Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-16
Bangor Commercial.
Chairman Browns Case.

| Mr. Chairman Brown. of the democratic
state committee. 10 flooding the Maine and
Boston papers with interviews and commu-
nications, going to show that he is greatly
injured political innocent who has been de-
voting the greater part of his time since the
incoming of the present administration to the
procuring of postoffices for such democrats
as were properly vouched for by the demo-
cratic state committee, and that in conse-
quence of the failure of "some to respond
| to his letters of invitation to contribute
s'toward his expenses" he is largely out of
pocket a. the result OF his unselfsh devotion
to the interests of the party with which he
| is at present affiliated. Mr.. Browns commu-
nication to the Portland Argus, which we
print elsewhere, is calculated in some of its
assertions to cause broad smile to ripple
over the face of the State from Passamaquod-
dy to Portland.
According to Mr.. Browns statement he
has abandoned his law practice for six
months and paid out at least 5000 more than
he received" We don't know what Mr..
Browns law practice is worth, but estimating
it at 81 800 year he has lost $500 in six
months; which added to the 5000 above men,
toned makes the sum total of his contribu-
ton to the cause of reform in this State the
neat cum of 81 900 for six months. No won
ger Mr. DTOWn phLuetlChlly cACl6Itub, IL
some one else will now take hold and do the
balance of this work-for believe fully in
giving the democrats all the post ofices-I
will be content"
We trust that Mr.. Browns case is not quite
80 bad as he makes it out to be, and in case
he should carry out the purpose which it has
been announced that he entertained, of suing
some of the papers for libel which have pub
lished the facts concerning his dealings in
post offices. we feel quite sure that the testi-
mony for the defence would reveal the exis-
tence of number Of items to be added to the
credit side of Mr.. Browns Office brokerage
account, which that gentleman has apparent
ly overlooked in his published statement.
Mr.. Brown apparently recognizes the fact
that he is thoroughly discredited by the
democratic administration at Washington,
and he attempts to involve all the other mem
beers Of the committee in his disgrace by
charging them with ''unanimously" deciding
that the persons who got the offices should be
made to pay the expenses Of Mr.. Brown in
procuring them. We pronounce this state
ment deliberate falsehood. No such "opin-
ion" was ever expressed by the democratic
State Committee and the members of that
body cannot be any too prompt in refuting
this imputation of its chairman upon its Off
cial integrity.
1t is false, also, the statement that the COM
mittee ever determined upon the manner of
parceling out the postoffices and requested
Mr.. Brown to ''use his efforts" to secure ap-
pointments IN accordance Herewith. The
committee did vote that they would not en-
dorse the petition of any person for Office I'M
less his petition contained the signature of the
committee for the county in which the office
in question was located. Mr. Browns visits
to Washington to obtain appointments, were
made of his own motion and for his own pur
poses. The latter were made clearer by SUBJ
sequent developments than they at first ap-
peared to those not we'll conversant with that
gentlemans thrifty disposition.
Nor is it true that Mr.. Brown has acted
within the limits OF the restrictions deter
mined upon by the committee in making
recommendations tor Office. A great number
of charges have been made to different men,
bers of the committee and sent to this office,
that Mr.. Brown has disregarded local demo-
cratic sentiment in his recommendations for
office, and so grossly in many cases as to rem
der the existence of Interior motives beyond
dispute.