The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-20
NOW FOR POLITICS.
The Old Familiar Groups are About
City Hall.

Night, and Tomorrow Night the Demo-
Gratis VIII Make Rome HowI-Lively
Contest Imminent in Two.
The political season started in with a
rush. For the first time in a year the
old, familiar groups of men in earnest
and momentous consultations, were seen
in the corridor of City hall. The ap-
preaching contest of the evening was the
main topic of conversation in these
groups, although the weary search of the
Democrats for mayoralty leader came
in for considerable attention.
A little off from the main corridor the
board of registrat beginning
their labors, with fair attendance of
those who wanted to be on the voting
lists this spring. Up stairs in the Su-
perior court room Judge Bonney was
giving single turn of the crank of the
naturalization machine, making thereby
an American citizen of Peter johnson of
Westbrook.
OF speculations as to Republican can
didacies it is unnecessary to write now,
since last evenings caucuses decided all
those things But the talk about Demo-
cratic politics is yet interesting. since 1t
is not until tomorrow evening that the
rivaIries in that camp will. be settled.
Of course the first question among
Democrats is, "Who will take. the nomi-
nation for mayor?" Under circumstances
such as were promised year ago at this
time there would have been scram BILE
for the Office. But Mayor Baxter's re-
markedly clean, business-like and sue
cessful administration has taken all the
ambition from Democratic leaders
Alderman Guptill, who was almost re-
garded as the heir-at-law to the nomi-
nation, has suddenly lost all desire in
the matter. The Hon. George E.Bird has
been importuned in vain. Mr.. Nathan
Clifford does not aspire to the chances
for early canonization, to be enumerated
as one of the lesser saints when Mr.. A. d.
Sweetsir gets up his next display of
sacred relics. The call for candidate
has now developed into search, and the
search into ransacking. Jnst.now they
are rummaging the top shelves OF the
party, and within few days two dis
coveries have been made which are
heralded as quite important. The first
is Mr.. Charles A. Gushing of the firm of
Webb & Cushing, and the second is Mr..
J.E. Blabon. Just how these gentlemen
take the discovery was not generally
known yesterday.
Turning from the general field to the
wards, it is fact that Alderman Guptill
will not be candidate again. So there
is some uncertainty as to who will be the
candidate. Captain J E. Farr has been
quite generally mentioned, but it is by
no means certain that he will take it.
David Birnie is also spoken of; and it
would be great mistake to leave Capt.
L.W. Tibbetts, now councilman, out of
the reckoning. For councilmen they
talk of Thomas Dyer, Artur "a. Marden,
Otis Curtis and VIM. F. Birnie.
But it is in Ward 2 that
The Prospect stirs The Blood.
The edict has gone TO tn that ne who
has lived by the sword..shall die by it,
aud that Alderman Joseph A. MCGOWAN,
who last year passed Daniel B.Gallagher
along the sharp edge, shall himself now
feel it. The friends of CouncilmaL
Samuel KNOWLES are those who propose
to perform this office for Mr.. McGowan.
Mi. Knowles wants to be alderman, and
the talk yesterday was that all the Ward
3 Democrats on the north side of Con-
eress street are for him, while all those
on the other side are for Mr.. MCGOWAN.
Tomorrow night it will be fought out.
For councilman Joseph O'Neill, who
is a member of the board now, will
proba bly, be renomin ated. Joseph B.
Henley is talked of. Councilman John
B. Kehoe has many friends who want
him to serve another term, but Mr.. Kehoe
says NO"
In Ward the only man thought
seriously of for alderman is Mr.. F. H.
Verrill. For councilman, Benjamin l.
Small, John D. Williams and Charles
Co Inns are fixed upon.
In Ward 4, the nomination for alder
man lies between Mr.. Peters, superil
tendent of the Portland & Rochester,
men there are Winslow E. Howell, who is
the present incum bent, Councilman Ney,
also in now, Henry A. Winship and
Robert Noyes.
In Ward 5, they are trying to get
Stephen G. Perry to run for alderman.
The council ticket of last year will
probably be renominated.
In Ward Joseph H. Carleton is spoken
of for alderman. For the council, Chas.
l., Knight and Luther B. Roberts.
In Ward James S. Hamlen is the
latest to be spoken of for alderman. For
the council the old ticket, headed by
Nathan Clifford, is talked of.
Funeral of VIM G.. TwombIy.
The funeral of the late VIM. 6. Twombly
will take place this afternoon at $50