Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-30
4ailp &tnnfbtf aOurnal.
Augusta, Thursday Morning, Dec. 30.
Mr.. Frye Defines his Position ON
the Senator Question.

Mr.. Frye Defines his Position on
the Senator Question.
The Portland Press Of yesterday pub
lished an interesting correspondence be-
tween S. E. Spring and Josiah II. Drum
mond on the one part and Hon. VIM. r
Frye on the other. in relation to Mr..
Frye's candidacy for the Senate Messrs.
Spring and Drummond in note to MIR.
FRYE expressed their desire TO aid in his
election to the Senate. but say they are
met with the statements by friends Of OPP
posing candidates that Mr.. Frye is max
ing an active canvass for the Speakership
Of the National House of Representatives,
and is so Indifferent to his success as
candidate for Senator that he has said he
will not be present at Augusta during the
progress of the contest in which that mat
ter IS involved. Mr.. Frye answers as
follows:
LEwIsIos, Dec. q, $3.50.
GESrIgsES: Your letter of the 10th
inst, is received, and you will allow me TO
say that it occasions me no surprise, Tor that
portion of the press, unfavorable to my can
didscy, has been prolific with items to the
effect that / am candidate for the Speaker
ship of the House, that ! take no interest IN
the Senatorship. that have retired from the
contest, &C.. &C., and have received many
letters of similar purport to yonrs Now
there is no place Of greater dignity, more
worthy of arousing the ambition of any man
than q seat in the Senate of the nited States.
Il "a =. n,.1l tn a nj a
the House, opening to him, as it does, almost
the only door to legitimate promotion. am
not ashamed to confess that greatly desire
this distinguished position, and am willing to
do anything honorably can to attain II. To
the first branch of your inquiry, reply, i
am a candidate for the Senatorial nomination
and am not making ian active canvass for
the Speakership."
But your letter seems to assume that sue
cess largely depends upon my presence Mt
Augusta, my active, personal participation IN
the contest, and this seems to be the general
ly expressed opinion Of my friends.
What would this involve? The House meets
the same day our Legislature does. The
election of Senator will be held the 18th Of
January so that it would probably necessitate
nv absence from Washington for at least two
weeks after the recess. We are in the last
session Of the 4Gth Congress, not more than
forty working days for ordinary public legis-
latiOn left. twenty Of which, if not more will
be consumed BY the Committee on Appropri-
atoms, leaving only twenty in which legisla-
ton of vital importance must be considered,
fiat all in this Congress. Let me call your at
tention to some of these pending measures.
First "The Funding Bill" need not re-
mind gentlemen of your business experience.
of the necessity of enacting into law some
II.
cent bonds, shortly rcdeemable, into bonds
bearing a much lower rate of interest. This
bill was reported from the committee of Ways
and Means of which am a member.
have taken great interest in it, have been
entrusted with important. and as the Secreta-
nv of the Treasury thinks. vital amendments
TO it, and its consideration will he resumed
Immediately.
Second. Following this closely on the
Calendar is 'The Revised Tariff BILL la
BILE TO be brought forward any day. This also
comes from the same committee. reported to
il by q sub committee, of which was MEM
Der. therefore I am familiar with iall its pro-
visions. In my opinion, this bill enacted in
TO law would strike serious blo% 10 many
of the manufacturing industries OF my State
and of New England. II the attempt is
made to pass it. and | have reason to believe
1t will be, there will be bitter contest in
which fully expect TO participate
Third. Another important measure is
'The Sugar Bill" affecting forty millions of
revenue, extensive and important industries,
and every person in the United States. This
also was reported from the Corimittee of
Ways aud Means Touching its provisions
Ihave very decided views. In fact, the sub
stitute for the committees BILL which will be
offered. is mine
Twill cail your attention To no other mat
tiers. These will sufficiently illustrate my
position.
Now, Gentlemen. canno, possibly Justify
myself to myself. and such justification is
more necessary than auv other. for deserving
ut so important time the post tn which |
have been assigned by my constituents. for
no better reason than my wish to be promoted
to the Senate. In my opinion, if did, the
Legislature of Maine might well reject me
for cause.
1t has been argued that can pair. To be
sure, my vote. nothing more. After ten years
service in the House Ought not to be worth
more than my vote? If I am not, then. sure
~ l should not be promoted unless the theory
of my opponents that must not be Senator
because my services in the House are valuable,
is sound. am aware of the general impress
sion among my friends that my absence from
Augusta will be detrimental to my interests.
Well, it may lose me the Senatorship, but
even if it does, shall still have the satisfac-
ton of knowing that l have not neglected
pressing public duties merely to advance my
personal interests and ambitions. shall not.
then, gentlemen, be at Augusta. at any time
during the contest for the Senatorship. not
because l am indifferent 10 success" but
for the reasons stated, and shall in all conf
dence leave my case in the care of friends