The Portland daily press., 1888-05-23

the Bangor man Tor tne fOurtn Dlstiicl, III
James Tobin. and Joseph McGowan, o.
Portland, seconded. The convention pro
ceeded to ballot with the following result;
Whole number of votes thrown. 1888
Necessary for choice ........-.... ..4zo
Payson Tucker had...............-e2
Arthur Sewall. ll...............,...... ..DoS
Il. X. OBrlen en.......-.-.......-...-.- go
Edward c. Allen en...................S3 .S3a
James IoDln ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -ooo
scattering. g.................... .......
And the four gentlemen, Messrs. Tucker
Sewall, Allen and Tobin, who received the
largest number of votes, were declared
delegates at large.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Now came the most exciting period of the
convention. This was ON the report of the
committee on resolutions which was read bJ
Mr.. A. F. Moulton, of Scarboro, as follows
including the minority report on the pro.
posed license plank:
The Democracy of Maine, IN convention assem-
bed submit to the people OF this State the follow
ing declaration of principles
Resolved, That unnecessary taxation is unjust
extortion, and that the Immediate and constantly
increasing surplus now accommodating In the Unit
ed States treasury is menace TO the business in
terests of the country and TO economical govern
ment We believe that our tariff is so arranged
as to foster wealthy monopolies at the expense OF
the common people and we sincerely approve OF
the efforts of the Democrats in Congress TO pass
bill which will, in the language OF President
Cleveland, relieve the people from unnecessary
taxation. Having due regard to the interests OF
the capital invested and workingmen employed in
american industries, we do not advocate free
trade, but favor and desire revision of the pres
ent unjust and burdensOme tariff laws.
Resolved, That we most cordially approve the
% course OF the President Of the United States and
the ancient policy of the Democratic party, in pro-
tecting the interests of our fisheries have now
offered the Senate of the United States a treaty
tlOrOuQhlV nfaQeaDlp
pursuit of their dangerous and poorly paid Oceu-
patton, and also affords reasonable hope OF ter
minating the controversies which have heretofore
caused sacrifice of our fishing vessels, and un-
justly driven them from Canadian waters, with
out their receiving at any previous time, practical
protection or redress, and we especially applaud
the President for refusing to yield to the demands
OF those selfish monOpolies which have clamored
for the use of the Federal power, even to the ex-
tent of endangering our general commerce, for the
purpose OF compelling facilities for shipping IN
foreign ports, aliens TO man our fishing fleet in
competition with our own citizens.
Resolved That reform in the administration Of
the affairs of the State is urgently demanded.
Needless and extravagaht expenditures have
come largely to absorb our State.reyenue, thus
postponing the payment of the State and war
debts upon which more than the original amount
has already been paid for interest. Salaries have
been unnecessarily increased in some cases, at
their request.and with population nearly station
ary, with no State enterprises requiring an outlay,
the expenditures for State purposesls have nearly
quaorupled under The rule of the Republican par
Resolved That this convention approves tn e
administration of Grover Cleveland President of
the United States. 1t has now the respect and
confidence of all citizens without regard to party
1t has brought back honesty and simplicity in the
conduct of affairs. 1t has checked the waste OF
public moneys and insisted upon their expendi-
ture for constitutional purposes Ii has enected
practical reform of the civil service. IL has
maintained the national character for justice and
f0rbearance in dealing with foreign countries 1t
is an administration which has enhanced the
honor and dignity of the nation, renewed our
fQ in, xynfQ fran
ernment and addednew lustre to the name OF
American citizens.
Resolved-That we view with alarm the grow
ing evil of intemperance in our State and in the
interest of good society and temperance demand
ther epeal Of the prohbtory liquor law and the
enactment of high license law.
Resolved-That the laboring men of Maine, de-
serve at our hands, careful legislation TO project
them from monopolies and trusts, and we pledge
them our hearty support.
Resolyed-That we have the highest confidence
in the ability, integrity and sound Democracy of
Hon. William l.. Putnam, and that we will use
our best efforts to secure his election.
The minority of the committee on resolu-
tions submitted the following report:
We heartily concur in the resolutions submitted,
except the fifth, relating to license, ana we recon-
mend that no resolution be adopted on the sub
ject, or,!if any, the following be substituted:
ReSolyed-That the duplicity, hypocrisy and
iDsincerity with which the Republican party has
dealt with the question of temperance, merits the
contempt and condemnation OF all good citizens
We denOunce and condemn the practices in vogue
by that party by which they secretly combine with
ylolators of the law which they profess to support
and grant to them immunity from prosecution IN
return for party service Such practices corrupt
public morals, engender disrespect for law, EN-
courage dishonesty, bribery and perjury, and are
destructive of g fundamental principles of true
democracy and of good government
During the reading of the license plank,
which was Mr.. Rust's, and supported by nine
members of the committee, all was hushed,
but when he had finished it cheers br oke
forth from the delegates, and when the mi
nority report, which was signed by the four
remaining members of the committee, was
read there was more applause, But @ the
friends of license were evidently in the ma
jority in the beginning. But Gen. Plaisted
had been behind the scenes buckling on his
armor and appearing on the platform at
tackled Mr.. Rust's child of intemperance We
hemently, and moved to substitute the mi
whom it was said would not stand on Ii
cense plank, came to the rescue and lent his
powerful arm to defeat the personal liberty
men. A. w. Madigan OF Aroostook, and
Mr.. Moulton of Scarhoro, appealed to the
convention in behalf of the country towns to
refuse the resolution a passage. 1t would
be suicide of the most direful description for
the rural districts, they said You may
have your rum IN the cities If you want it
but in the country towns, as rule, the peO
pie are for temperance. 1t was doubted
whether the committeeman who signed the
majority report, represented the sentiments
of their districts.
Mr.. Rust came to the support of his resolu-
tion giving as reason for Its adoption that
it was in line with the national policy of the
party 1t would seem to him as If the Dem
ocratic party had fallen in with the Republic
can party on the liquor question from ap-
pearances,
Mr.. Edgar Whidden of Calais didn't want
any license plank and B. #. Chadbourne of
Biddeford faced the convention and in a
loud voice protested against the movement
for license. He also regarded it as suicidal
and believed IL successful would slough off
80 per cent of the Democratic vote.
L. Nj. Staples of Washington took the floor
for license, and with much gesticulating de-
clared that he had the courage of his con-
drunkards every day. Speaking of losing
votes, he asked how many votes the Demo-
cratic party gained in Portland when they
had Neal Dow, the father of temperance, for
their candidate.
courage his convictions he said and wasn't
afraid to say that he was prohibitionist to
endorse high license would be death.
The debate ON this question was very
heated, several men would be upon their feet
at once giving their views; But the wise
heads prevailed, and on the motion to
suDobilubC tLc 1Ol bhC uidJOilty It,
port stentorian chorus in the affirmative
went up, while the nays were exceedingly
weak, Editor Rust's voice being heard above
the rest and so the license plank was not
laid.
MR.. PUTNAM NOMINATED.
The next number on the programme was
the nomination of a candidate for Governor,
and this was ushered in with eclat and a
flourish of trumpets. A. McNichol of Cal
ais shot out from the rear of the platform,
and placed in nomination Hon. William L..
Putnam of Portland, at the same time adj
vancing towards that gentleman, who stood
beneath the right gallery.
Great and prolonged applause followed,
and the Portland lawyer was rendered a
very handsome reception, being nominated
by acclamatlon. He was called to the plat
form. while the members of the convention
arose, waving their hats and canes, and
cheering.
Mr. Putnam bore his honors very modest
ly and in few words accepted the nomina-