Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-01-21
PRESS COMMENTS.
Strong Endorsements Of Appointment Of Hon.
J. w. Wakefield as Liquor Commissioner.

(Bath Correspondent of Boston Hcrald) |
The most interesting event of the week
has been the close of ex Mayor Wakefield S
prolonged fight for the State liquor com
missioncrship-the Bath man being the
winner This otlice is very generally re
ferred to as the best plum in the whole
basket that the Governor has to bestow.
The fact that it is n very fat Office was
shown to be generally realized by the food
of kilograms with which the new commits
sioner was flooded the day that the press
gave notice of his victory.
Although many of the State papers de-
voted some space to a sketcn of the man,
none Of them have SO far mentioned fact
which is most characteristic of him and
shows his skill MS Il political manager II
was during the greenback craze, when
every part of Maine yielded to the new
force, that Sagadahoc county alone rolled
up its regular Republican majority, and it
was here that Scion Chase found defeat in
his run for Congress from the 2d district
Triumphant in all the other parts of the
district, Solon Chase came down TO Saga
dahoc confident winner-and he found
the old Republican wall standing. j. w.
Wakefield had saved his party from defeat.
Shortly after, the management of Mr..
Wakefield having been questioned, The
commissioner temper was n trille rutllcd,
and his reply was Lock at the returns.
Where are they? The only ones fit TO look
at came from old Sagadahoc That's all
I've got to say.
The Office of liquor commissioner Is
now established at Portland by the State,
IL .4,.yl
residence in the Forest city the greater
part of the time. but he will maintain
his home at Bath, where his whole life has
been spent
augusta Correspondent Boston iierald)
The long protractcd fight for State liquor
commissioner has ended, and James ".
Wakefield of Bath gets the juicy plum.
Six months ago the term Of MIR, Gilmore
expired, but he has been continued in
office until his successor was appointed.
The contestants for the place were Mr..
Wakefield, Gen. John Harper OF Lewiston,
Capt. Whitman Sawyer and Israel T. But
Ter of Portland and each one had Il strong
hacking, especially Wakefield and Harper.
S me four months ago, Gen. Harper retired
from the fight, which rendered the sitQa-
fion less complicated. The othe" day, Mr..
Butler was disposed OF by making him
private secretary to the Governor, and this
has been followed by the appointment Of
Capt. Sawyer as chairman of the board Of
prison and Jail inspectors This left Mr.
Wakefield a clear field and, OF course, he
drew the prize.
Mr.. Wakefield is one of the kccnest Of
our Republican politicians, and is great
success in political engineering For 80
years he has held either a federal, State or
municipal office, and it would be cold
day when he does not hold one. He has
always been an active partisan, and has
the name of being one of the most adroit
wire pullers in the State. Mr. Blaine al
ways admired his political work, and it is
doubtful if the party has moro sagaci0us
leader.
portland Correspondent Boston Herald. J
Western Maine people Were especially
well pleased with the Governor s appoint
ment of Hon. J. W. Wakefield of Bath, as
State liquor commissioner. Portland had
a candidate in the person of Capt. Whit
man Sawyer, but he gets the chairman
ship of the State board of Jail inspectors,
and is doubtless satisfied. 1t was thought
at the time the Governor attacked the
State liquor agency system, q year ago.
that new man would be appointed agent
as soon as the term OF the present ncum-
bent expired, but there was such a lively
contest over the place that A gent Gilmore
has been allowed to continue in Office up
to the present time 1t is believed that the
new agent will perform the duties of his
office with credit TO himself and the State.