Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-07-18
Hon. Arthur SeWall
Democratic Candidate for Vice
President \ Shrcwd and
Progressive Ship
builder.
COMESOF REVOLUTIONARY STOCK.
Director in Banks and Rail
roads, He is an Aggressive
and Representative
Business Man.


Hon. Arthur Sewall the Democrati,
nominee for Vice President, was borr
in Bath. Me, IN 1885. He bears hi.
three score and odd years rs il they
were hut forty five He is of medium
height. rather stout. rudy faced, keen.
eyed and generally well preserved.
From the days he left school, early
in the ffties. 10 the present he ha.
been devoted to shipbuilding His
father before him, William ID. Sewall,
opened up his shipyards in Bath, Me-,
in 1925, and from the landing OF the
first chubby, little Diana in that year
down to the great steal steamer Dirigo
was put ailoat in 1894 the house of
Sewall has lei the country in designs
for merchant vessels. and To day the
house of Sewall and Sons own the
largest sailor merchantmen ahoat.
For nine years. ending in 1898. he
was President Of the Maine Central
Railroad, and then only resigned TO
place a man OF his own choice in the
same position. lie is President OF the
Fourth National Bank OF Maine He
was for years prominent i'll the man
agement OF the Mexican Central IL
Sonora Railroad He was President
for time OF the Eastern Railroad
and is now a director. In all these he
has shown himself TO be the keen.
shrewd and progressive business man.
Under his management the Maine
Central changed from third class iron
railroad To tir>t-c steel ralroa |.
with every modern appliance.
When the question "Shall the
steamships City Of Paris and City Of
New York he admitted to American
registry" WAS exciting the shipping
men of the country. and particularly
Of Bath, the man who stepped forward,
and speaking as the largest builder of
sailing ships in america, showed that
the admission OF these vessels would
be the first step in the way OF reviv-
ing the merchant marine, convinced
by sheer logic those who were most
bitterly opposed to he measure, and
thus made possible the Endorsement OF
it by such men rs Senator FRYE and
Nelson Dingley.
When Il few years ago he compile
ted that magnificent fleet of ships of
which the Roanoke i II type, he de-
cided. and he was the New England
shiphuilder TO do 50, that the time OF
wood in the ocean marine was past
that the age % steel had come After
Il prolonged visit To the great yarl> in
England and ireland he returned to
Bath and put up a complete modern
steel plant
In politics Mr.. Sewall has been a
lifelong Democrat. He never voted
any other ticket, and for the past
eight years has been Maine'> repre-.
sentative on the Democratic National
Committee until a few days ago, when
DIR. :. II. {. Gordon succeeded him
He was an original Cleveland man
and followed the career Of the Buffalo
statesman up until Il couple %, years
ago Notwithstanding the fact that lie
shared something Of the protection
views of the late Samuel j. Randall
Ever since the Greenback victory
which swept over Maine Mr.. Sewall
has b iii = close student 81 financial
questions. an,l Ibis has crysialized in
him thorough bc.ief in bimetalli.m
and the free coinage Of moth silver anil
gold Mr.. Sewall was a candidate
for niied States Senator against
Senator Eugene Hale in 1898.
1t was Mr.. SewalIs free coinage
proclivitie> which led his fellow dele
gates 10 leave him off tie National
Committee last week.
In 1889 Mr. S.wall married Emily
Duncan Crooker. daughter Of promi-
nent citizen Of Bath. Three children
were born to them, Harold Sewall,
former Consu. General TO Samoa
William Sewall, junior member of
the shipbuilling firm, and Demmer
Sewall. who died in infancy.