The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-20
THE DEMOCRATS TURN.
County aud District Conventions to Be
Held in Portland This Week.

Portland is to be treated to two more
political conventions this week. The
Democratic county convention is booked
for Reception hall, City building, at ~
O'Clock, Thursday forenoon, ana at tle
same place on the afternoon of the same
day, the Democratic district conVentioh'
for the choice of a Congressional nomi-
nee, will take place.
Neither convention is likely to prove
half as exciting as that which the Repub
licans of Cumberland county held last
Thursday for the reasoo That the
nominations to be dealt out will have
to seek the men. Up to date nobody,
not even the local leaders of the Dem
ocratic party can forecast the make up
of the county ticket.
About all that is definitely known is
that Mr. W. B. Chute, the veteran driver
Of the Sebago lake stage, and who has
had hand in politics in the town of
Naples for many years, is candidate
for the sheriff nomination. He says he
would like to serve the county term
In the sheriff's office, but his hopes are
not as high now as they were few weeks
ago, when the Despeaux and Dresser
forces in the Republican party were en-
gagged in heated warfare. Mr.. Chute's
brother, ex-Deputy Sheriff Chute of
Westbrook, worked hard for Despeaux S
nomination. The stage driver would
much preferred to have Mr.. Dresser for
an adversary than Mr.. Despeaux.
There has been talk that LIewellyn
Barton, ESQ.,, Portland's member of the
Democratic state committee, wanted
to be nominated for sheriff, but Mr..
Barton informed the PRESS, Saturday,
that he is not and has not been an
aspirant for that Office. He said that
Mr.. Chute of Naples will probably be-
given the nomination by reclamation.
Levi Greenleaf. Esq, chairman of the
Portland Democratic city committee,
admitted, when questioned Saturday.
that some Of his friends have suggested
his nomination for county attorney, and
that If no other candidate appears, he will
accept the nomination if the convention
sees fit to tender it to him.
Neither Mr.. Greenleaf nor MIR. Barton
was able to give the name of any candl-
date for any office within the gift of the
convention. at is usually hard to find
nominees who will stand" said Mr..
Greenleaf, land ! guess the aspirants
are especially few this year" -
Edwin Z. Heckbert, ESD, who was
nominated for senator in the Democratic
convention two years. ago, was asked ii
he would allow the use of his name in
that connection this year. His reply was
that he was out of politics.
One hundred and twenty ght delegates
Will be entitled to seats in the county
convention. Portland,s- quota is AZ. Ii
as not yet decided who wiil preside
The district convention will meet al
2 O'Clock. Cumberland county is entitled
to 12S delegates and York county a..
1t has been customary for the party tc
give its nominees two chances at going
before the people. The Congressional
nomination would, therefore, go to ex-
Mayor Edward w. Staples of Biddeford,
the nominee of two years ago, if he cared
to accept it, but he has informally an
nounced to the com mittee that he does
not desire to run again.
Rev. Luther Mckinney, ex-Congress-
man from New Hampshire. has recently
moved to Brldgton. Some of the Demo-
cratic lea1sSrs have suggested nominating
him, butVs he has been citizen of the
district only few months, it is not at
all probable that he would consent to the
use of his name in the convention.