The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-11
Foggisn.
THE GREENBACK APOSTLE IN PORT
LAND.
What Fogg Thinks of j. L. Smith, Fusion
The Democratic Party and
Frank M. Fogg.

this state, Its head and front, best representa-
tive and most honored exponent, Hon. Frank
NJ. Fogg, editor-in-chief of the Greenback
Labor Chronicle of Auburn, member of Gov
ernor Garcelon's council, and an alleged B P.
L., was in the city yesterday. He came in On
pne train, and proposed to leave ON the next,
and it was by the merest chance that one of
the PRESS reporters encountered him. The re-
cent defeat that his party has experienced has
made little change in Mr.. Fogg. His hair is
still long, his dress is still neat, his watch
chain is still crossed over the spot where he
has put many good dinner while an official,
and he wore the same hat that he did when he
made his bishop-like, but to the State some
what expensive, visit to the Indians at Pleas
ant Point. At first sight one would take this
remarkable man to be dangerous, and his not
to-be-excelled tact enables him to keep his
real nature out of sight. He is pent up vol
cano, and when he bursts, as in the course of
time he must, the result will be fearful-to
the Hon. Frank M. Fogg.
"Have you anything to say through the
PaEss?" inquired the reporter, and MIR. Fogg
promptly replied that he was willing to be in
terviewed.
Reporter-Have you been summoned to ap-
pear before the election committee?
Mr.. Fogg-I have, but [ shall not attend.
1 do not propose to pay the least attention to
it. I do not proposefto recognize the present
legislature as legal legislature in any shape
form or manner. If arrested and taken before
the committee shall remain silent. I am,
however, ready at any time to 90 before the
election committee of the legislature that as
sembled the first Wednesday of January ac-
cording for the constitution, and to make oath
that no return was altered, doctored, scratched
or written on, or changed in any manner
by any member of the State department to
my knowledge.
Reporter-How do you account for the re-
cent defeat of the Fusion party?
Mr.. Fogg-Because of the fact of fusion.
From this time onward am Fundamentally
few cases, it might be well perhaps, but
not as general rule. With us, at least
$50 Greenbackers did not go to the polls at
all. The fusion element of the campaign
gave the Republicans a walk-over. Other
causes, of course, operated against us, but
fusion took the life out Of the fight, and beat
us all over the State. "In Lewiston though p
added Mr.. Fogg thoughtfully, "both parties
polled much heavier vote than they did last
year."
Repcrter-What is your opinion of Joseph
Mr.. Fogg-Joe Smith has too much capital,
and capital is always coward. He is an
honest man, but could not rise to the occasion.
Had been Governor I would have held nv
post at all hazards. would have called out
the militia-no, let me see, yes, would have
called out the militia, and would have
held my place even to the shedding of blood
had it been necessary in order that constitu-
tional government might have been main
tanned.
Reporter-Mr. Fogg, what will be the issue
fhic fa11o
Mr.. Fogg-The financial question, that and
nothing else. On the first of June shall stop
discussing state issues in the Chronicle and
shall treat of financial measures only.
Reporter-Who will be the candidates of
the three parties in your opinion?
Mr.. Fogg-In my Judgment the Democratic
party will go to pieces at the National conven-
ton over Tilden and will divide. The hard
money men will go over to the Republican
camp and vote for Grant, who may be elected
If Blaine is nominated there will be the hottest
personal fight ever seen in this State. If am
attacked shall take hand (Mr. Fogg here
looked determined). The St. Louis 'sBrick'
Pomeroy Convention will force the Greenback
National convention at Chicago to nominate a
straight out Greenbacker for President, either
III. B. Wright, Gen. Weaver Gen. Butler, or
possibly Scion Chase. The chance of Uncle
Scion for the nomination is precious small, we
may say an impossibility. 1 prefer Butler as
the man who would bring over more Demo-
CraIS IMAM any Otner man. have private
information from the South from prominent
Democrats of that section with whom I cores
pond, and they say that there is great change
in the feeling of the Southern people toward
Butler.
Reporter-But to what extent do you expect
to see the Greenback party successful in the
fall elections?
Mr. Fogg-Well not generally Anyway,
I'm for a straight Greenback nomination and
against fusion.
Mr. Fogg expressed his full confidence in
the honesty of ex-Gov. Garcelon. He said
generally that he proposes to remain silent in
any case, if arrested or not, in regard to the
doings of the Council not choosing to recog-
nize the present Legislature, repeating, on
those points, what he first said. He doesn't
seem to feel altogether happy in regard to his
patronage by the business men of Auburn, and
seemed to be convinced that he could make
about 50 900 year by running a Republican
paper, probably expecting that Republicans
would willingly pay that amount annually in
order to keep him out of the field.