The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-09

Go to Augusta, but He Hasn't Made up
His Mind to Withdraw.
There was a story going yesterday,
that Alderman Rounds had thrown up his
job as night master of the Boston &
Maine freight yard, and that henceforth
he would deovte his whole time to poll
tics.
For several hours the loca newspaper
men were hunting around town for
him, to ascertain the truth of the rumor.
He was not to be found. Down at the
Union station it was learned that he had
taken an afternoon train westward, and
had left word that he shouldn't be home
again till late at night.
"That MEANS" explained local poll
tician who keeps posted on everything 60
ing, ''that Rounds has gone to Ports
mouth to see Frank Jones. I know we'll
enough that Rounds would not think
of giving up his railroad job, and don It
believe he will be fired.
"He didn't mean to run for the legis-
lature at all. He only went into the thing
for fun, and to show some of the fellows
who said he couldn't get a legislative
nomination that they didn't know what
they were talking about. He would not
have signed the nomination papers had
it not been for brush he had with
George Allan, chairman of the city COM
mittee. Rounds called at Republican
headquarters Friday, and asked for his
papers Chairman Allan did not see fit
to let him have the document, claiming
that the papers belonged to the COM
mittee. and not to the nominees.
Rounds thought they were trying to snub
him, and he went off in bad temper.
After awhile Mr.. Allan thought it over
and sent the papers to Rounds who, out
of spite more than for any other reason,
wrote his autograph on them, and in the
evening sent them in to the committee,
who had met to select his successor.
"They haven't got Rounds licked, and
I don't believe they can. 1 am told that
he has no intention Of remaining on the
ticket. But he evidently means to fhave
his say about how things shall be run.
He has the good will of Frank Jones. and
Mr.. Jones has great deal bigger influ-
ence with the Boston 4 Maine than
some of the men who are bucking
against Rounds.
The 10. 80 train over the eastern division
brought.to Portland among its passengers
the much advertised alderman from
Portland's third ward.
"Was it warm in Boston today,
Edgar?i one of his railroad friends asked
him.
ST don't know anything about Bos-
ton." was his reply. Il haven't been to
Boston,
''Been to Portsmouth, then, ! guess.
~ amt saying where I've been. -
Alderman Rou nds looked as smiling
as usual when he reached the heart of the
city, and telephoned down to the freight
yard to find out if things there had
been running smoothly in HIS absence
"No, haven't thrown up my job, !"
was his reply to the inquiry of PRESS
reporter.
"Do you fear losing your employment
with the railroad company" was asked.
"No, guess shan't lose it; not if
some folks do as they agree"
"You have not res igned as legislative
candidate. have your"
"No."
"Have you any desire to serve in the
legislature?S
''No, I wouldn't give a picayune to go
to Augusta. Stopping over there four
or five hours always gives me he ad-
ACHE"
"Then you don't intend to stand as
candidate, do your
81 can't say what shall do. haven't
made up my mind.'
"Would not the railroad officials allow
you to indulge in the pastime of posing
as a legislative candidate, providing you
Withdraw from the ticket before cleo
ton day."
"The railroad Off Gals understand the
situation. They know what course 1
shall pursue. That is, the Leading offic-
ials do. Perhaps the understappers
don't"
A third party joined in the converse
ton and remarked that some OF the Re-
pubIicans think they have Mr.. Rounds
whipped.
"Do they" replied the Ward 8 mag
nate, 81 want to know if they really
think they have got the old man licked.
Now I will show them, in the next six
months, that he is long way from be-
ing licked. I have got the tools to do
it with, too"
Eat this point in the interview Alder
man Rounds suddenly went off on a
new tangent He had been standing at a
desk, toying with an incandescent cleo
trio light. Shaking his head in reflect
i've sort of way, he remarked pointing to
the electric lamp, cts pity we can't
get these things for less money than they
are costing now. Portland people are
paying just twice as much as they ought
to for their light. The water rates, too,
are too high. Some day things will be
different.
The conversation about the political
situation being resumed, the reporter