Evening star., 1896-08-20
SITUATION IN MAINE
Democrats and Populists Arc at Bitter
Odds.
A Still Hunt GSing On, for Which q
Surprising Success II
Predicted.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

LEWlSION, August 49, 1895.
Maine politics are always Interesting
There is generally something in the air that
is of national interest. Especially is this
true in a presidential year. for Maine is
one of the few states which now elects It's
governor prior to the November election.
In order to understand the status of poll
tics in Maine at the present time it Is nee
essary to take short retrospective view.
The republicans this year have nominated
as their candidate for governor Llewellyn
Powers of Houlton, who was the last speak
err of the house of representatives. There is
no gainsaying the fact that Mr. Powers is
not popular candidate, especially with
the republicans Of the western part of the
state. It is true that he was unanimously
nominated, but 1t was through the infiu-
ence Of the so-called republican ring and
against the wishes Of the rank and file, as
we'll as that Of many prominent republi-
cans.
In an loft year." with a clean, able dem
ocratic candidate opposed to him, Mr.. Pow
ers would be likely to be defeated. In fact,
his nomination was so coldly received by
some Of the prominent party papers that
many predicted that Mr.. Powers would be
defeated this year. But the action of the
Chicago convention and the bringing Of
the silver issue to the front has caused his
unpopularity to be obscured.
Close Fight on Silver.
On June II the democratic state conven-
tion was held in Portland. The evening
before the convention banquet was given
by Portland democrats, and George Fred
Williams of Massachusetts was the princi-
speaker. 1t was on this occasion that Mr..
Williams free silver views. much to the
surprise of his friends. were made known
In the convention the following day Ed
ward B. Winslow, an able and conservative
business man. who has never been promi-
nent IN pclitics. was nominated as candl-
date for governor. When the financial
plank came up in the convention minor
ity report In favor of compromise with
silver was presented. and ore of the most
bitter battles that ever occurred in Maine
state convention followed.
The silver forces were led by Edgar f.
Hanson, mayor of Belfast, and NJ T.
Frank of Portland, who also appeared for
the first time as champion of silver. The
gold side was upheld by William Henry
Clifford of Portland and United States Dis
trict Attorney A. w. Bradbury of Port
lard. who, although not delegate. took a
leading part in the debate on the floor A
resolution solidy in favor of the gold STAN
dard was adopted. After the Chicago con-
vention Mayor Hanson of Belfast wrote an
open letter to Mr.. Winslow the democratic
nominee for governor. in substance asking
L
result was that Mr. Winslow finally de-
clined to accept the nomination. and a new
convention was called, and held in Water
vile August 9.
For Silver After All.
The leading candidates were Edgar F.
Hanson and NJ. p. Frank After spirited
contest Mr.. Frank received the nomination
and the convention, ignoring the resou-
ton of the convention of June II. adopted
a resolution in favor of free silver. and in
dorsing Bryan and Sewan A few gold
democrats. led by Clifford, bolted and drew
UP a paper denCuncing the action Of the
second convention IN the most scathing
language. These men decided to support
Clifford for governor and, although they
were unable TO get his name on the state
ticket. they will vote for him by using
StickerS.
At their state convention the populists
nominated their candidate for governor
l.. c. Bateman of Auburn. the editor of the
Maine Populist, the only organ of that
party In the state. He is an able man and
an eloquent speaker. and Is the idol and
the acknowledged leader Of his party in
Maine.
sewnll's st. Louis Defeat.
After the Chicago convention MI Bate
man took the position that he was the
logical candidate OF the silver forces in
Maine. He had been elected u delegate to
the populist national convention at St.
Louis and before he left to attend the con-
vention Informed Arthur Sewlll, the dem
ocratic nominee for Vice President, that
unless he (SewalD would agrea 20 support
him as the candidate of the silver men in
Maine that he would defeat him for the
vice presidential nomination at ST. Louis.
1t is now history that the st. Louis con-
vention indorsed MI. Bryan. but turned
SeWail down. 1t Is claimed that speech
made by Mr.. Bateman in the convention
and his personal work among the delegates
defeated Mr.. Sewall and resulted in the
nomina ton Of Mr.. Watson. Mr.. Bateman
is now doing all possible to draw demo-
cratic votes from Mr.. Frank, and some
of his enemies declare that he is in the
pay of the republican leaders, but his
friends say he is only acting from prin-
cple and to save the organization Of the
populist party.
Surprise Predicted.
1t will be seen that the opposition to the
republican party in Maine must necessar-
lily be disunited and dishearte ned. The
leaders, however. claim that this is not
true, and that on election day the republi-
cans are to meet with a surprise party.
They whisper mysteriously about still
hunt which is being conducted and that
at the last minute they are to have sinews
Of Tar in the shape Of money from rom the
same tactics are being carried on We're
adopted in 1876. when Tom Reed barely
saved his seat in Congress.
one of the members of the state COM
mittee tells The Star correspondent that
the reports from the country towns are
most encouraging to the democrats, and
that there was never such demand for
campaign literature He says that the
people are hungry for information about
the silver question. and that they will cast
their votes for Frank in September, and
IN November for the Bryan and Sewall
electors. H. A. w.
PROTECTING THE PUBIyC