The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-02-18
CoLoNELs IN COUNCIL.
What was Done at the Mass Meet.
lug Last Evening.
COLONEL JOHN NJ. TODD EXCITED.
A Boom for Fred Fox.


and Sunday New Era, and President of Maine
State Circle B. P. L., Hon C. E. Clifford,
Col. Rice, Col. Pickett, Councilman from
ward 4; Col. Dyer, Col. Jewell, Col. Edwards,
Col. Fitz, Col. Norwood, Col. John NJ. Todd,
Col. Samuel A. Berry of Deering, Col J. r.
Turner, Col. Spencer Rogers and Col. Manly.
Col. r. M. Springer, editor of the New Era
Leader and Sunday New Era, and President
of the Maine State Circle B. p L., called the
meeting to order, and nominated Col. Thomas
F. Sheehan as President of the meeting. The
Colonel declined, and Col. Springer editor of
the New Era-Leader and President of the
Maine State Circle B. P. L., suggested the
name of COL Elliot King, who accepted, as he
always does, and st cd behind his own table
the rest of the evening" which was little
hard on Col. King, in particular, as Col. Sar-
gent and Mr.. Fay found comfortable seats in
Col. Kings chairs, and behind his table. Col.
Harper was elected secretary The always isl,
and Col. King suggested that it was about time
to proceed to business, but didn't seem exactly
to understand what the business was that
ought to be attended to- There was great
and most solemn silence for about one moment
have been heard to drop, and then Col. Nor
wood-it takes him to create disturbance by
making an unpleasant suggestion-asked Col.
King to read the call of the meeting, which
Col. King succeeded in doing with some diff
Guilty, but when Col Humphrey wanted the
names OF the signers read Col. King was
stuck aud explained that he couldn't d. it for
the reason that he hadn't got the complete
list, but he remembered that he signed the
call himself, which ought to have satisfied
COL Humphrey but which didn't.
Col. Springer, editor OF the New Era-Leader
and Sunday New Era and President of
the Maine State Circle B. P. L., wanted
to know what views Col. Dyer
had, but Coz. Dyer not having any couldn't
accommodate him with any, and Col. Springer
reluctantly subsidized into comparative, but
most unnatural, quiet.
Some Colonel, exact name not known, sug-
gested the appointment of committee of five
10 present the name of some person to be
nominated and supported as the candidate of
the Greenback party for mayor. That started
the circus. Col. Edwards rose to point of
order he said, though in reality he rose to his
feet and to ask a few questions and the way
he rolled out his Questions would have ex
cited the envy OF a police court lawyer What
are we here for? What are we going to do?
Haven't we a committee? Isn't there call I'm
for convention? What are we going to do?
and others, as an auctioner's catalogue would
says, too numerous and not important enough
to mention. He called for Col. Humphrey
who made speech which drew the sweat
from tho colonies, in particular from Col.
Samuel A. Berry of Deering down whose face
1t Iolled to such an extent that it kept both of
his hands busy as well as drawing heavily on
the time of the colonel by his side to wipe it
away. Col. Humphrey didn't seem to know
exactly what the meeting was for, but was
free to say that in his Judgment it was an UNI
called for proceeding, the like of which had
failed to fall under his observation in the
course of some As years of political life.
Col. King rose to the occasion and announc-
ed himself as being willing to explain all 70
the satisfaction of the assembled colonies, and
Col Harper rose from his seat and introduced
Col. King. The meeting evidently had an
idea that it had seen COL King before and he
was allowed to proceed with his explana-
applause. Col. King explained that the
meeting had been called to save the feelings of
the "tender-toed' and 'tender-mouthed''
Greenbackers who would not vote for Fred
Fox unless he was first nominated by the
Greenbackers. Col. Humphrey expressed
himself as being satisfied with the explanation
of Col. King, and the motion of the colonel
who wanted the committee of FIVE appointed
was Withdrawn, and it was proposed that a
series of resolutions should BE- prepared recon-
mending the regular city convention of the
Greenback party to nominate Mr.. Fox for
Mayor. Col. R. M. Springer, editor of the
New Era-Lsader and Sunday New Era. and
President of the Maine State Circle, B. P. L.,
made brief speech, good because it was
brief, and about nothing in particular, in favor
of Mr.. Fox in general. Col. Pickett followed
Col. Springer, and moved a committee of
three to draft resolutions.
Here Col. Turner of the B. P. L., wanted to
know if a PRESS reporter wasn't in the hail.
This excited considerable discussion, but 1t
was finally decided to allow the reporters to
remain.
Col. John M. Todd wanted the reporters let
alone. eve hereby nominate Col. Todd Is the
0feenback candidate for Governor Of this
state for the year 3Oss) A Col. suggested
that they might be allowed to renain II they
would promise not TO Ne.
The committee on resolutions was appointed
IS follows: Col. R. NJ Springer, editor of the
New Era-Leader and Sunday New Era and
President of the Maine State Circle, B. P. L.,
Col. G. W. Rice and Col. Humphrey.
Col. John M. Todd was called for.
Come Todd, now is the time to shoot Oft
your chin" observed Col. King, encouraging
ly, and Col. Todd proceeded to ''shoot" He
wanted Fred Fox nominated then and there,
because the id Republicans didn't want him.
He wanted to see the id Republicans de-
feated, and believed that Fox would do it. All
the Repub lican acts of late years have been as
black as hell. The New York Tribune and
the Portland PRESS have united to deceive the
people. He wanted the reporters present to
state what he said, and threatened certain un-
pleasant consequences to the gentleman who
was at COL Kings table If he did not do it; if
he did. however, and got in all of Col. Todd's
smutty stories the PsBss would be immedi-
ately excluded from the mails.
COL T. J. Mcintyre, of Massachusetts,, pre-
sented to the meeting the thanks and congrat-
ulations of the Greenbackers of Massach usetts,
and didn't charge cent for either the thanks
or congratulations, and the meeting very prop
erly cheered him when he sat down; perhaps,
however, the cheering came in on that &C.
count.
The Hon. Charles E. Clifford made a speech
in which he said that the Republican Legisla-
ture of Maine, by the presentment of the bill
to make an educational qualification necessary,
had proved itself the party of disfranchised
ment, and the opponent of the poor man. Mr..
Clifford probably referred to the bill presented
by the eminent Fusion statesman from Scar
boro, Mr.. Hunnewell. Mr.. Fox would repre-
sent the party of acknowledgements
Col. R. M. Springer, editor of the New Era
Leader and Sunday New Era, and President
OF the Maine State Circle B. P. L., presented
series of three resolutions to the following
purport:
l. Fred Fox is our candidate.
2. If he isn't he ought to be.