The Portland daily press., 1899-09-29
William A. Roberts Of Biddeford
Turned DOwn Hard.
Rollins, of Standish, En-
livens the Meeting.
The Nominee Entirely Silent on
Silver Question.

The Democratic District Convention
met in Reception Hall st 2 O'Clock yestsr
day afternoon. Il was preceded by stir
Il irng contest between the rival delegation
from the city Of Biddeford. MIR. william
A. Roberts of that city, came in at the
head Of contesting delegation. Mr..
Roberts also came In with proxy as a
member OF the district committee. He
also came as attorney to argue the case
for himself and his delegation. This ac-
cumulation Of functions rather staggered
the other members of the district COM
mittee; and they voted that while Mr.
Roberts might act under his proxy as
member of the committee on all other
matters. he would have to draw Off when
his own case came up. Acting under
| this arrangement DIR. Roberts made a
stirring light for his delegation, N. b.
| Walker, of Biddsford, representing the
other side. The committee turned down
Mr.. Roberts's delegation; but here came
In the virtue of Mr. Robsrts's proxy. For
as member OF the district committee
he proceeded to draw mp minority re-
port favoring his delegation, for presenta-
tion to the convention.
The hall was fairly well filed when the
hour for the convention drew near.
Many familiar fRcts, old and young, were
seen in the gathering, war horses and
war colts, rs follows: Levi Greenlsaf,
Darius FL. Ingrahaip, Luther b. Roberts,
Arthur Gould, j. H. Bradley, W. II.
Sargent, Hanno W. Gage, Tobias Burke,
Virgil G. Wilson, OF Portland. K. O.
Moody, of York, Honest Sam" Lord, of
Saco, Silas Skillin, of Falmouth, Roscoe
Harding and Simon Guthrie OF Gorhaia,
Warren H. Vinton, of Gray, etc.
| Chairman Hanno W. Gage called the
convention to order. aud announced this
temporary organization:
Chairman--R. G. Hersom, of Lebanon
| Vice Presidents--Spenoer Rogers. Port
and, Chas. ID. Basty, Windham, VIM.
Il. dresser. Scarboro. Theodore d. Nc
Lellsn. Brunswick, E. W. Staples, Bid :
deford, Thos. J. Goodwin. South Ber-
wisk. John Meserye, Buxton, Traitor
Hatch, Wells.
Secretaries-Lewis W. Moulton, Stand
ish, Frank G. Bradbury, Limington.
| Mr.. Hersom, In taxi ng the chair, said
that their opponents In their convention
| Of the forenoon, had nominated a
"prayerfui man" for Congress. He hoped
they would follow this example and do
likewise tApplause as this reference to
PEARSON McKinnsy"). Mr.. Hsrsom
then proceeded to charge to the Republi-
cans deficit in the national treasury,
caused, he declared, by the inferiority OF
the Dingley bill to the Wilson bill as
revenue measure. He called the pres
emit administration the "Biily NOLAN
ma" administration, and said 1t had
fought the war with Spain on borrowed
money. He then proceeded to give many
statistics, which Of course added to the
excitement Of the audience SO much that
one or two delegates dropped into sium-
| Der.
| He considered the war in the Philip
pines "the greatest criminal affair ever
known In civilization" If political am
(Applausej Care and consideration with
those people would have prevented hostil-
tiles. If the Filipinos are savages 1t Is
worse than savageito slay them; and IL
they are not savagss we have no busi-
ness there (applause). The chairman
then proceeded to attack the censorship
at Manila, reading the now famous letter
of Correspondent Robert Collins, of the
Associated Press. ''That row in Manila
is yours" said the chairman, ssand no
general has right to keep you from a
tull knowledge of it," (Applause)
| The committee on credentials reported
1877 delegates out OF a possible 22e, 1O6
being from Cumberland and 81 from
York.
Here began the dramatic period of the
convention. William A. Roberts, of Bid
deford, stepped forward to make his mi
nority report.
| At once Hanno W. Gage arose and de-
clared that Mr.. Roberts was not a dele
gate, and had no right to appear.
81 appear" declared MIR. Roberts dra-
matically, shaking his forehnger in MIR.
Cages face, ''by right of proxy as q
member of the District committee.
Mr.. Gage then went on to declare the
circumstances of the hearing before the
district committee. and TO tell how he
had challenged the right or MIR. Roberts
to sit on his own case. He replied, :"
said Mr.. Gage. THAT he wasn't very del
ioate about it and would Sit"
There began to be much confusion, In
the midst Of which John Killian, OF Vest