Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-18
PORTLAND CHAT.
Asher Kinds Will Stay With
the New Speaker.
Merry War On Now Between Jefferson
and Portland Theatres.
Cumberland Slate Senatorship Basket Ball
TO Be introduced Notes.

Il.
who will be the next Speaker of the
national House Of Representatives has
re-app0inted Mr.. Asher c. Kinds of
this city, to the position of clerk to the
speaker Mr.. Kinds has held this po-
sition during the last four years while
Mr.. Reed was the presiding officer of
the lower house at Washington. and it
IS no reflection upon any of his predi-
cessors 10 say that he is generally rec
ognized as the strongest man who has
eyer served in this capacity. 1t was
generally believed some time ago that
Cen. Henderson would decide to retain
Mr.. Kinds. SO that the official an
nouncement which has just been made.
was no surprise to the friends Of Mr..
Kinds.
Mr.. Kinds is one Of the ablest news
paper men Of Maine. He is a native Of
the eastern part of the State and af-
ter finishing his studies at Colby in
81. came to Portland and at once en-
tered upon newspaper work. His first
position was on the Advertiser with
which he remained few years Then
he went to the Press. with which he
has even since been connected filling
at various times all Of the editorial po-
sitons and in all of them acquitting
himself in splendid style. His whole
interest has been in the welfare and
prosperity of his paper. in which he is
part owner. and the people of Portland
well know that his labOrs in this di-
rection have been eminently success
full. There are few men who work with
more zeal or painstaking than does
Mr.. Kinds in his newspaper labors and
Mr.. Reed never showed better iudg-
ment that Wnen he induced Mr. Kinds
10 assist him in work which has 50
many details. When Mr. Reed was
elected Speaker the first time in the
winter of SO, Mr.. Kinds acted as pri-
Vate secretary. In the following SEES
sions which the Portland statesman
was the presiding officer Of the House
Mr. Kinds was promoted to the posi-
ton Of clerk to the Speaker. He is
sure to be of great service to Gen
Henderson; indeed. he will probably be
of more real assistance TO the new
Speaker than any other man at the ma
tiOnal capital.
Mr.. Kinds is married and resides in
Deering, now a part Of Portland. He
has found little time to devote himself
to anything outside Of hls profession
\ few years ago he was elected one Of
the members of the school committee
on the Republican ticket. This is the
extent Of his participation in politics
Mr.. Kinds left, today. for Washing
ton to be promptly on hand at the
opening Of Congress.
1t is announced that Hon Holman s.
Melcher. who was one of the six rep
resentatives to the Legislature from
this city at the last session. will be
candidate for one of the four State
senators to which Cumberland county
is entitled Mr.. Melcher is one Of the |
most prominent and popular of the cit
liens Of Portland. For the last . years
he has been one Of the leading whole |
sale grocery dealers of the city. build |
ing up a trade from small beginnings |
to one of the most extensive in the |
city.
Major Melcher was one Of the first |
from Maine to enlist in the war He
rendered valiant service and there |
gained his title Of major. He has al |
ways been a staunch Republican and
for a number of years has taken an |
in the common council as one Of the |
members from Ward and later was
elected and alderman from that ward. |
He had not been actively engaged in
political affairs for some years until |
80. when he was persuaded to accept |
the Republican nomination for mayor |
Major Melcher accepted and was elect !
ed by a handsome vote. He was re-
ga a1A 4.,I 49, f,I1p
ing year but declined to be a cand- |
date for a third term. Major Malcher |
made one Of the best mayors that the |
city ever had. He was popular with all !
classes and had he desired the honor |
he could easily have been one Of the |
third-term mayors Of the city. The |
most notable occasion of the admin |
istration of Mayor Melcher was the |
dedication Of the soldiers and sailors |
monument in the square bounded by |
Congress. Middle and Elm street. This
event occurred on Memorial day. 1890,
and was one of the red letter days in
the history Of the city.
On his retirement from politics in his |
final year as mayor. Major Mclchcr
again resumed personal charge Of his
business interests. In the summer of
'9S he was nominated for representative
TO the Legislature and in the LegisIa-
ture he took an active part, being one
of the most valuable members of the
Portland delegation.
There may be also another candidate
for the nomination of senator from the
Portland district Of the county. Harry
r. Virgin. the president of the Lincoln
Club. will probably be in the field. He,
foo. was one of the representatives
from Portland to the last session Of the
legislature and in that body he made
an excellent record
Mr.. Virgin. although a young man.
has for some years been prominently
identified with politics. a few years
AGO he was one of the members OF the
council from Ward and in the last
wear of that position was elected pres
ident Of the council
He is a lawyer. one of the leading
,-oung attorneys of the city. He is the
Continued on page 80 ii