National Republican., 1880-01-01
THE MAINE CONSPIRACY.
The Whole Scheme Planned Before
the Election.
Certificates Prepared by the Secretary of
State to Entrap tho Unsuspeoiing-Tho
Governor Sounding His Military
supporl-A Pretenso OF Sub
mission to The Court
Hon. Eugene Hale.
Gnrcelon Holds a Council of War.

Gnrcelon HOluS u COuncil OF War.
AUGUSTA ME-, Dec. 31-Tho military Off.
GERS summoned from Bangor had an interview
with the Governor to-day in reference toan In
quiry concerning tho calling out of the militia
companies should they be needed. The officers
promised TO obey the order of the Governor rs
long as lie was in office. The Governor spoke
in strong language in regard TO calling out the
military.
Certain Questions Sent to the Court.
AUGUSTA, Dec. 21.-Tho Governor has pre-.
pared certain questions of law to the Supreme
court which ho will submit in response to the
letter Of Mr.. Morrill,. Tie questions will cover
the essential points in Mr.. Morrils coinmuni.
cations, but are not to be made public until
placed In the hands of the court. There will
be no correspondence with Mr.. Morrill, as to
the matter ofthe communication. Mr.. Gould
the Governors legal adviser, says the Consti-
tuition authorizes only tho submission Of ques-
tions Of law to tho court, aud not of facts. The
questions wore sent to the court this after
noon.
4 Statement OF the Republican Committee.
AUGUSTA, Dec. 3l.-In the statement mado
to the Republican Advisory Committee, Or
vile ID. Baker, their counsel, calls attention
to tho fact that tho returns from Portland
last year. as well as this, contained votes re-
turned as scattering. Cases in this State are
numerous where that word has been used
from the count of the gubornatorial vote by
tho legislature down to the smallest town
officer and the exclusion OF Portland by Coy.
eruor Garcclon and lis Council is the first
known instance in which return had beeu
invalidated thereby. In the very first election
IN Maine us State, when William King was
chosen Governor, in 1920 the word scatter
Ing" appeared in the returns of some of the
towns. The canvassing board was composed
In largo part OF men who had taken part in
the formation Of the constitution the samo
year. 1t is significant circumstance that
Il.
word scattering" did not invalidute a return
thus giving at the outset construction to
the constitution by men who had assisted in
framing 1t. BY the Constitution it Is
made the duty of the Governor
and Council to issue certificate to tho person
who appears by tho face of the returns to be
elected BY the Portland return, construed
in any possible way, it Enthusiastically appears
that the five Republican candidates received
clear majority of all tho votes cast. But tho
Governor and Council refused TO allow five
the certificates which the constitution COM
mands. The four other disfranchiscd cities
Lewiston, Saco, Bath and ROcklHnd-were
like Portland denied representation, but for n
different reason. In the aggregate the four
cities arc entitled to seven representatives,
and they we-o all dislranchised for the same
reason, namely that tho election return from
each city was signed by only three aldermen,
whereas the Governor and Council decided
that 1t required four. Under the understood
practice OF former governors and councils this
defect was easily supplied from tho record
but Governor Garceon aud his Council re.
fused to allow this correction.
Indications of Deliberate Plot.
The wrong done these cities is greatly ag.
gravated by the fact that the official blanks
for the election returns from cities sent out
from the Office of the Secretary of State to city
officers contained ruled space for the sigma.
lures Of the officers First, q dotted line, with
the word Mayor" at tho end. Next, and
close up to tho first line, came three dotted
lines, only inclGsed with q brace at the end
with the word Aldermen" against the brace
Closely following came fifth line with the
words City Clerk" ut the end. 1t would be
impossible FOR any intelligent mnn on looking
at tile blank to suppose that the signatures OF
more than three aldermen could be expected
The Secretary of State could give no reason
for this extraordinary form of blank never
used In previous years, aud for the first time
seen in Maine. Its use is all tho more remark
able from the fact that there was an abundant
supply of blanks for city returns already in
his Office. Detailing these circumstances,
Bakor says thoy AFFORD strong prcsumptivO
proof that desperate plot was formed in ad.
vance of the election to disiranchise Republi.
can cities and that in the case of four of them
the plot was successful.
Skowhcgan gave Steward, Republican, for
representative 595 votes, and Snow, the Dem
OClhllC anu bItclDuch CdUuluNlt, OOS NOlGS.
The Republican ballOb bearing Stewards
name had tho name of the candidates printed
In two columns instead of the moro usual form
of one column.
1t is not denied that the Republican ballot
in SkowheGan was printed on clean white
paper and had no distinguishing mark save
the name OF the person voted for and the Oili-
ces to be filled as required by law, but ON the
day of election William Philbriclt u strongly
partisan Greenback leader, induced the select
mon to indOrso with the return protest
against the form Of ballot as being distin,
gushing mark in ITSELF and Governor Garce
lon and his Council took this protest as a JUS
tihcation of their decision and threw out the
entire Republican vote of SkOwhegan, and
thus completely disfranChised $40 citizens OF
Maine.
Speech by Hon. Eugene Hale.
ELLSWORTH Me, Dec. 3l,-At an indgna
tion meeting hero last night ex-Congressnan
Hale referring TO the manner in which the
returns were cauvaSsod, said 1t Is n gigantic
and appalling conspiracy to seize the govern.
ment Of Maine, Rud it does not mean TO stop
until the electoral vote In 1880 is ethor SC.
cured to the Democrats or tainted so that it
cannot bo counted. Concerning the rumors
that the Republicans intended to resort to
arms ho said that although men like Gov
Srnor Dngey Messrs, Lyndsay and Emery
and mcmbers'elect of the legislature had been
rudely thrust from tho doors OF tho State
houBo, no violence hHd been dono, The out
ragged people Of Bangor who had gathered in
thousands, had dispersed at word from
the mayor, For what, lie asked, was
II proposed to summon the Irish com,
pany from Portland to preside over the
Inauguration next week ? These men, while
they howl against violence, arc with
malice aforbthought melting it, OK
pectng unsuccessful violence, by which thoy
can shit the issue and yet hold their plundcT
and booty. Never before had men shown
such moderation and forbearanGe under like
circumstances. How much further will they
dare to 20 ? On the first Wednesday in January
the people Of Maine arc wont to assemble in
the capital of the State at Augusta to witness
the inauguration .of the government which
shall hold power for tho year to come. 1t Is a
spectacle which interests all men, women and
children who throng the rotunda, corridors
and galleries by hundreds Everybody Is
free, everybody Is psaceabe, everybody is
welcome, This year it is all changed. Tho
building is barcaded The Montgomery Guards
hold IL and its avenues. Armed mon stand
at the door with lists In their hands Tho
citizen is eliminated from the assemblage,
Bien startle at such picture and doubt that II
will ever bo seen. Two weeks ago | should
have doubted it--now | fear that such 10 the