The Portland daily press., 1881-01-04
AUGUSTA.
Legislators Gathering at the
Capital
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION THE ALL
ABSORBING TOPIC.
Friends of Both Hale and Frye Profess
ing Confidence.

/ A5 i<cSiSidtuIo, DIS Nctl tllOSo lulOEC-tCu III
the contest for the election Of United States
Senator, and the result is that all the hotels
tonight are crowded with guests. Representa-
| tive Republicans from all sections of the state
| are on the ground.
The Republican caucuses for the nomina-
| ton of officers of the two houses will take
| place tomorrow night For President of the
| Senate the following Republicans are mention
ed: Hon. j. A. Locke of Cumberland, who
was President of that branch last winter Hon.
| D. W. Mortland of Knox, Hon. Geo. D. Bis
bee of Oxford and Hon. j. S. Berry of Kenne-
bee. The Fusion members-elect have not as
yet brought forward any candidate for the
position. For Speaker of the House the rival
candidates among the Republicans are Hon l..
IL. Hutchinson of Lewiston, and Hon. S. G.
Hatch of Bangor. The Fusionists will run
Hon. John G. Talbot of Machias, who as
their choice last winter.
For Secretary of the Serate Gen. Chas. w.
Tilden of Halowel will meet with no opposi-
tion, while his assistant of last winter, Geo. e.
Brackett of Belfast, will have his position con-
tested by Geo. o. Minot of Belgrade.
For Clerk of the House Ormandel Smith of
Litchfied will be reelected; also his assistant
Frank L. Patten of Newport, neither of them
meeting with any competition.
The canvass for the various legislative Off
GERS is being carried on quietly and with the
best of feeling.
On Wednesday evening the Republican
members will hold caucus for the nomina-
tion of State oflicers. 1t is understood that
fbo ,ho,t all L.
ated without any opposition, with the excep-
tion of Mr.. Chadbourne, who retires from the
office of Secretary of State, not desiring re-
election. For the position Mr.. Joseph o.
Smith, the present deputy, is candidate and
will doubtless be elected The other State
officers who will be reelected are Hon S. A.
Holbrook, Treasurer; Gen. Geo. L. Bells,
Adjutant General; Henry B. Cleaves, Attor-
ney General. Each of these officers has
served but one year.
1t is understood that the Executive Coun-
Gil will be taken from York, Cumberland,
Hancock, Kennebec, Waldo, Penobscot and
Washington counties, the same as last year.
AS there will not be another session of the
Legislature for two years, unless specially
called together by the Governor, there will be
several important matters which will be dis
posed of, and there is a general expectation
that the session will be longer one than has
been Eeld for several years. The revaluation
and reapportionment of the State for the next
ten years will be one of the most important
measures to be disposed of. 1t is believed that
the commission which has the matter in charge
will not be able to report before the latter part
of this month. The commission is now in ses-
sion at the Court house.
After the Legislature has organized the first
business of importance will be the election of
Governor The returns of votes for Chief
Magistrate will be placed in the hands of a
joint select committee, as is always the prac-
tice, when they will be opened and counted.
Undoubtedly the Legislature will authorize
such corrections as should be made in the votes
as we'll as decide that the constitutional amend
ment which was adopted last fall, electing
Governor by a plurality of votes should apply
to the September election. 1t is proposed by
some to have the matter submitted to the
Court, but it is hardly thought this will be
done. The prevailing opinion seems to be that
Gen. Plasted will be declared elected Gov
ernor.
The election of United States Senator to
succeed Mr.. Hamlin attracts special interest
and bids fair to be unusually lively before it is
disposed of. The contest is practically between
Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Frye, although Gen. Cham
berlain is mentioned, and it is reported that
MIR. Hamlin, Notwithstanding that he has re.
peatedy declared that he is not candidate,
will receive few votes. The headquarters of
Mr.. Hale are at the Augusta House, where
he is conducting his campaign in person,
assisted by trusty and skilful lieutenants,
while the headquarters of Mr.. Frye are at the
Hotel North. Mr.. Frye is not on the ground.
but his cause is being championed by devoted
and earnest followers. The friends of each
candidate are here in full force tonight and
noses are being counted and conferences held.
Various statements are gwen out Of the strength
of the respective contestants, and each side
claims sufficient number of votes to insure q
nomination. The Hale men want the caucus
to take place on Friday evening in acc ,rdance
with the usual custom, but the Frye men
would prefer to have it postponed week
later in order that the matter can be more
fully discussed. The election takes place on
members will nominate Bion Bradbury of
Portland as their candidate for U. s. Senator.
ITO the Associated Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. t3.-Some two-thirds of the
members of the I.egisla ature are already on the
ground and canvassing for offices is lively.
though not exciting. OF course the Senatorial
question overshadows all Others Mr.. Hale's
headquarters are at the Augusta House, while
those of Mr.. Frye are at the Hotel North.
Mr.. Hale is the leader of his forces, which are
under his personal supervision, and has Hon.
L. A. Emery, S. S. Marble, A. A. Strout of
Portland, Hon. j. d. Hopkins of Ellsworth,
and others as lieutenants. At the head of Mr..
Frye's forces are EX-Gov. Dingley, Hon.
Josiah III. Drummond, Hon. T. r. Simonton,
Hon. A. P. Morrill,, j. w. Wakefield and Ira
Foss of Saco. There is talk of ''boom'' for
Chamberlain but only two votes can be found
for him. 1t appears chat the contest will be
solely between Hale and Frye, and both sides
are confident. Hales friends claim that he
will have from 10 to 10 majority, while Fryes
friends claim the election of their candidate bv
from to 10 majority. 1t is clear that the
time has passed for over-confidence on either
side. A large delegation from the eastern
section of the state came by the midnight
train. Frye's friends say his stock is rapidly
rising.
For President of the Senate the leading can
didates are Joseph A. Locke, J. S. Berry and
Geo. d. Bisbee. There are but two candidates
for Speaker-L II. Hutchinson of Lewiston
and G. Hatch of Bangor. The caucus for the
nomination of legislative officers will be held
tomorrow night and the Senatorial caucus
probably Friday night.