The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-07-19
ENTHUSIASTIC BATEMAN.
The P0pulist Candidate for Governor
Tells What He Expects.

He Predicts That He win Get More Votes
Than Johnson-Says the Democratic
Rank and File Are Becoming Populists
Don't Want the Leaders at Any Price.
Prof. L. G. Bateman, the Populist candi-
date for Governor arrived here yesterday
afternoon. and was asked to give his views
regarding the campaign from the Populist
standpoint. He said:
1--WE are making great gains all over the
state. Our success in that respect IS In fact
astonishing, and we seem to be drawing as
many from the Republican. as from the
Democratic party.
I'm Waldo county we shall gain 500 votes
at least because of the refusal of the Re
publican county convention to renominate
the county attorney, who had proved him.
self to be9the only man who ever tried to
enforce the prohibitory law in Belfast.
1--WE are making the only active fight in
this state, land we shall make the only fight in
this state. We have got the field to ourselves.
and are making converts by the hundreds.
1t is no work to do that. 1t is like
Franklin's whistle that whistled itself, tie
Populist converts convert themselves. tits
the old greenback days over again.
1--WE shall stand next to Gov. Cleaves, and
the old 1880 fusion will not be repeated. We
shall make our greatest gains in Knox.
Waldo, Somerset, Androscoggin, and Han
cock counties. We are the best organized
there. I'll
~ believe that the Democratic party in
this state is dead from the hips down. and
the ears up, and that we shall get the
greater part of the rank and file. We don't
want the leaders at any pric g.
ut will be found that our strength will
be where it will be the least expected by
the old politicians. The cites are the last
to turn to a great reform movement. They
do not hear of our gains in city clubs.
1--WE can hardly believe that we can
honestly claim that we shall be able to
elect a Congressman, but we shall have a
strong sprinkling of members of the legisla-
ture, dozen at least, and l think that we
shall elect Senator, from Waldo cou nty.
We do not expect to carry any one county,
the Republican party is too well organized
for that.
81 do not think thatsthe majority of Gov.
Cleaves will be greatly .cut down, perhaps
| not.cut down at all, for many of the silver
| tops will vote for him, that is the silvertop
element of the Democratic party.
1.-TWO years ago received 1905 votes for
governor. and this year don't think there
| is any doubt of our vote reaching 10000.
| think should be willing to stake my repu-
| tation as political prophet that we shall
| get close to.2e,000 votes.
IT have sogfaf spoken at all the county
conventions, and ehave addressed dozen
mass meetings. One day last week / adj
| dressed two meetings, spea king four and a
| half hours, rode by rail and team seventy
miles to keep my appointments, and went
| without my supper at that.
For the next ten days l shall speak on
| half the time, and after that, up to Septem.
Der 10, all the time every day. We shall
have Col. Jessie Harper, once.sthe law
partner of Abraham Lincoln, in this state
for the last twenty days of the campaign
Donnelley, who believes in Bacon, will also
be here, and Scion Chase will be heard con
| tinually.
1.-THE Republican party is SO certain OF be-
| ing able to elect Gov. Cleaves. that it will
make no sort of fight. There is no indica
ton of any campaign except our own. We
have no real organization in Cumberland
| county, and do not hope for much here.