The Portland daily press., 1891-12-31

John carson Again Heard From Bur-
leigh's Opponents Losing Their Temper
Mayor Jones, of WatervilIe, Playing the
Part of Political Hog-Kennebec County
Offices Pawns in Manley's Game.
Especial Correspondence of the Press.l
WATERvILLE, Me-, Dec. %, 1891,
The congressional contest In this district
is becoming animated. There are three
candidates of prominence, Governor Bur-
leigh of Augusta, Seth L. Mlliken of Bel
fast, and A. P. Wiswell of Ellsworth. Mr..
Manley is also mentioned as a candidate,
but SOME of his friends admit that all he
hopes to do is to carry the city of Augusta.
Tor the purpose of subsequently, turning it
over to Mr.. Milliken. An attempt has been
made to show that Governor Burleigh was
the flrst to enter the lists, but this is not so.
AT least two OF his c0mpt titors were in the
field and doing active work before he an
nounced to his friends the fact of his candi-
dacy. The Burleigh men are exceedingly
numerous in the capital city, and although
Mr.. Manley has the postuffice behind him,
ana most Of the city committee among his
supporters, 1t is quite question whether
ne VIII Dc able to retain supremacy on his
OLD stamping ground. Certainly his old
tlme prestige, buth there and in the county
is very much diminished, as will be very
clearly shown when the caucuses are held.
A very general feeling exists all over the
State that Mr.. Manley has made an un-
warranted use OF his position as Chairman
OF the State Republican Committee to IN
termeddle In the internal affairs of the
party In dictatorial manner. As a promi-
nent Republican recently declared sit is
the duty of those given official position in
the party organization, to push the inter-
eStS or the party, not to undertake the en-
tlrely extrane0us task of determining cam
didacies." The declaration is freely made
that MIR. Manley is using the organization
In every possible way to defeat Governor
Burleigh before the district convention.
1t is said that he has sent, as chairman of
the state committee, to the various town
committees in the district to secure lists of
the Republican voters who were subse-
queEtly inundated with Milliken literature
Mr.. Milliken is said to be the only candi-
date who has written pledge of support
from Mr.. Manley though several other gen.
tlemen claim to have received the waImest
of verbal assurances that he would pull his
coat off for them. The indications
Manley Is content to continue the old ar
rangement, controlling as heretofore the
district patronage and permitting Mr..
Milliken to hold the Office. provided, of
course, he is able to secure it for him. This
idea acquires some force from the fact that
Mr. Manley and Mr.. Milliken appear to
hunt together and together have driven out
from Augusta to ascertain the condition of
the political fences in the surrounding
country. It Is said that many copies of
Boston paper containing communications
hostile to the candidacy Of Governor Bur
leigh have been distributed by the secre-
tary of the state COMMITTEES under the direc-
tion of Chairman Manley. The bitter
ness of the Manley men against the
marked. 1t finds fitting expression
in certain editorials which have recently
appeared in the Mail here and which are
currently supposed to have been written
by Kennebec county official whose per-
sonal relations with Mr.. Manley are said to
be very close. These editorials are wholly
directed against the Governor and are
bitter and abusive.in in mai ked contrast to the
uniform courtesy with which the Cover
nor and his friends have thus far treat d
their political opponents. 1t seems some
what strange to see Kennebec paper,
claiming to be Republican. dealing in
vituperative abuse of a chief exc cutive who
enjoys the distinction Of having led his
party to the greatest Off-year victory ever
won by it in this state. 1t is needless to
say that this kind OF warfare has been from
the first great element of strength to the
Governor. He has profited much by the
indiscretiOns of his opponents. In view of
all the circumstances it would seem as If
the friends of Mr.. Manley and Mr.. MILL
ken, who are now running the Mail, would
be slow TO invite campaign of vitupera-
tiOn. They must know that Governor
Burleigh is much better able to stand war
fare OF that kind than are some of his op-
ponents. Speaking of the Mail it is said
that Manley- -Milliken bureau has been
established here and is in full blast. Mr..
JOhDeCarsOn, superintendent of Mails in
frequent visitor to this city ana is believed
to be its responsible executive. Mr.. Car
sen Is said to have promised Mr.. Manley
the delegation from Mt. Vernon, but doubts
are expressed as to his ability to deliver the
goods. This gentleman also attained some
public attention during the last session of
the legislature by the earnestness with
which he and other employees of the Au-
gusta post office lobbied against the Aus
tralian ballot bill. OF late he has travelled
extensively about the district in the in
terests of Mr.. Manley's candidacy. He
has been heard from in number of d fer
ent towns, in fact the Augusta post ,ffice
seems to be about the only place In the dis
trict that is deprived of his presence. To-
day the force of the same Office are spend
ing considerable amount of the govern
ment's time in opposing the Governors
candidacy. One Of the most amusing things
about this whole canvass is the assurance
with which the opponents of Governor
Burleigh assume that in case there should
be second tallot, which does not now ap-
pear probable, the field would unite against
the Governor. There is not the slightest
ground for such an assumption. Indeed
there is every reason to believe that should
there be second ballot very large num-
ber of those who voted for other candidates
at the start would vote for Governor Bur-
leigh. This fact must be borne clearly in
mind, the governor is the strongest factor
In this contest and one that will have TO be
reckoned with in any emergency.
Kennebec County Politics.
County politics are also beginning to
boil. There will probably be no contest
over the clerk of courts, treasurer, or regis
ter of deeds, although itsis perhaps trife
early to speak with certainty on this point.
Senator Spear of Gardiner made an excel
lent record in the last legislature and will
probably be renominated by acclamation.
The other senatorial candidates are John
+. Hill, Hall c. Burleigh and Martin G.
Reynolds. 1t is rumored that Mr.. Manley
has promised Mr.. Reynolds the Augusta
delegation In exchange for the Sidney dele
Cation, but it is doubtful if such trade
can be carried through. The friends of
DR.. Hill appreciate the fact that for Mr..