The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-13
MANLEY'S MATcA.
The Interesting Political Cyclone
Now centreIng In Augusta.
Bangor NeWs.l

Bangor News.l
AUGUSTA, October 11.-What hot-bed of
politics Augusta is to be sure.
1t is so all the year around, but just at
present 1t is little hotter than usual. What
with the great fight for congressional honors
going on between Governor Burleigh and
the amalgamated forces Of Congressman
Mtlliken, Judge Wiswell and Postmaster
Manley, the superhuman efforts of Colonel
the dormant Democratic party of Maine and
put 1t In fighting trim for next year, and the
scramble for county offices on the part of To-
cal Republican politicians, there is the deuce
to play.
OF course the congressional squabble is the
most interesting of all. Gov. Burleigh is en-
gagged in the greatest effort of his life, and
now that he Is In the struggle he will exert
every effort to win. To be sure, he has the
combined opposition of nearly every local
politician OF any note In Augusta, all of
whom follow the dictates of the heretofore
acknowledged leader of local politics, Post
master Manley. Since 1881 when President
Garfield dethroned Postmaster Horace a.
Hamliu and placed Mr.. Manley in the office
OF postmaster that gentleman bas been the
head and front OF Augusta politics. He has
nominated the mayors of the city, the alder
men and councilmen of the wards, has chos-
en- the men to repl esent the capital In the
state legislature and has welded an influ-
ence In all municipal mottsrs greater, be-
cause more simplifed than was ever exerted
by John Kelly of New York's' Tammany
Hall. His will has been potent, his wishes
paramount to all others.
Now that Edwin G. Burleigh has managed
to conduct the affairs of the state govern
ment Ior nearly three years without the as
sistance of Mr.. Manley, and has seen fit to
aspire to stu greater honors at the hands of
MS party without the consent and approba-
tlon OF tnat gentleman, tina latter very cool
ly informs his friends that he proposes to
enter the arena and endeavor to be nomil-
ated for Congrese himself.
lie does this, so it is asserted. not for the
purpose OF getting the nomination, which he
really doesn't want, but in order to keep the
Augusta delegation away from the governor.
In this endeavor he has gathered around
him all the local braves and instructed them
trolling the caucus next spring when the
delegates to the district convention will be
chosen.
But while Mr.. Manley is engaged in this
usually necessary work Gov. Burleigh is not
letting the grass grow under his feet. and is
husting with his characteristic energy and
with the strictest attention to business. He
has brought to his support some Of the hast
men in Augusta, men who do not make a
business of politics, but who have a wav of
making up their minds Tor themselves and
who canuot be swerved from their purpose
Intelligent men realize that Governor RnT-
leigh is fixture in this city; that his sons
and daughters are settling here and are an
gaging in business for themselves. The old
est son, Clarence B., is the senior nnhlisho.
of the Daily and Weekly Kennebec ,IonrnaI
the official state paper; the Oldest dangh.a,.
is the wife of one Of Augusta's most no5nier :
physicians, ard another son Is to studv IL ~
and hang out his shingle from some ona ~
the buildings on Water street. The sovern. ".
or has substantial investments In real estata
in town and regardless of how the conSras
sional fight turns out, will always reside
here.
These facts are so apparent TO the r,,,,
and file of Republicans In the city of Angns.
ia that 1t would seem like useless tasl1 TO-
Mr.. Manley to undertake to ignore tha;.
strength. But the fight is the tight f1e,, ~,
the machine, and If Governor Burleieb co.
ries the Augusta delegation his triumnh nail
mean the dethronement of Mr.. Maniey = Ini ia
cal boss OF his party. Then any man S;tS ~
Intellect, ability and popularity NAV hopor.u
bly, aspire to Office without asking the coa,
sent of any one. H
The fight in the third district Is not ,haro
| fore, so much a contest between Cnngroes,
man Milliken and Governor Burleie6 as 'nsS f. =
between Governor Burleigh and Postmastaa,,
ManleV