The Portland daily press., 1888-04-27
CLEAvESS STRENGTH INCREASING.
Notes From the Great Gathering at
Bangor.
Supporters Of the Port
land Veteran Compare Notes,
And Find the Aggregate of support
Very Encouraging.
Especial to the Press.l

| tive assemblage of the Republicans of Maine.
! Some of them came last night, but it was not
until the night and early morning trains to-
day that the full body of delegates were ON
the spot. The three prominent candidates
for the governorship were early on the
| ground, all of them being established at the
Bangor House last evening. The Portland
people with General Cleaves established their
headquarters at Room %, while down the
corridor little distance was the Burleigh
headquarters. where the travel worn dele
gates from the Aroostook were received with
| open arms as soon as they arrived. Govern
or Marbles work was done more quietly, but
he nevertheless kept himself in busy conver-
sation with some of the old guard leaders.
No better crowd than that of today could
be desired for feeling the popular pulse on
the gubernatorial position. 1t was thorough
ly representative. And general view of
the situation brings out this fact with great
prominence. The Burleigh men are on the
defensive Mr.. Burleigh was early in the
field and secured great deal Of support of a
certain kind that was promised on the hasty
supposition that there would be no other
candidates in the field. A prominent Penob-
scot county Republican said this morning:
Il promised Mr.. Burlegh my support, think
ing no one else would want it. l never felt
worse about anything in my life than | did
when found that Cleaves was In the field
and that could not support him." There
are many delegates who made early promises,
but they are not all irrevocably committed;
and Mr. Burleigh's great fight now is to hold
what he has got; and he is not doing this be-
fore the enthusiastic campaign of the Cleaves
men: 1t is fact stated on the best of au-
fhnrlfU a mr. mr.
leigh will not get what would be
called fair support in his own county
of Kennebec. Kennebec will have about 1872
delegates at Portland. OF these, Burleigh
will not have, as it looks now, over 70 or So
votes, which is not large support in mans
own county Neither in Kennebec, nor in
other counties, is the Burleigh support so
large as has been represented A close study
is said to reveal several places claimed for
Burleigh that are either doubtful, uninstruct-
ed or for someone else. In Sidney there Is
one delegate at least who is not for Burleigh,
but for Cleaves. Windsor, reported to be for
Burleigh. is said also to be for Cleayes.
Mount Vernon, reported to have elected |
Burleigh delegates. is said to have chosen
none at all for the Portland convention. In |
Waterville, Gov. Marbles friends think they |
will have the delegation all right, but it |
seem seems probable that there Will al be sharp
fight with the Burleigh men. There Is an |
influential portion of the party who favor |
Cleaves, in Waterville, also.
Piscataquis county, which was early claim |
ed for Burlelgh, promises to be an interest |
come. Good judges of the situation estimate |
that CleaveS is sure of half of it. There |
will be fight between the Cleaves and Bur |
leigh men in nearly every town In the c0un- |
ty,'' said a prominent politician from the /
northern part of the county today, "and in |
my opinion the Cleaves men are coming out |
on top in most of the cases." The town of |
Parkman, where the Chadbourne murderers |
lived, who were convicted largely through |
the efforts of Mr.. Cleaves, is a centre of |
Cleaves strength. His admirable conduct Of |
the case made an impression on the |
people which time has not effaced
Col. Joe Peakes, at Dover, Is also an en-
thusiastic supporter of Mr.. Cleaves and |
Dover will no doubt be with him. very |
interesting episode in Piscataquis is the posi-
tion of the venerable Lebroke of Foxcroft
He is an ardent Marble supporter. but it is
said that FoxcrOft will not send him to Port
land. So he will go up to Blanchard,
which is Marble town, and there get re-
turned to Portland. 1t is said that he will
improve his hard earned opportunity to |
make great speech on the floor of the con-
vention.
In Franklin county the situation as report
ed by the delegates here assembled confirms |
the previous favorable reports in favor of /
Mr.. Cleaves. A prominent politician, now
one of the county commissioners, estimates
the Cleaves strength at certainly one-half of
the county.
In Knox county it is doubtful if Burleigh
gets delegate. South Thomaston, which
All that is certain about the delegates is
that they will not be for Burleigh.
In Sagadahoc there is a town also report
ed for Burleigh where no caucus has been
held. When it is held it Is safe to say that |
the delegation will be divided. In B0wdoin,
where the delegates, have been chosen, they
are not all for Burlegh, as reported: 1t is
also safe te say that they are divided.
In Penobscot Burleigh's friends have made |
large claims. But in the city of Bangor the
fight is yet no mans. Mr.. Burleigh has his
friends, but there Is marked opposition to
accepting Mr.. Burleigh as an eastern candi-
date by some prominent Republicans. This
feeling is likely to result in a mixed delega-
ton. 1t is safe to say that DIR. A. @. Hamlin
will be potent factor in the Bangor primar-
les.
The delegates here have very thoroughly |
discussed the position of the delegates elect
convention, and while the State committee
very properly refuse to pass upon the aues-
ton, recognizing that it will belong to the |
Portland convention itself to do so. the feel
ing very generally obtains that where two
delegations appear in the convention as re-
suit of this irregularity, that those elected by
the frSt caucuses will be deprived of their |
seats. AS several small towns have elected
Burleigh delegates where it is claimed no
sufficient notice of the caucus was published,
now changed, it is not unlikely that subse-
quent caucuses will be held the result OF
which will materially change the appear
anee OF the gubernat0rial slate.
DIR. A. G. Hamlin claims that the entire
Bangor delegation or at least part Of it,
will be for him in the convention. He also
has assurances of support from other towns;
and expects to go into the convention with
a Spartan band at his back.
1t is whispered that Hon. Hannibal Ham,
lin would like to go to the Portland conven-
tion as delegate, and say few words on
the floor for Governor Marble.
Buttons delegates have been instructed
for Marble, making six towns that are now
claimed for him. The others are Winter
port, Brooks, heretofore claimed for Bur
leigh, Old Orchard, Pittston and South
Thomaston. well informed Waldo county
politician says to night that two-thirds OF
Waldo county will go for Marble.
The universal expectation is that the Port
land convention will be one of the largest
ever held, and the liveliest for years. There
are great anticipations and people are plan
ing to come from all over the State, whether