Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-16
From Chase's Chronicle.)
THE PORTLAND CONNEN-
TION.
How it was Run and for What.
BULLDOZING AND GAG LAW TRIUMPH.
Shall Greenbackers Submit?
Shall Greenbackers Submit?
THE CHRONICLE POSITION.
BEFORE THE CONVENTION

BEFORE THE CoNFbNii'N'
To the careful observer of the vancouver
ing of those on whom devolved the prelimi-
nary arrangements of the convention, the in
dications were plain that there was an iaten-
ton to run the convention in the interest OF
fusion; not an open, manly, bold fusion with
the democrats, but by secret, blind and un-
derhand method that would not reveal to the
rank and file of the party, probably not to
their delegates in the convention what was
the purpose. 1t was generally understood
that the State Committee (that is the ring
within the State Committec) had decided To
make Mr.. Rust of the Belfast Age, who is
more democrat than grcenback; who believes
in fus ion; who believes in gold and silver.
temporary chairman; but the purpose to
make the temporary organization permanent
was not known outside the ring. The Chron-
icle blieves, indeed it knows that had this in
tention been understood. Mr.. Rust could not
have been president of that convention.
The Close COMMUNION At THE FALMOUTH.
In a rather retired part of the Falmouth
House. anu near TO tdtl blHtI. NtIt INV
rooms of the democratic and grcenack State
Committees. For what purpose was this ar
ranged? and why the frequent communica-
tions between the two? Why was there an in
formal committee on resolutions to prepare Il
platform if il was not to make such one as
would be acceptable 10 the democrats? Why
were the propositions of those who are known
to be true-blue greenbackers thrust into the
drawers of this sclf-c0nstitutcd, autocratic
committee without even being read, If the
platform had not already been agreed upon:
And why was Eben f. Pillsbury everywhere
present to buttonhole arriving members and
advise the suspecting ones TO keep calm and
accept what might be offered without rcmon-
STRANGE if a programme had not been agreed
upon between the two State Committees
programme that it was determined by some
means to force the convention to carry out?
THE Chronicle here stops to parcnthetcally
ask the greenbackers of the State if they are
willing thus early in their career to submit to
the worst practices of the older parties? if
they are willing to send delegates to ccnvcn-
tons to be used by trading tricksters whose
only care is Office at any price, If they are,
then do away with the farce and expense of
conventions and let the ring run the machine
openly rs it does now behind the scenes.
L HE KING SHOWS ITS HAND.
The intention must be clear. The ring
didn't want the convention to have time To
call its work in question. 1t was well known
that many Eastern delegations wanted to
leave on the four o'clock train and that ratli-
er than be detained in the city over night,
would adopt the platform presented by the
committee without discussion and hurriedly,
and that any attempt to proong its consider
h..f hxyt
ring knew that this would favor their purpose
to choke off discussion and that with the help
of its strikers distributed in the body of the
convention, it would be able to carry the plot.
In the committee the ring first revealed its
designs on the freedom of the convention.
Its tools promptly voted down every PROPOSE
ton that was not in keeping with the plot to
sell out the party. Visiting greenback speak
ers from other States were COMPOUNDED by the
high-handed proceedings, but protested in
vain. proposition to protest against re-
sumption. made by Scion Chase, received
the same quietus. 1t would not do to attack
resumption. That would antagonize specie
resumption democrats. The platform must
be what the democrats would accept The
candidate who should be nominated on such
a platform would not be objectionable
Consequently the platform came from the
committee room over which {. p. Brown
presided, who has recently declared that he
never was and never expected to be. a green
hacker, just as the ring had calculated.
THE Revolt AGAINST THE RING.
So far everything had gone on just as the
ring desired. But the critical time had now
arrived. Capt. Black of Augusta made the
report of the committee by reading the plat
form. Before the last words had been fairly
uttered, 'the prompter," prominently placed
on the platform, snapped his fingers in one
direction and up jumped the man designated
to move the adoption of the platform; he
snapped them in another direction and up
came the man to second the motion. But
here an objection was interposed and the
motion changed to one to accept the report of
the committee. Whether the convention saw
the plot to defraud it of the right to consider
the platform or not the motion to accept was
carried almost unanimously, and the report
of the committee became the property of the
convention. No sooner, however, was this
done than the motion to adopt was renewed
and seconded. As the Chairman was about
to put the motion without saying ''Are YOU
ready for the question 7" as parliamentary
law requires, Scion Chase sprang to the
front and in brief and burning cloquence at
tackled the proceedings and the platform. No
sooner had he finished than Hon. +. NJ
FOgg dashed through the crowd that had
settled to the front and with Indignation de-
picted in every lineament of his face, hurled
his anathema upon the attempt to force the
platform on the convention. He declared il
to be fraud and sell, and that he repudiat-
ed it entire. The applause that followed this
revolt against the ring-intention, showed the
ring that the programme as whole, could
not carry, and the motion to transfer the head
and tail of the dog-to place the natural Is
sues-the planks on finance-at the head and
the State issues at the foot of the platform
was permitted to prevail without opposition
THE CONVENTION AT FEVER HEAT.
When Messrs. Chase and Fogg retired from
the front they were Immediately set upon
by the members of the ring, who saw if the
revolt was allowed to go on that their plot
would be exploded. One of them said to Mr.
Fogg "As you value your future prospects
don't say another word; keep off the plat
q. c. don't interfere with u.s. and wen take
care of you" Mr. Fogg, boiling with
rage at this attempt to choke him
down, replied ''to h--ll with prospects. /
am here to see that this convention has the
opportunity to consider this platform and
will not be gagged" Meanwhile the motion
to adopt was renewed BY this time Mr.. Jas