people.
The people have been slow to believe that
the Governor and Council would undertake
any such rash act; but | find deliberately
formed opinions changing 1 have conVersed
with men today, who have no nervousness IN
their composition, and who are level-headed IN
their judgments, who fully believe that the
Governor and Council will consummate the
revolutionary act. Inquiries are being made
as to the meaning of these protracted sessions
of the Council, with locked doors. The an
swer is given by the Uriah Heep, who stands
| at the outer door, and who has been allowed
| by good natured councillors to run on errands
for several years-the answer is CIV en-, say
| that the subcommittee on elections are tabu-
lating the returns, preparatory TO the oflclal
| count, which begins next Monday. Should IL
be found that they are counting and canvass
| ing the votes that would be a fragrant and I'M
pardonable violation Of law, as the constitution
expressly provides that this duty shall be per-
formed in open session. Mr.. Fogg, Mr.. Fos-
ter. and others of the Council, have emphati-
cally denied the report that the Council con-
templated anything of the kind limited at, and
| appear to be much hurt at even the sugges-
| ton But this air of njured innocence may
| be all ''put on Leastwise find men taking
stock in the contingent business who two
weeks ago wouldn't listen to a single word OF
| it with patience.
A gentleman holding official position in the
present administration, yesterday informed
Hon. S. D. Lindsey, member of Congress
| from this district, that there was full authorl-
ty for the contingent, and the programme
would be pushed through Sufficient frauds
could be proven by them on enough men,
bers of each branch to spoil the Republican
| majority: That at first Gov. Garcelon was III
dou bt in regard to the legality OF going be-
hind the returns, but had now been convinced,
| that it is perfectly legitimate for the Council
| to do so, and had yielded L shall be very
slow to believe this of Alonzo Garcelon,
whom have known for thirty years. While
a bitter partisan, he has the reputation of be-
| inc an honest man, and has hitherto borne
| spotless reputation He was elevated by the
| Republicans of the Senate to his present posi-
| ton. and it cannot be that he would thus be-
tray their confidence and overthrow the will
Of the people as expressed in their annual
| To hoc m
I whole proceedings.
This cry of fraud is made merely to dark
en- the doings of those who would consummate
this act. The men who have been sent over
| the state as commissioners have been
found to be of the lowest and most abandoned
stamp. The few instances of fraud charged,
have been met by responsible gentlemen over
their own signatures, and proven to be base
fabrications, and this cry of corruption"
"fraud," and bribery" is all for effect
By fair count, the Republicans have
seven majority in the Senate, and thirty in
the House. 1t would appear to be bold work
to overthrow this but that is the feast
which we are invited. In the Senate the
votes of Cumberland, York, Franklin, Han
cock and Washington counties will be chal-
lenged. In the House it is proposed to throw
out the Republican representatives chosen
from nearly every city, and from some OF the
towns where informalities are claimed. The
Council meets on the 18th inst, and then the
suspense will be broken. Every member elect
should see to it that his constituents are not
defrauded of their rights. If an appearance
is put in at the time of opening the votes,
twenty days after the public opening OF the
returns are allowed to put in protest and to
be heard, and for the purpose of filing proof OF
their election. While these rumors are in the
| air, and these matters are taking shape, 1t be-
hooves every Republican who knows he is
elected, on either the state or county ticket, to
be at the State House on the 18th OF represent
ed by counsel.
The people of Maine are generally quiet and
| law-abiding, but they are not quite ready to
engraft upon the body polite the tactics re-
sorted to in Mississippi and Louisiana. Cam
didates and principles worth voting for are
worth fighting for. GEORGE.
ITO the Associated Press.l
AUGUSTA, Nov. 14.-The rumors in regard
to the Governor and Council intending to
count out the Republican majority in the
Legislature are exciting general attention.
| w
belief. There is deep feeling of Indignation
spreading among Republicans, and every ef-
fort will be made by them to maintain their
rights Messrs. Baker and Baker filed a no.
tice with the government today to be heard in
the disputed cases in Franklin, Lincoln and
Penobscot counties, and III. NJ Heath did like
wise in regard to cases in Washington county.
1t is reported that no hearings will be allowed
in the disputed cases, but that the certificates
will be issued Monday, as has already been de-
termined. A carefully compiled list OF the
Legislature shows that the Republicans have
50 members in the House and one vacancy by
death, while the Democrats have 81 in the
same branch. In the Senate the Republicans
have 10 members and the Democrats H.
|