The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-05-24
Our Representative.

| A York County correspondent, writing
| from Sanford, corrects some errors into
| which the agent of the associated press at
Biddeford fell, no doubt inadvertently, in
| reporting the conference of Republicans
hetd in that city last Friday. 1t appears
| that at that conference, but few towns in
| the County were represented, and of the
men representing these towns nearly one
half declined to commit themselves against
Mr.. Reed or to support the claim of York
County to the Congressional nomination
this yeal.
1t is well understood that the meeting was
called in the interest of those Who are OBJ
posed to Mr.. Reeds candidacy because he
resides in the Cumberland portion of the
District. That the greater part of York
County felt no interest in the meeting and
no sympathy with its objects is demonstrat-
ed by the smal attendance. The confer
ence itself was greatly divided in sentiment,
and those who put the claims of locality be-
fore the other interests of the District car
ried their point by but two majority. The
truth is, most York County Republicans are
not only satisfied with their present Repre-
sentative, but proud Of him. They are pro-
foundly gratified at the national reputation
he has won and at the commanding position
ke has taken in the Maine delegation and in
the House. They recognize the fact that he
honors the First District as much as it has
honored him. They are convinced that the
~ &c IL, l.
ter hands and they are not minded to throw
him aside for new and untried man. They
regard the First Congressional District as a
unit, and believe it should be represented
by its ablest man, and have little sympathy
with rule that would confine their choice
to one town or one section. These, we are
persuaded, are the sentiments of the majori-
ty of the Republicans of York, as they GER
tainly are of the Republicans of Cumberland
The general feeling in the District is that
we cannot afford to lose the services of Mr.
Reed. He is the ablest Representative we
have sent to Congress since the days of Pitt
Fessenden. He has won a national reputa-
tion and has become one of the recognized
leaders of the Republican minority in the
House. His great ability is frankly acknowl-
edged by the Democratic majority as well as
by his party friends. He is able in debate,
indefatigable in committee work, and no
man on the floor is more eagerly or admir-
ingly listened to. The Republican party in
the country owes him much for the excellent
work he did while on the Potter Committee
in bringing the cipher dispatches to light
and in exposing the INSCRIPTIONS methods
resorted to by Tilden and his co-parceners
to secure the electoral votes of the disputed
Southern States. His able argument against
the William and Mary College claim, and
that one so widely quoted, in opposition to
the Democratic scheme to nullify the laws
securing the freedom of elections, are addi-
tional claims upon the regard of the Repub-
lican party. These claims, so generally rec
ognized by Republicans elsewhere, will not
be disregarded by his constituents. We
have got Representative that suits us,
and brings us reputation and honor in
the national councils. 1t would be the
height of folly to set him aside.