The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-15
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
HON. Charles ). Chapman Renoml-
mated for Mayor.
Strong Speeches Made by Prominent
Citizens.
a Unanimous and Cordial Support
Given the Candidates.

CNc5 s1S SdnutudteS.
The Republican delegates chosen at the
M onday night eaucuses to nominate a candi-
date for Mayor, met at the Council Chamber
yesterday afternoon at o'clock, the Recep-
ton Hall having been engaged by other par
ties
Mr.. Herbert G Briggs, chairman of the
City Committee, called the convention to or
der at 400 p. M, and Mr.. James II. Hall
nominated Prentiss Loring for chrirman.
That gentleman was.elected, and Mr.. f. ID.
Chase was chosen secretary.
The chairman read the list Of delegates
Three from Ward failed to respond, but
later took their seats. Mr. Lyman Kimball
was chosen to fill the vacancy in Ward 4
caused by the absence of Mr.. Ira s. Locke,
and Messrs. r. II. Ball, w. E. Stevens and
George S. Gallson to gil vacancies in their
respective wards.
The chairman then announced as the bus
mess of the convention the nomination of a
candidate for Mayor:
Capt. Horace II. Shaw, from Ward l, then
spoke as follows:
CAPT sHAw's SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen eQf the Con-
UentioR:
The time has arrived when it again be-
comes the duty of the citizens of Portland to
select and elect one of their own number TO
occupy the official position Of Mayor for the
coming municipal year. This is very inn
portant oiilct, requiring a, service such as
can only be well rendered by men of integri-
ty, rare intelligence, judgment and ability
Whenever the chief executive officer of a
State or a city assumes his office, he becomes,
or should become the faithful official of the
whole people, not OF the party which elected
him only, but of those " no opposed his cleo
ton as well. He takes upon himself an
oath To perform the duties of his office fairly
and inpartially, according to the best OF his
aOiiity. How far that ability, however
great 1t may be, will suffice for the perfect
performance OF his trust will depend very
largely upon the backing, hearty support,
and honest, faithful counsel he receives
from the people who are his masters.
Every manager OF great enterprise, where
many agents must perform the work, knows
full well that his best designs are seldom
perfectly accomplished, even though he has
unquestioned control and the workmen en-
ployed have great skill and are in perfect
accord with him. How much less perfectly
then can public magistrate accomplish ali
his wise designs and purposes, whose only
power and all his agents of power must
come from the people, who are themselves
divided into several political parties repre-
senting as MANY opinions.
1t Is doubtless the unqueStiOned right of
American cilizsns To criticise the official con-
duct OF pubic servants. If they who so crit
iclse have first given the support and coun-
sci they would themselves desire, were they
the public servants then have no contest
with tue critics. They only exercise their
right
The only criticism L have heard against
the present administration Of our city gov
eminent is that the prohibition law has not
been DrOppriN enforced This is not the
time to discuss the merits of these criticisms,
nor have all the facts. The following fig
ures have been compiled. from March Z,
1885, to Feb. IA, 1883, as the doings of the
municipal authorities in that direction. They
may be suggestive:
Number Of warrants issued for search
s ss ss' 3 Seizures mad. above 4s sss
Number of persons convicted before
the Municipal Court for search aud
seizure, maintaining nuisance and
single sale.... ..........,............ 374
stroyed... go. ...i.:.:.:....... :. 2s,se5
Number of houses of ill-fame closed. 0
Number OF gambling houses closed.
Amount Of money received from the
sale of liquor vessels, barrels, ETC.,
1888 ..;.:.:.......:,;;.:..: s,22e72
in fines and costs on liquor cases. sss,7s7.ss
Number Of persons committed to the
county jail for violation of the pro-
hbtory w..-....................... 1877
We do not pretend that the amounts paid
into the county in fines and costs were Who'll
~ through the efforts of the municipal au-
thorlties for time would not permit us to get
the amount separate from the county Off
GERS. All other items are the exclusive work
OF the municipal officers, excepting perhaps
some of the committals.
In my judgment the present incumbent of
this ONCE has been an able and jealous off
J. a ~ rraa rfn II fI.rv NJ sx.41 .Alr
of the city with great care and has been very
active in promoting the present and future
welfare Of our city.
In view of all the circumstances and facts
now possess think ! voice the sentiment
K Of large majority of our citizens when
declare that it is the plain duty of the Re-
publican party to renominate and of the
people to re-elect and afterwards support
him In his work OF executing all the laws.
therefore move that Charles ]. Chapman be
nominated by reclamation as Republican.
candidate for Mayor.
THE NOMINATION SECONDED.
Mr.. Chss. S. Fobes then took the floor say
ing he had always hoped to live to see the time
when partizanship in municipal politics
would be thrown aside. Thus far the Demo-
Gratis appear to have got ahead of u.s. throw
ing away their candidates and perhaps they
will embrace ours later on. Perhaps the time
will never come, he said, when we can
throw away party lines. think it is our
duty to support a man for the mayoralty
who will sink the partisan in the citizen and
believing that the present incumbent has
strengthened US financially, and in other
ways, that it is impossible for party to NOM
mate any man who would satisfy everybody;
and that we have got to satisfy the average,
/ heartily second the nomination made by
the gentleman from sWard l. [Applause.l
DIR. DANA's REMARKS.
DIR. Israel L. Dana said he was in favor of
another term for Mayor Chapman. In the
first place he believed Mr. Chapman enjoyed
the reputation of being one of our best fell
low citizens, not one of the smallest matters
in affairs of this kind. Secondly he was a man
of ability, sagacity and training which fit him
for the arduous duties of Mayor. Thirdly,
he has been tried and not found wanting.
His record entities him to rank among our
best and ablest Mayors Fourthly, If he be
not re-n0minated and reelected it will go far
towards confirming the widespread impress
sion that has gone abroad through the land
based upon sermon preached by one of our
ablest pastors, and badly perverted to the
effect that Portland Is an exceptionally i'm
moral city; that rum is sold here to greater
extent than in any other city; that children
get drunk, that prohibition is failure,
and that the present Mayor is a man who
ranks lar below tnoSe VINO preceded MIN In
the Office.
Now, Mr. Chairman, l ask you if such an
impression is correct?
MOP cried out Mr.. Hart; 81 take the lib
erty Of speaking for the chairman-no!" and
a tremendous burst of applause greeted Mr..
Harris vigorous denial
A community, continued the speaker, can
not be found in the whole breadth of the
land more temperate, well disposed and law
abiding, and we believe Portland has an ex-
cellent mayor. A distinguished citizen of
Boston asked me the other day Are these
things SO? Is Portland so degraded as has
been represented, and is prohibition fail
ure?' j told him no. IApplauseI. The dig
nifed, able and scholarly manner in which
His Honor presided on the occasion of our
centennial, won great praise from the old
sons and daughters of Portland. | say let
us try him again. [Great applausel
COL. FRED N. DOW.
Col. Dow said that 1t had been well said
ant hot