The Portland daily press., 1888-05-23
MR.. PUTNAM THE CANDIDATE
Selected by the Democrats in a
Decidedly Breezy Convention.
the Kennebeckers Succeed in Gust.
ing the Exalted Mr.. Brown.
A Stubborn Fight Made to Secure a
Declaration for License.

AUGUSTA, May zz-- MS mas pIuNeo VhO
of the most interesting and breezy conven-
tions ever held in the State under the au-
spices of the Democracy, and it was very ev-
dent that since the Federal patronage fell in
to the hands of Grover Cleveland to dispense
there has been marked increase in the en-
thusiasm of the average Democrat through
out the State. He makes it a point now to
be present at the party gatherings. The con,
vention today was accordingly very fuli
one, and the party bosses were all in atten-
dance. The hotel capacity was fully taxed
to accomm odate the visitors and at the Au-
gusta House, many who applied were turned
away. A large delegation which arrived on
the 2.20 a. m. Pullman train were almost at a
loss to find shelter, and in one instance, two
men were known to have found shelter in a
shed during the night. The morning trains
were all heavily loaded with delegates, and
the hall was filled long before the hour for
convening.
At Ills a. n, Chairman Brown, who had
been down in the committee room, wrestling
with contesting delegations, mounted the
platform and read the CALL After rapping
the convention to ORDER Mr.. Brown said that
it had been the practice too long for the Dem
Gratis of Maine to 60 up to the conventions,
make up faces at the Republicans, and go
home and acknowledge that they are beaten
1t had been too long the custom 1or tne
Democrats of this State to enter campaigns,
lie down and be .whaled." Mr.. Brown paid
his respects to the Republican civil service
reformers and ridiculed their tariff prinel.-
PIES His reference to the temperance ana
of the Republican party, was received with
jeers and laughter.
ADDRESSED BY MR.. POWERS.
Hon. Doh. A. H. Powers. of Houlton, was
announced as temporary chairman and adj
dressed the convention briefly. He COUNSEL
ed harmony and knew that the great diff
Guilty had been jealonsies among the leaders
and they had been knitting each other instead
of unsheathing the sword to meet the COM
mon enemy. He did not believe in govern
ment by the North or the South lsolid South,)
but by and for the people. lCheers. tie
thanked God that the Democr attic party was
not party of the past but of the present. II
had been charged that the Democrats would
devote the surplus to pensioning ex-rebels.
But the Democrats had come into power, and
nothing of the kind had happened. While
the surplus continued to increase. Mr..
Powers believed the Democracy would be
able to keep Mr.. Blaine and his supporters
out in the cold. Mr.. Blaine had as good
right to run for the presidency as anyone,
and be beaten by Grover Cleveland. loud
cheers.
The chairman called upon the Hon. Will
liam Henry Clifford, and he took the plat
form amid three cheers, and was greeted as
the leader of Names Democracy After
smiling and b6wing very prettily, he took
seat
THE BATTLE BEGINS.
On motion of Mr.. E. c. Moody, of York,
the State Committee was made committee
on credentials.
E. S. Osgood, of the Portland Argus, Fred
Plaisted, of the New Age, Augusta, and I.
E. Calvert, of the Lewiston Gazette, were
made temporary secretaries.
The temporary organization was then
made permanent
Hon. Z. K O'Brien moved that the delega-
tions proceed to present names for State
committee men and committee on resolutions
MIR. Moody, Of York, objected.
Mr. Clifford, of Portland, moved that the
committee on credentials report, and was in
terrupted by Mr.. Moody who rose to point
of order. Mr.. Clifford easily quieted him,
however, and his motion was carried, the
convention voting to take recess OF fifteen
minutes. during which the delegations col
lected in groups and arranged their various
affairs.
HAPPY EDITOR BASS.
There were the usual chickering's among
the delegates in selecting their men, but the
most interesting contest was in Bangor
where an attempt was made to beat Mr..
Bass, but that gentleman again came off vic
torious and this afternoon is the happiest
man in attendance ON the convention. The
anti-Bass faction in Bangor, led by John
Cassidy, presented Ed. Connors for men,
ber of the State committee, and Mr.. Asa
Warren was the candidate of Mr.. Bass.
There were evidences that Warren would be
beaten, upon which Bass withdrew War
ren's name and nominated +. w. Hill, Jr., OF
Exeter, at the same time making an earnest
appeal to the country delegates and repre-
senting that this change was in the interest
of harmony. Half dozen candidates were
upon their feet at one time and Cassidy was
greatly excited when Bass told him that he
was the cause of all this trouble in Bangor
Then Bass wanted TO poll the house. Others
wanted to adjourn and chaos prevailed for
time. Finally the delegation adjourned from
the hall platform to a room beneath, the
'house was polled" andHill was elected by
vote of 6S to 49,
SIMON STEPS OUT.
AS indicated in the PRESS yesterday morn
ing "Sime" Brown was slaughtered by the
Kennebec Democrats, he having 40 votes in
the caucus and f. E. Bean, of Hallowel., the
successful candidate, 43. Thus Brown steps
down and out from his exhated position
among the Maine Democracy. Ben Bunker
was very active in Browns interest and
charged that one Gardiner delegate put five
votes ip the hat for Bean. 1t is reported
that Ben said that his paper and all its in
fluence would in the future be given to for
warding the interests of the Republican par
ty.
After the recess the committee on creden-
tials reported the following representation in
the convention: