The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-19
Midsummer Politics.

About the only active political business
now In progress is the New Hampshire SEN
atorial election, and that does not work to-
ward settlement very fast. Yesterday Mr.
Chandler received a few more votes than
were given him on the day before, but is
still far short of the number requisite for an
election. The feature of the vote yesterday
was the withdrawal of Mr. Briggs. He cid
not formally withdraw, but by some under
standing bis friends all voted yesterday for
other candidates. They scattered so effect
ually that no one appeared to obtain a rela-
tive advantage. Senator Patterson again ap-
peared in the lists receiving seven votes. To
the outsider The prospect of agreement does
not appear to brighten. What the next move
may be can only be surmised; but some of
the correspondents on the spot have assert
ed that Sec rotary Chandler will soon retire,
perhaps after he is able to name the man to
be elected.
Out in Ohio there is slow sort of cam
paign in progress conducted principally by
the newspapers, whose reporters, having
no speeches to report, are extraordinarily
diligent in the business of interviewing ev-
erybody from justices of the peace to COVER
nors and senators. The Republicans as a
rule say they think the Republican party
will succeed, and the Democrats as a rule
express doubts of such a result. This is not
very reassnring but it is as valuable news as
we are likely to have until the days are
shorter and the nights cooler. There may
be some advantage in holding conventions
and nominating candidates two or three
months before actual work begins, but it is
not clear to people in the effete East what
the advantage is. There is some disaffec-
tion in the Democratic ranks, but it is too
early to predict that it will not be healed.
The Republicans are united and they seem
to have an advantageous position for the
battle which will begin in earnest after the
dog days.
In Kentucky and Iowa there are contests
waged languidly enough at present, and the
same is true of two or three other states.
They are making no noise heard beyond
their borders. The Pennsylvania Republic
cans have nominated candidates and elected
a chairman of the State committee. They
have reunited in good temper and they are
very confident of winning a victory. There
viii be very interesting election in Massa-
chusetts this fall, but the conditions of it
are not yet definitely settled. Governor But
Ter of course is at work all the time in bis
way and he keeps the attention of the peo-
pie. The Republicans are quiet but they
will make it lively business for the Governor
when they begin.
There is some talk in the papers all over
the country concerning the Presidential NOM
nations, stimulated by the recent enterprise
of the New York Times. Aud there is also
talk about the speakership of the next
house, but the first of these contests is yet
long way off and in the other the people
have no direct vote. Therefore they decline
to get excited about either Here at home is
great calm and there is comfort in the
thought that we shall be only speculative of
the conflicts going on around us, sympa=ss
thizing and interested spectators cesssiA
but not marching on under. e-a