The Portland daily press., 1896-10-03
THE STATE OFFICES.

Now TINT the State election has been
held and the membership of the legislature
has been ascertained, interest in the
choice of State officials by the next leg
lslatnre has come to the front, and very
active work is being done by the various
candidates for the several posi-
tions. At this early date it is not
possible to state positively who will
be the fortunate contestants end yet
m alters have go shaped themselves, as to
many of the positions which are sought
for, that it is posi- BILE to say very
definitely on whom the choice is likely
to rest. While some time since lively
contest was anticipated for the office of
Secretary of State between Byron Boyd
of Augusta, Deputy Secretary of State.
and William S. Cotton of Lisbon Falls.
who has SO ably filled the position of
Clerk Of the House for many years, now,
however, il is understood that Mr.. Cot
ton has withdrawn from the contest and
left clear field to MIR. Boyd, who will,
without doubt, be elected without oppo-
sition, and will make very satisfactory
and acceptable officer. The Presidency
of the Senate is being contested by Hon.
A. R. Savage of Auburn and Hon. A.
R. Day of Coiinns, both of whom were
members of the last Senate. Mr.. Day is
an active and energetic worker and has
pushed his candidacy with great vigor,
while Mr.. Savage has only announced
his candidacy to the members elect of
the Senate, preferring, presumably, not
to be elected rather than to make an ag
gressive and extended canvass. The
opinion seems to be gaining ground that
Mr.. Day will preside over the Senate at
the next session. Whichever of these two
gentlemen wins in the contest, the State
will be well and ably served. The
Bpeakership contest thus far appears to
have been largely onesided with long
lead in favor of Seth L. Larrabee, Esq.,,
of Portland, who has been ro-eleoted to
his second term In the House. However,
George G. Weeks, Esq, of Fairfield, ana
Benjamin f. Hamilton, Esq., Of
Biddefold, have recently announced
their candidacy for the same Office
and they are likely to receive
good support in their sections of
the State. 1t is not unlikely that other
candidates may appear before the session
opens. MI. LARA bees early candidacy
has given him great advantage, and it
appears now AS though he might be an
easy winner.
There will be only one sharp contest
before the legislature. and that will be
on the choice of candidate for Attorney
General. The candidates in the field at
the present time are Hon. George M
Soldiers of Portland, Hon. Fred. A. APP
pleton of Bangor, Hon. S. J. Walton of
Skowhegan, Hon. William L. Haiues of
Waterville and Hon. Frank L. Noble of
Lewiston. While each of these candidates
is doing more or less work in his own
behalf, the contest, seems to be waged
largely between Mr.. Soldiers and Mr..
Haines, with the advantage of location
and of the support of the leading men
oflthe State in favor of Mr. Seiders.
The office Of Attorney General has not
been filled by anyone from the western
part of the State since Hon. Henry B.
Cleaves was elected to that position in
1880, since which time the office has been
held in the ce ntral, southern and eastern
parts Of the State. Hon. Fred A. Powers
of Houlton being the present incumbent
1t isIclaimed that the office should next
be filled from the western part of tn,
State. AS is well known, Mr.. Seideri
has been in active and successful practic,
years, during which time he has been as,
s1ciated with Hon. T. B. Reed. He has
served in tho lower branch Of the legis
lature, and also two successive terms il
the Senate. where he served on the mos
important committees. At the last session
he was unanimously elected President o
that body, in which capacity he was Pc
| culiarly successful in the performance o
his duties. He has served as County AT
torney two terms and in that Office per
formed his duties in an able and faithful
manner. Prior to his election to tn
County Attorneyship. he was appointed
assistant United States Counsel in tn
Alabama Court of Claims and served il
that capacity until tho court was discon
| tinued. AS suoh counsel he was com
| mended by the court for the faithful
| and careful manner in which he per
formed his duties. The experience O
Mr.. Soldiers in his general law practice
as County Attorney, and also in defend
| ing in two of the most important ant
startling murder cases that have eve
come before the courts In this State, ha
particularly fitted him to ill the office O
Attorney General, and the legislator,
will make no mistake in elscting him tt