The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-12
THE FUsIONIsTs.
Mr.. Houston Deposed-Ward 7 Fusionists
Won't Vote for Turner.

There is no disputing the fact that the aver
age Greenbacker is most amusing specimen
OF humanity when seen at his best, but at
other times is apt to be dull A Greenback
meeting with the venerable John M. Todd
Mr. Elliot King and others present and active
is really a humorous affair, but Greenback
meeting without them is sombre enough.
The Ward Fusion Greenbackers held %
meeting last evening in response to a call pub
lished in the Argus
MIR. William Hayes called the meeting to
order and John E. Donnell was chosen chair
man and E. II. Armstrong Secretary.
The Chair requested Mr.. Armstrong to
relate the object for which the meeting had
been called.
Mr.. Armstrong said that B. H. Houston, a
member of the Greenback city committee, was
not willing to vote for the Congress Hall
ticket, and he therefore would offer resolu-
tion to depose him, and did so as follows
Whereas, Benjamin H. Houston, a member
of the National Greenback City Committee
from this ward, has publicly and in an en-
phatlc manner, viz, upon the floor of a recent
meeting of said committee declared his inten-
ton not to support the regular nomin ations of
the party at the coming Presidential elections
it is hereby
Voted, That the position held by said Hous-
ton upon said committee be declared vacant.
MIR. &. b. Chapman asked if Mr. Houston
proposed to vote the Republican or the straight
Greenback ticket?
MIR. Armstrong said that Mr.. Houston would
vote, as he understood, the straight ticket as it
is called
Mr.. Chapman could not understand how
man who proposes to vote for Weaver, is not
Greenbacker because he is opposed to fusion
in particular when Gen. Weaver is himself
opposed to fusion. Since the stand taken by
Gen. Weaver, he said, the Argus and Bangor
Commercial have grabbed at every bit of
scandal against Weaver. 1t doesn't look as
though the Democrats are very good allies.
There is no fusion between the parties, only a
business arrangement.
Mr.. Donnell thought that the movement
against fusion might affect the state election
Mr.. Chapman said that Maine will be saved
or Garfield, but what troubled him was to de-
eide which wing of nthe Greenback party is to
be the Greenback party after the election.
Mr.. johnson asked Mr.. Chapman what the
Argus had said against Weaver.
Mr.. Chapman cited leader in the paper the
morning OF the state convention to nominate
electors
Mr.. johnson said that there was at the time
OF the Bangor convention an understanding
that there should be fusion on the electoral
ticket. Gen. Plaisted has in this city within
week delared that such an arrangement ex-
listed, and that if it was not carried out that it
would be the greatest swindle ever perpetrat-
ed.
Mr. Hayes said that the Bangor convention
is In the past, and that the question is: "Shall
we vote for all the candidates for electors"
Mr.. Chapman said that there are two esides
fn In loo Ill
and then the bolters will be the regular party,
and will say that there should have been no
fusion.
Mr.. Hayes offered the following resolu-
ton:
Resolyed, That the Greenback voters of ward
seven, formally assembled in ward meeting,
upon the evening of October IL, 1880, do ex-
press themselves as dissatisfied with the re-
tention OF the name of j. f Turner upon the
electoral ticket of the party.
Mr.. Armstrong moved to lay the resolution
on the table, and called up his resolution de-
posing Mr.. Houston, which was lost, reconsid-
cred and finally adopted, but not until Mr.
Hayes had said that he considered Mr.. Hous-
ton as being "a better Green hacker than ever"
and Mr.. Chapman said that he would retain
him in the counsels of the party
The resolution of Mr.. Hayes was taken from
the table and debated.
Mr.. Hayes said that the question was wheth-
er GreenbackerS would vote for j. F. Turner
III he remains on the ticket" said he, 81
shall not vote for him."
Mr.. Chapman thought Mr. Turner sure for
Weaver.
Mr.. Armstrong regarded him as a direct OPP
ponent of the party.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Hayes was
adopted, those who dissented doing so strongly.
One man said to another, 'This is the very
way to break up the Greenback party"
Mr.. Mitchell declined to serve on the CITY
committee in place of Mr. Houston. Mr..
Mitchell voted for Mr.. Houston and against
the anti-Turner resolution.
George r. Tuttle was chosen member of the
city committee in place of B. 81. Houston re-
moved, and the secretary was directed to noti-
~ the city committee of the action taken by
the ward. This will send the whole matter to
the committee, and there is where Mr.. Hous-
ton will make his fight
The meeting adjourned on motion of Mr..
Armstrong.