The Portland daily press., 1896-06-17
EMBARRASSED DEMOCRATS
Likely to Be Rent in Twain by
Finance.
A GOLD PLANK ALL WRITTEN FOR
THE PLATFORM.

"A scramble Tor the Coat OF many CoAofs
-. Left by National Committeeman Sew
al1-Notes of tho Coming Convention.
The Democratic conventions which as
semble here today will probably DC IN
spired by considerable artificial enthusl-
asm in lieu Of real healthy hope. Ihere
isn't much in it for the Democrats ID
Maine this year. whoms oever they nom1-
nate and whatever the issue.
The paralyzing thing is the money
Question. From the talk yesterday. and
from indications long evident, the plat
form today will make practically a
straight out declaration for the gold
standard. That seems to be the trend OF
sentiment as developed so far; and 1T is
understood to be the wording of tie plat
form. which has been practically agreed
upon.
1t is thought that there may be some
kick OVER this from the eastern part OF
the State, notably among the delegates
from Penobsct and Waldo counties. The
soft money sentiment has always been
strong there. Hon. j. P. Bass and Ara
Warren, of Bangor, always big chiefs, are
credited with the desire, II not the IN
tcntion, to have Maine nearer in line
with the position of the national Democ-
racy, which is expected to be stralgns-
out for free silver.
This prospect OF a gold plank for Maine
Democrats while National Democrats
have silver plank, is paralyzing the
party. The money issue is to be the
main issue of the campaign; and on this
the lips of the campaign orator hereabouts
must be sealed. If he begins to talk
gold, the national plank will be thro wn
at him, and if he begins to talk silver
he will get the Maine plank in the side
of the head
Realizing this situation the convention
and the leaders will probably grope for
some local side issue. They will proba-
bly, endorse good roads; q very sensible
thing to do. But this eau hardly besmade
an absorbing campaign issue. They will
also endorse resubmission, and probably
will try to make IN issue on this but
they realize that such an effort will be
well-nigh hopeless. In two campaigns
the Hon. @. E. johnson has tried in
vain to get this issue to the front Other
questions have blown it out of the way,
and will continue to do SO.
The scramble after the political effects
of Arthur Sewall Is likely to make an in
teresting contest Hereabouts there is a
sentiment in favor of Hon. William
Henry Clifford as Mr.. Sewall's successor
in the National Committee. Mr.. Clifford
has always rebelled against the domino
ton OF Mr.. Sewall, and hence would sesn
to be the logical candidate. There il
tax from the eastern part of the State
that Samuel D. Leavitt, of Eastport
should have the place, and the doughty
General 'sSam" always has in his Lerson
atty the possibilities Of q lively fight.
1t seemed probable last evening thai
Mr.. E. B. Winslow of this city, will b.
nominated for governor. Mr.. Hanson O.
Belfast, has been before the public fol
the place longer; but apparently he il
not getting much support in the western
part of the state. Cum berland, York
Sagadahoc and Oxford county mon las
evening expressed the opinion that Mr..
Winslow would be nominated. A con
siderable number of delegates express
themselves as adverse to getting the sar
saparilla issue mixed up in the cam
paign.
Last evening the talk about the none,
plank became more definite. Severa
well-known leader said there was NOR,
silver sentiment among the rank and fiji
than they had thought for. 1t was no
thought. however, that there would b.
q fight over tho money plank on thu
floor of the convention. The fight is ex
pecred to centre before the committee OF
resolutions, and it is believed that thi
committee will be in favor of the straigh
out gold declaration which has already
been drafted. But there is some tall
of 'straddle," and one prominent Dem
ocrat has such plank down, and it il
expected that he will present it to tn,
committee on resolutions and try to ge
it adopted.
Hon. Arthur Sewall is present as
delegate from Bath, but Is not exactly
happy. The Sngahahoc delegation gen
orally are reported to have knives III
their sleeves for him; and there seems t.
be general disposition to give him 6
hit. They say he is free silver manano
q protectionist and therefore out of plac,
In gathering of gold bug, free trad
Democrats. Perhaps, however, if MIR
Coxr,11 oI,o,1d toka paiDa to Oruaniza th,
free silver men in his party he might no
be SO lonesome after all.
Dr. Seth C. Gordon seems sure to b.
elected delegate at large from this dis
trict to the Chicago convention; and e
B. Winslow of Portland. and Tristrau
War Eagle Goldthwsite of Biddeford
will be district delegates