The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-24
HEAR THIS BOOM IN MAINE!
LUTHER C. BATEMAN IS UHO0PIN3
IL Up ZOE MM.iRTON N.iKkER.
He l. Engaged sinRic-iinnhcd In Nominating
aIr. barker ms the ropuiist Candidate for
Prrsidcnt-QueC Campaign Of the Long
Instance Editor or Tom Wntson'a Paper.

Mr.. Hnrkcr ms the rOpuiist Candidate for
Prrsidcnt-QueCr Campaign Of the Long
Instance Edltor OF Tom Wntson'a Paper.
PORTLAND, Me-, Oct. 22.-fIcrc in Maine
people are following the crratic political
career of Luther G. Batcman and his latosp
political scheme with Il good deal moro than
ordinary attention. Batcnian is n peculiar
man, and has had an cvontful and interesting
life. lie entered the army when little more
than n boy, and after the war worked his way
TO tho Pacific coast, reaching san Francisco
with only 30 cents. Then he returned to tho
East, worked his way through two educa-
tionnl institutions, and started in on his career
as n popular lecturer. Some years later he
made q trip through Europe, writing letters
TO various newspapers. He was In the orlBi-
nal grconback muN CmCnt and wns tho trusteo
lieutenant of SCION Chase. llo was one OF
tho first men of Maine TO 20 into tho Popuiist
party, and was several times tho candidate OK
that party for Governor. Then he started .
PopulisJ paper, and made it famous all over
tho country. While it lived, and that was
about three years, it was widely quoted. Ito
was II delegate to the Populist National Con-
vcntion of 1896 and took n leading part in tho
confusion of that body. lie successfully OPP
posed the projected nomination OF Arthur
Scwal while supporting Bryan. 1t was large
ly because of tho opposition Of the delegates
Albil ''Nh W Il Nhub nv '"S N'HSN
down by tho Populists. Mr.. Batcman was
very prominent during the campaign, and dis
tinguishcd himself as ono of the warmcst sup
portcrs Of Tom Watson. At the close of tho
campaign he suddenly discontinued his paper
aud returned to his former profession, that or
but h did not cease to keep himself before
the public, and here in the East no has been
lie. is one Of the leaders in the movement to
make, Wharton Barker of Philadelphia the
populist candidate for President in 1900, and
has succeeded in attracting tho attention OF
the politicians, the newspapers, and the pub
Mr.. Batclnan is lecturing and campaigning
S Mri 1nS ana IN INC same time t On an n, average ne
and al least that numbcr: Of newspaper letters
a week. He is lecturing and writing through
a s,irGesSion of small country towns, and, in
general, stays about n week or ten days in a
place. Country postmasters look forward to
his corning With JOY; knowing that he is bound
ms coming they lay in an extra stock of stamps
With this week Mr.. Batcman begins an en-
gagement. on Tom Watson's paper. The ex.
ponsnt Of what he il? pleased to call rod.
Of iyc weeks, and SO turned his paper over to
Mr.. ,Batenah, who will edit it from Maine. A
local pancr was wicked enough to remark that
he would send his copy ON as freight.
pn II Is s"id that With n" exception Of Senator
Whiting whiting la Inrrs' 10 Mr. rvc R2tG p@n,1,ii is at this IN time me
ndn,;nlt S'm'e ;; Te has hq, a single subject the
The oldest thing about the peculiar cam
paign he is conducting is that lie actually man
ages TO make his many Barker articles fresh
and attractive. He has all the leading papers of
the country sent to him as he moves from place
TO place, and outside nj the time when he is
lccturing, eating. and sleeping is commonly
hard at work reading political editorials. POI
ntical communication,s and political speeches.
lie is really a travelling campaign committee.
mittee chosen at Nashville on July /.
II Mr.. Bateinan continues his peculiar cam
raign the next official report OF the Postmaster
General will show "a marked increase in tho
salaries of tho PostmHstcrs of ali the back
country towns in Maine. Just now country
PostmasterS are bidding for him., and his visit
TO any section means a marked increase in tho
mailS-in fact, additional mail service will DO
required unless he concludes 10 come back into
The confines of civilization in this State.
When last heard from Mr.. Batcman had
reached the remote town of Grccnvillc. He
had with him his lecture on THE Lost Arts"
and il Is "A good lecture. AN Egyptian mummy
and the Presidential boom OF Marion Bar
kcr. From that remote town he viii edit Tom
NatsCns Peoples Party paper, write hundreds
OF political letters. keep Maine newspapers in
formed of the progress of events wherever he
goes. and incidentally catch trout and kill
deer, both avocatiOns being followed while he
is getting more political articles into shape.
II is but fair TO Mr.. Bateman to say that he
has apparently brought the majority of his
political associates in this state into line for
Mr.. Barker. and that he has done much to make
Mr.. Barker known to the politicians of tho best
state in the Union for q new political boom.