The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-01
A HOT TIME
At Saturdays Democratic Convention
Over Whose Name Should Head List.

Pretty Plain Talk-Messrs. Kehoe and
MoOuillan the Centers-Duddy Frees
His Mind.
There was nothing about the opening
preliminaries of the Democratic leslsiaVi'e
convention, Saturday afternoon. 10 H.
dictate that it would be anything else
than a formal, tame, hurried session.
with nominations going by acclamatlon
to whomever happened to be nanea nrso'
But before the business was all trans
acted the convention developed into the
liveliest thing of the campaign.
The convention met IN the rooms OF
the Jefferson club,up one flight, at 573 l-2
Congress street. Four o'clock was
the hour mentioned in the call, but
neither the chairman nor secretary OF
the city committee had put in an appear
ance at that time, and there were not
more than 90 of the 40 delegates present.
After nearly half-hour's wait, Michael
Mccain, one of the Ward delegates,
took the liberty to open tho convention.
He called Gen. John ]. Lynch to the
chair, and William H. Mcdonald was
chosen secretary.
1t was suggested that it would be
proper move to have roll-call OF dele
gates, and after few minutes had been
squandered in hunting up a list, the
chairman started in to call the roll
There were 81 responses, in person or by
proxy.
AS soon as this preliminary had been
attended to, ex-Alderman buddy got the
floor and in fowery speech nominated
ex-Alderman John B. Kehoe as one of
the candidates for representatives. Coun-
Gilman Samuel Rosenberg seconded the
nomination. When the vote was taken
there was no dissenting voice.
The next nominee to be named was
BARLEY j. Curran, whose name was pre-
sented to the convention by J.P. Hayes.
Secretary Mcdonald wanted to know
if the candidates Of two years ago were
not entitled to denomination. Chair
man Lynch replied that he thought they
were.
Nathan Clifford, Jr., presented the
name of William II. Stevens and the
nomination was made by reclamation.
Councilman T. A. Burke was the next
delegate to nominate q candidate. He
said o number of prominent Democrats
had suggested the name of Col. George
f, McQuillan as candidate whose nomi.
nation would be thoroughly acceptable to
the party. Mr.. Burke, at the request of
the Democrats in question, had approached
Col. McQuillan on the subject, and after
much persuasion obtained his consent
to the use of his name in the convention.
s'But there is Just one condition under
which we can nominate him." added
Mr.. Burke, "and that is that his name be
placed at the head of the list of legisla'
tive nominees" 1t was just here that
THE HUN BEGAN.
A young man from Ward ventured to
saw that he couldn't see why Col. Nc
Ouillan should be given first place on the
ticket. 1t is customary to place the
names on the ballot in the order in which
the candidates are nominated.
MR.. BARTON'S OLIVE BRANCH.
State Committeeman Llewellyn Barton,
always ready to wave the olive branch,
suggested that it would be wise plan
to allow the city committee to arrange
the names as might be seen fit.
But his suggestion didn't meet with
the approval of Mr.. Kehoe's friends. Not
a bit of it. "This is the time to settle
that thing they said.
Mr.. Barton wanted the floor to urge his
manner of settling the difficulty, and
offered a motion that the city committee
be empowered to decide on the order OF
ARRANGEMENT of the names on the official
ballot. But Chairman Lynch ruled that
the first thing in order was to complete
the list of legislative nominations, and
then there would be ample time to con-
slider the question raised.
Edward Flaherty presented the name
of James 81. Keliegher as candidate Tor
legislative honors. His name went down
on the list without a murmur.
Mr.. Barton nominated Walter u. Davis,
and the convention gave it's assent.
Chairman S. W. Bates of the county
committee wanted Thomas P. Beals to
be one # the legislative nominees, aud
his motion was put and declared passed,
but when Chairman Lynch came to count
up the list he found that the delegation
was already full before the last nomina-
ton was made so Mr.. Reals's name was
scratched off and he will be deprived the
privilege Of passing mid-winter vaca-
ton in the Maine capital.
Mr.. buddy next moved that the names
be printed on the official ballot in the
order of their nomination, Candidate
Kehoe's at the top.
Councilman Burke again took the floor
to explain the situation in regard to Col
McQuillan's name. "The only condition
under which he would accept said Mr.
Burke, sis that his name shall head the
list. If the convention does MT see fit to
make that concession, then let us nomi-
nate another candidate in his stead.''
A vote was taken on Mr.. Duddy's