The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-12-22
Decided by Lot.
HOW pRt MMoNp BEcAME srE,kfR IN
-

HOW pRt NiMoNb gEeANg srfakER IN
ls5s.
When the members of the legislature
assembled ON Monday previous to the or
ganzatiun, in ls5s, the Republicans
found Parrot and Monkey time on their
hands, in the contest for the speakershlp
The cand dates We're Hon. Josiah H.
Drummond then member from Water
willie and the late Hon. William Treby
johnson of Augusta. The year previous
Mr.. Johnson could have been speaker but
refused for fear of marrng the prospects
of Hon. Lot VI. Morrill, who WAS Il cand-
date for Senator against Hon. Hannibal
llamlin, who had the September previous
swept the State for governor and who
| was reelected senator defeating Mr.. Nor.
| rill. Hon. Charles \. Spohord was made
speaker I rough Mr. Johnsons refusal.
! Tie is now collector Of Gastine, having
| been a Democrat for the past twenty-five
years, because he could not get 10 Con
grcsS "a II Republican. Ar. Drummond
was in the House the winter before and
understanding that Mr.. Jones WAS not in
! the field he was persuaded To stand As n
candidate for re election with an eye up
on the >pcakcr>hlp an Office for which he
has particular talent. After the elect
/ lOll llt llI~ I lllll4 ne d~ftfthlHth Mis- that
| Augusta in influence WAS pushing Ire
by H. he was Familiarity called. lie Lad
been publisher and editor of the Augusta
Age H. a Democrat had been clerk of the
House in lsl243-li; had reported the
Legislature proceedings for his paper for
years; was one Of the most genial kind
hearted men that could he found and
able beside. lie was well known and he
! loved throughout the State. II this time
| Augusta Represented the lower route
each side was watching the other and
considered the committee on railroad, OF
serious Importance " lien Augusta in
liucucc built the Portland and krnnebec
they intended it 10 terminate AT that city
Watcrvillr wanted il al their point and to
the horror of Augusta they not only built
the road from the Grand Trunk TO that
beautiful town but continued it 10 Ban
gor. This compelled the lower road to
90 up the kcnnebec Oh the east side to
please Hon. Joseph Eaton and Nassalboro
influence. Then camc the contest to get
connecticut 50 they could also continue to
Bangor with control of rates of fare.
Drummond and Waterslle said no. and
thus brought on the tug Of Nar At the
previous session, there had been con-
test over this question almost unparalleled
ed in the history Of our legislation.
johnson led the "lDWcr route forces and
DrmnnOnd those of the "back route
The bill advocated by Drummond passed
the House by fifteen majority, passed the
Senate almost without a division, but on
its passage to be enacted in the House, it
was defeated by Il tie vote,
At this session the augusta people fear
ed that the contest will be renewed, and
that made the contest for the speakership
an earnest one. of course Augusta wa,
for johnson, james \ Bieknel was hi
colleague He was afterward Postmas-
ter of Augusta. He has been dead sever
al years. He was IA good worker and 81
was James q. Blaine .hcn Il young man
who reported the proceedings for his pa
per, the Daily kennebec journal. John
son had some active men from outside
the State, Stephen b Pattec, NOW de.
ccascd) of Fort Fairfield being one OF
the most efficient His was a personal
= opposition. the winter before Il French
man had contested WIN. Dickey's seal
from Fort Kent II was for the good OF
the party that piekey should be fired out
The Republicans in the old Sixth District
had but little amount of scruplc ant
were figuring for the french vote ant
wanted the Duke unscated. pattee wa,
heart and soul for it, and Drummond
who was chairman of committee on elect
ion favored hickey. The late Hon. Free
| \. Pike took his seat that winter and OPP
posed Drummond through Pattee's in
tlucncc 1t was II close contest; tn,
young men in the party were largely fol
Drumnond. On the night of the caucus
a member sat in his seat in much perplcX
ity. He liked both men and perhaps hac
-. l.f H.. t..,t.I
, another man by his side, II will drop
vote for each into my hat and draw GA
one and cast it without scrutiny" II,
did 50, and rs he was about to drop til,
vote into the box his friend asked t,
look ut it, he disclosed the vote twas
for DrummOnd Wh had one mof0iity NM
'r0S mus mo}c Speaker by lot. 1t will d,
no harm to State that the late 4. II. Carl
of Pitt~tou voted for Drnmmond; Rev
John w. Hanson of Gardiner was mem
Der and out spoken also for him Thi'
made ii bitterness against Hanson, hu
they never suspected Clark, nor has hi
vote been publicly disclosed till now.
On the other hand. Hon. Abncr Coburn
though largely interested in the "lowe
route gave his influence in ayor o
DrummOnd
In passing. We would say that the lcgis
lation sought for the year before was no
again asked for at that session hut il
1852, it was asked for and obtained with
out contest, MIR Blaine, it is said havin!
satisfied its opponents that it was not de
trimcntal to the interests of the lowe
route. When it WIS announced tina
Johnson and Augusta were delicate,
, great was the Consideration thcrcat
elaine said it was by Dragging you ear
ric'l it. He was about right OLD TIMER
IF IprTIIJtd ErprfSS