The Portland daily press., 1899-02-22
JUST LIKE OLD TINES.
Biddeford Politicians Indulge in
Odd Warfare.
CITIZENS PARTY TRIES TO RUN
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

Nomination Goes TO Col. D.. n. Kendall
by small Msjority--Formsr Political
Associates at swords Points--"Like
skunks in a Hen House, wa. u. y.
HsmiIton's Metaphor.
Biddeford, February al Biddeford used
to have the reputation of furnishing the
most unique brand Of municipal politics
of all the cities In Maine. During the
Last few years II has been outsrowins
that reputation, but tonight 1t got back
irto the old ruts and INDUCED in one Of
the liveliest political battles ever wagsd
there.
The Republican mayoralty nomination
was the bone Of contention. The Gil.
zens, who have been entrenched three
years, are to run Mayor Levi W. stone
for second term. The executive COM
mittee, after warm debate, last week,
had voted to recommend to the Citizens
Municipal association, his denomination.
and the association had made arrange.
ments to meet after the Republican eau
Gus tonight and make up the ticket
The Citizens party. composed of about
an equal division Of Republicans and
Democrats. Instead of holding oauouses
In the old war, the Citizens tickets are
made up by vote Of the association, and
nomination papers filed. Whether partici
pants In the affairs Of the Citizens party
have right to go into Republican or
a Democratic caucus and take hand In
the selection Of nominees Is u question
that has been debated every spring since
the non partisan regime was introduced.
That was the question which was fought
out anew in the Opera house tonight
amid cheers and Kisses Of the opposing
factions.
The hall was packed from the outer
doors to the stage, and about as many
people were standing as there were seats
The knowledge that an attempt would be
made to foist the Citizens nominee on
men@ who did not expect to vote, but
wanted TO see the fun. A polo game be
tween the South Portland team and the
Biddefords was in progress in National
hall. but there WAS so much excitement
at the caucus that the poloists had to
play to empty benches.
Col. Luoius II. Kendall Of the Maine
volunteers was the candidate Of the
straight" Republicans. All his old
time workers were on hand, passing bal
lots and joining in the demonstration to
his behalf. His forces were Ied by ex.
Mayor Charles 5. Hamilton, .ex- Represen
tetives b. 4. Hamilton and Fred O'Neil,
whils the other ia ction had as advocates
ex Senator Frank W. Hovey and George
X. Andrews
The Republican city committee. which
stood almost TO man in favor OF Col
Kendall, had selected Judge b. F. Cleaves
as Chairman. ex Alderman Anthony
Dryer ms secretary, and the following as
a committee, to receive ana count votes {;
James l.. Libby. Lewis Staples, Dennis
Hazeltine. william Donahue, Walter
Stackpols J. byron Campbell Edward
q. Stone. William Lumb, ]. d. Pare.
George W. Carter, John Norton, Fred
Hooper, q. L. Rumery, Winborn A.small.
The caucus uttered no voice against
these officials serving. but there was a
vigorous squabble over an attempt o
add seven Stone representatives to the
com of vots ooun tiers.
The first fight came. over the method
of choosing CITY committee for the en-
suing year. George II. Andrews wanted
the caucus to ballot for committee,
but II. 4. Hamilton said the old way was
TO let a committee of the caucus nominate
a city committee. and he proteste !
against any change from that method.
His protest was replied to by Mr.. Hovey
in "A vigorous speech which one fantion
loudly cheered and the other side hissed.
when vote was taken Mr.. Hamilton s
motion prevailed.
Theu Chairman Cleaves read the list OF
names that the Stone faction wanted
added to the committee In charge of the
ballot. boxes "Big Hem Hamilton raised
his voice TO Its hig hest pitch against
what he termed dishonorable; plot
against the Republican party OF Bidde-
ford 1t had been customary for the city
committee to select two men to preside
ovsr the ballot box of each ward in may
orally caucus. and he saw NJ reason why
the number should be increased. He de.
clared that the leaders of the Citizens
party had come in here, like skunks
in q hen house, TO rob the Republicans
of their rights He declared that no
man who had been associated with the
party which Mayor Stone represents had
any right to- participate in this caucus.
The motion to increase the committee
in charge of the balloting was lost, and
the Kendall men loudly cheered.
Ex-Mayor Charles 5. Hamilton sat the
caucus into an uproar by making u mo-
ton that the committee should count no
ballots cast for Mayor Stone. The max.
ing of this motion was prefaced by a
lengthy speech, in which the tactics of
the Citizens leaders were heartily de-
nounced. He said that MIR. Hovey, the
spokesman Of the intruding element in
the caucus, had no right there, he having