The Portland daily press., 1882-05-19
STRAIGHT GREENBAcKERs.
A Lively Discussion in Congress Hall

The adjourned meeting of the Straight
Greenbackers of Portland, was held at their
room on Temple street, last evening to listen
to the report of the committee appointed to Sc
lect delegates to the Bangor convention to be
held May 3Oth President Gordon was in t %
chair, and j. f. Turner was Secretary.
The committee reported the following names
to full meeting:
lebrown, George Anderson, William Ander-
son, j. F. Turner, B. III. Houston, William 5.
Houston, Geo. w. Merrill, T. ID. Gordon,
William Andrews, N. ID. Eustis, I'll. w. Fletch-
er, Asa L. Ames, Chas. ii. Baker, J. j. Chase,
Geo W. Adams Geo. w. York, j. r. Murray,
John Murphy, Elihu T. Holman, W. w. Nc
Donald, John S. rFitz, f. NJ. Calderwood,
James Hepburn, T. P. Morgan,J T. Johnston
.. Hickey, Geo. W. futile.
These delegates are understood to be in fav-
or of a straight Greenback candidate for gov
ernor, Notwithstanding gentleman from the
Fusion wing of the party who was present, ex-
pressed the opinion that many OF them were
not. The list of delegates was accepted and
the meeting adjourned.
Just at adjournment several well known
Fusion Greenbackers entered the hall, noticea-
bly, Messrs. John NJ Todd and Spencer Rogers
A remark was make by some one that, though
the meeting was adjourned the audience would
like to hear from John M. Todd. This brought
the veteran on to his feet and he made quite
little speech. The gist of his remarks were
directed against the Republican party because
its principles upheld hard money, OF which
~
Wall street brokers and bankers were the dis
ciples, thus creating an aristocracy correspond
ing to the blue blood of Europe, which fattens
and fattens on the poor hard working man.
He hoped that all differences between the two
wings of the party would be arranged, and that
united they would carry the State.
Mr.. Hickey said he should like to see all diff
ferences arranged, and was proceeding to say
something in reference to Governor plaisted
when there was slight interruption caused by
late arrivals and he sat down.
Mr.. Homan said he had always been a
Straight Greenbacker and he should fight to
the death for its principles. He had succeed
ed in defeating a candidate in York County
in the past, and if any fusion was attempted
this fall he would do all he could to defeat the
candidate He would inform Mr.. Todd that
the Democratic leaders were just as corrupt as
any leaders the country ever saw. They all
had a motive-an itch for office. Office is
what they are aiming for and they don't care
how they get it SO long as they obtain it.
Mr.. Todd then proceeded to review Green
back history when Messrs. Gordon and Turner
each took hand in reply.
Mr.. Todd said that Mr.. Gordon had been
told by Mr.. S. A. Berry that Gov. Plaisted
nominated eleven Greenbackers and five Demo-
Gratis for office, and Gordon had been stating
that Berry told him Plaisted had nominated
eleven Democrats and five Greenbackers to
office.
Mr.. Gordon Indignantly denounced the
statement falsehood and said he never had a
word with Berry on the subject.
Mr.. Todd called the Straight Greenbackers
who left the Congress Hall convention which
nominated Plaisted for Governor-bolters.
He said delegates might decline to vote for
candidate nominated by a convention but they
had no right to leave the convention, organ
ize another, and nominate different man
from the one the majority had chosen. If
they did the latter thing then they were boil
ters.
Mr.. Turner asked how it was when a con-
vention was packed by men illegally chosen
delegates as both Mr.. Todd and he knew was
the case at the Congress Hall convention. He
said that in one town in York county two
Democrats met on the street and made up
list of delegates. In another the regular eau
Gus selected one set Of delegates, and Demo-
Gratis met and elected another set. At the con
vention the legal set was declined admittance
and the bastard set was admitted. There were
delegations purporting to come from certain
towns when the delegates lived miles away.
That convention was carried by these fusion
lists, and yet no Greenbacker believed that
there was any attempt at fusion at the Bangor
convention held previously. The reason why
people thought there was, was owing to the
fact that nominations for Congress were not
made until the Congress Hall convention.
Gen. Weaver was accepted at Bangor as the
standard bearer of the party, and yet who did
the Congress Hall representatives vote for. A
voice, HancockD
Mr.. Murphy wished it understood he would
have DO fusion in his on any account. He
wouldn't have any Republican or Democratic
leaders in his. He had been Republican but
he meant to stick to men whom he knew were
Greenbackers. If the party had followed this
policy they would have been in power every
where to-day.
Mr.. Todd rose to reply to Mr.. Turner'S chap
ter of Greenback history and Mr.. Hooper
asked him to sit down as the discussion was
getting too heated for good feeling. He
thought when the Greenback party was offered
Plaisted for Governor with four straight
Greenbaekers for Congress it would be time to
think that fusion meant Greenbackisrn instead
OF Democracy.