The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-25
A SOUTH PORTLAND BOLT.
Prominent Democratic Leaders Can't
Go the Ticket.


The Democratic boilers in South Port
land can he numbered by the score and
nearly all of the old war horses and lead
ers of the party in this notorionsly Demo-
cratic town have kicked over the traces
and have openly declared that they can
not swallow the Chicago platform or sup
port the.nominees of the Chicago conven-
ton but will vote q straight Republi-
can ticket and do all that they can to
give Mckinley sweeping majority in
South Portland at the November election.
These facts came to light on Thursday
night at Democratic caucus called to
nominate delegates to the district con-
yeption to be held at Alfred. When the
call was issued many of the Democrats
of the town paid no attention to it. In
fact they were so Disguised with the acts
of the Chicago convention that they
openly declared they were sick of the
whole business and intended to have
nothing further to do with the party or
with its oaucuses. A few old timers as
semblea, however, to see the fun and hear
what the prominent men of the party of
South Portland had TO say about the
Chicago convention.
Mr.. Bion B. Small the secretary Of the
Democratic town committee called the
meeting to order. He announced his
resignation as secretary and then read a
letter from MIR. Thomas B. Haskell. one
of the ablest and staunohest Democrats
in the town and one who is looked upon
as the Democratic leader in South Port
land.
The following is copy of the letter:
Bion B. Small, secretary of the Demo
cratic Town Committee, South Port
land, Maine.
Dear sir-I hereby resign my position
as chairman and member of the Demo-
cratic town COMMITTEES and ask that my
resignation be accepted at once, in order
that the committee may appoint AS my
successor a man who is willing to work
for the ticket named at Chicago.
l am not in sympathy with the plat
form adopted at the Democratic national
convention, it being I'M Democratic and
Populistic; neither can l vote for the no.
minees as they do not represent Demo
cratic principles. Patriotism and honor
are above party. and loyal Democrats
who love their party should vote against
all measures that tend to weaken our,
credit or debase our currency. Sound
money has always been the keynote of
Democracy and every dollar coined
whether gold or silver should be of equal
value, good in all the monetary markets
in the world.
AS the money question is to be the
paramount issua in this election and as
the voters are to choose between free sill
yer or fat money. or the present gold
standard which makes our dollars good
the world over, the manly course to take
is Go vote for William Mckinley and
squeloh this free silver craze.
THOMAS B. HASKELL.
July q, 1896.
Mr.. Haskell has been a mem Der of
the Democratic party since 1851. He cast
his first vote for Douglass and has been
chairman of the South Portland Demo-
cratic town committee for 90 years.
In speaking of his present action yes
terdny no said he regretted the step deep
ly, but that he felt that there was no 9TH
er course to take. 1t was his duty as O
Democrat to give way to someone who
can conscieutiously support the Chicago
ticket. He will do all that he can to So
cure a big majority for Mckinley in this
town.
The letter of Mr.. Haskell and the speech
made by Mr.. Small and other prominent
Democrats in the same strain completely
demorelized the caucus and 1t adjourned
without accomplishing the purpose for
which they had assembled, namely to
choose delegates to tho district conven-
ton, and it is doubtful If another caucus
is called for this purpose in South Port
land.
Mr.. Bion B. Small has been the score
tary of the Democratic town committee
since 1871. He says he will call meet
ing of the Democratic town committee
in few day to elect his successor but he
does not think the Democrats will have
any organization in South Portland this
fall. In speaking yesterday to a PRESS
reporter of the reasons which led him to
resign as secretary of the town commit
tee Mr.. Small said: ~ resigned because
/ cannot conscientiously support the Chi
cago platform Or the nominees Of the con
vention. IL is not question Of politics
with any man now, it is question of
Gratis the country over are demorallzed
and Disguised. I shall vote for Mr.. Win
slow the Democratic candidate for gov
ernor and would vote for a third
candidate for President if he were real
Democrat and wcro nominated on a gold
platform. l think am right when |
say that the Democrats of South Port
land generally will look upon this mat
ter exactly as do and unless gold Dem
ocrat is nominated will vote for McKin-
ley. 1 shall no more than this for | Will
take my coat off in November and try
and roll up for the Republican nominee
the biggest kind of IA majority. When
Democrats as true and stsadfast as Whit
ney is and as the lamentod Russell was
are turned down and sat upon by con-
yention which claimed to be made up
Of Democrats it is time for all hone st
Democrats to do all they can to bury
such men as Tillman and Altgeld and
the rest SO far under the sod of public