The Portland daily press., 1894-12-17
Especial to the PRESS.

Washington, Decemb ber 16.-The vacan-
cy in the office of collector for the Wal
doboro custom district of Maine, caused
by the death of Captain Luce, some days
ago, promises to occasion almost as great
fight as that which has been in pro-
gress for so long over the Portland col
lectorship. Already there ale number
of candidates who are anxious to sue
ceed Captain Luce, ard two of them are
now in this city pulling such wires as
they can reach, to assist in the gratif-
cation of their ambition.
One of these is Mr.. Elk. O'Brien, OF
Thomaston. He is urging his own ap-
pointment to the position, on the ground
that it would be an act of simple JUS
tice. because of the fact, as he says, that
he was the leading candidate for this
Office eight years ago when he failed to
secure the appointment. Mr.. OBrien's
candidacy is a matter OF surprise TO
good many Democrats here, who have
been oonversa4t with political aHalrs IN
Maine, and it is considered remarkable
that he should come to Washington TO
urge his claims for any gift from the
present administration.
IT has been recalled that Mr.. O'Brien,
ever since he failed to secure the Waldo
boro collectorship under President C!eVe-
lands first administration, has been
one of the most pronounced anl,Cleve-
land Democrats in the state. de has at
tended the state convention as an anti
Cleveland man, and has arrayed himself
in fiat opposition to the tariff reform
policy of the administration.
Anotherfcandidate, whose application
has caused some astonishment, is Mr..
G. Vey Holman. Mr.. Holman's full
for some reason he dropped the "Har"
from his middle name sometime ago.
That. however, is merely small person.
al eccentricity. What has occasloned the
surprise is that he has an application on
file in the State Department. for appoint
ment to consulate, in which he claims
to be asresident of Massachusetts. he
has a summer residences IN the Waloo,
boro collection district, however, and
he is probably of the opinion that that
fact Qualities him for. the office OF col
lector.
Mr.. M. Staples of Washington, Maine,
is another candidate. and it is UNDER
stood that he has. s.somessurong papers on
file.
Rockland and W. A. Vannah of Waldo
boro. who have no papers, and have sim
ply made personal application for the
appointment.
JJndou btedly the strongest papers on
file at the Treasury Department. are
those that favor the selection OF Mr. Jo-
seph Moore of Thomaston. He has
practically the support of all the Demo-
Gratis of the district, irrespective of fac
tiops, and if papers and recommends
lions 90 for anything it is evident that
his appointment would be the most pop
ular of ALL Mr.. Moore occupied the po-
sition of collector in this district under
the last Democratic administration, and
the only thing that is worrying his
friends is that possibly the rule against
the appointment of ex-office holders may
be enforced rigidly enough to prevent
his selection. Nobody doubts, however,
that he would again make an excellent
officer, and it is posi- ole that this con-
sideration may outweigh the fact that
he has had previous experience in the
place.
The Maine Democrats here are still
waiting anxiously and expectantly for
the gappointment of the collectors at
Portiand. Mr.. Clifford, one of the can
1idates. is here and has been trying to
make his calling and his election sure.
He himself, admits, however, that he
has received no intimation as to when
the matter will be taken up fer final
disposition. There is good ground for the
belief that the President personally fav-
ors the appointment of Mr.. Frank to this
Office, and that it will not be many
days before his or another's name is sent
into the Senate for confirmation. Mr..
Clifford is now regarded as a good sec
ond choice in this race, while there is
reason to believe that Mr.. Deering has
been distanced by the two leading COM
petitors, SO far as opractically put him
out of the race.