The Portland daily press., 1881-01-05
by TELEGRAPH.
AUGUSTA.
THE SENATORIAL CONTEST
The Caucus to be Held Next Fri
day.
a LITTLE BREEZE OVER THE GUBER-
NAToR1AL QUESTION.
proceedings of the Legislative Caucuses
Special Despatch to the Press

''PS vi interest Mr.. Hale is pursuing we'll
matured plan of operations, and his friends
claim that he stands stronger tonight than
he did twenty-four hours ago. They claim
not less than sixty-five votes on the first bal
lot and as fifty-four is necessary for choice,
this would give him eleven votes more than it
rs necessary for him to have to secure the NOM
ination. The Washington county delegation
held meeting to-day and pledged solid sur
port for Hale in the caucus
The friends of Mr.. Frye are diligent and
claim that his chances are growing better
They feel very confident that he will be nomi-
mated, and seem assured that no break can be
made in their lines The unanimous support
of the Washington county delegation Cor Mr.
Hale, does not disturb them, notwithstanding
1t has been reported that they expected one
vote in that county. They concede the Fourth
and Fifth districts substantially to Mr.. Hale,
while Mr. Frye will of course have the most of
the Second district. This leaves the disputed
ground in the First and Third districts of which
Mr.. Hale will have majority in Cumberland,
Lncoln, Somerset and Kennebec counties and
Mr.. Frye will have majority in York. There
viii bs no contention over the time for hold
ing the caucus, as it has been amicably ar
ranged to-day, by the friends of the opposing
candidates. the time fixed being next Friday
evening of the present week. The Hale men
declare that in the settlement of this question
they gained their first victory, but the Frye
men can't see it in that light as they affirm
that it was their own proposition.
The friends of Gen. Chamberlain believe
that he will receive some eight votes and re-
gard this as an important factor in the contest
1t is only in a certain contingency that his
name will be withdrawn.
Several Fusion members now talk of bring.
ing forward Maj. Joseph l.. Smith of Oldtown
as a candidate for United States Senator
The gubernatorial question cannot be con-
sidered as being virtually settled. To-day
there are indications that an attempt will be
made to send the plurality amendment to the
supreme Court to ascertain whether it applies
to the September election or not Those who
take the ground that it does not maintain that
there was no election of governor by the peo-
pie. Several members from the east and
other parts of the State are disposed to press
this matter, and, if they do, the election of a
governor may be necessarily deferred until
next week. 1t is understood tonight that a
majority of the members of the Senate are in
favor of submitting the matter to the court,
and il lis not unlikely that it may be done,
shortly after the Senate is organized to-mor-
row.
Prince O.. Sawyer who acquired notoriety in
the State steal of last winter, is an applicant
for the position of Messenger to the Governor
and Council, confidently expecting that Gen.
Plaistod will be the next Governor. Mr.
Sawyer will undoubtedly be brought to grief
in his aspirations.
Mr.. Joseph o. Smith, Deputy Secretary of
State. received the sad intelligence of the
sudden death of his father at Linneus this
forenoon, ard left in the afternoon train for
that place.
Hon. Geo. D. Bisbee, one of the Senator'S
elect from Oxford, who is confined to his
room by sickness is better to-day.
The caucuses for the nomination of leeis.
lative officers took place this evening in the
Representatives Hall.
The House caucus was presided over by
Maj. E. Rowell of Hallowell.
Mr.. Hatch Of Bangor withdrew his name as
candidate for the Speakership, and on his
motion Hon. L. 81. Hutchinson of Lewiston
was nominated for Speaker by acclamation.
Hon. Anson P. Morrill, of Augusta presented
the name of Oramandel Smith of Litchfeld
for clerk and he was nominated BY acclama-
tion.
Frank L. Patten of Newport was also nom
mated by reclamation for assistant clerk, on
motion of Mr.. Goss of Bath.
The remaining nominations were: For
Messenger, Charles FL. Getchell of Jackson.
First Assistant Messenger, John w. Phinnev
of Plymouth; Second Assistant Messenger, W.
J Smith of Brunswick.
The following committee was elected to call
future caucuses: Messrs Bradstreet of Bridg-
ton' Burnham of Sherman, McKusic of Cal
ans, Cook OF Lewiston and Shaw of Lisbon.
The Senate caucus was presided over by
Hon. jeremiah Dingley of Androscoggin.
On motion of Hon. Joseph Berry of Kenne-
bee, Hon. Joseph A. Locke of Cumberland
was nominated for President by acclamation.
Mr. Berry was a candidate but withdrew.
On motion of Hon. Nahum I. Hill of Han
cock, Gen. Charles w. Tilden of Hallowell |
was nominated for Secretary.
ballot resulted in the nomination of Geo. |
o. Minot for Assistant Secretary, who receiv-
ed IA votes to cast for Geo. e. Brackett of
Belfast.
Charles A. Lovejoy of Sidney was nominat-
cd for Messenger, land +. E. Voter of Farm
ington, for Assistant Messenger.
The Fusion nominations for legislative |
officers are as follows: For President of the
Senate, Hon. Joseph L. Smith of Orono: Sec-
retary, A. G. Andrews of Augusta; for Sneak
er OF the House, Thomas B. Swan of Minot
Clerk, w. e. Gibbs of Glenburn.
Gen. Plaisted arrived here by the Pullman
tram tonight and proceeded to the Augusta
House, where he was welcomed by Senator !
Smith and other well-known Fusionists.
ITO the Associated Pressl
AUGUSTA, Jan. 4.-The Senate caucus was
called to order by Senator Cornish and Sena-
tor Dingley made chairman. On motion of
SeLator Berry of Kennebec, who had been
candidate, seconded by Senator Walker in be-
half OF Senator Bisbeee, Hon. Joseph A.
Locke of Cumberland was nominated for pres
ident of the Senate Eby acclamation. C. W.
Tilden of Castine was chosen secretary: Geo.
E. Minot of Belgrade, assistant secretary;
Charles II. Loveioy of Sidney, messenger; F.
e. Voter of Pennington, assistant messenger
The House caucus was called to order by
Hon. A. P. Morrill, and Major E. Rowell was
made chairman. In the contest for candidate
for speaker, S. c. Hatch of Bangor gracefully
withdrew his name and on his motion L. H.
Hutchinson of Lewiston was nominated for
that Office by acclamation. Oramandel Smith
of Litchfield was nominated for clerk, and
Frank L. Patten of Newport, assistant clerk;
Charles FL. Gatchell was nominated for mes
senger, John w. Phinney first assistant, and
w. j. Smith second assistant.
The caucus for the nomination of State af-
fcers will be held tomorrow evening.
The fusionists met in caucus and selected
the following principal candidates.: President
OF the Senate, Joseph L. Smith of Penobscot;
secretary, A. G. Andrews of Augusta; assist
ant secretary, II. j. A. Simmons of Waldo
boro; speaker of the House, T. B. Swan of
Minot; clerk, w. e. Gibbs of Glenburn: as
sistant, Mr. Jack of Auburn.
There is talk of holding caucus of Repub-
licans for consultation on the Governor oues-
tion. While the Republicans from Androscog-
gin, Franklin and Oxford counties are in
favor of seating Plaisted at once and without
any controversy, those from the eastern sec
tion and many from the middle and western
sections desire to move cautiously and consti-
fufionally Soma twenty memharc avprossod