The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-24
IsrzcrAL TO THE PREss.l

Congress.
ESPECIAL TO THE PRRss.l
$sashineton, January ga As soon as
ne vacancy occurred in the seat of the
member of the House from the second
Maine district there was not a little in
terest here as to who should he Mr.. Ding
iey's successor. The immediate announce
ment that 1t would be ex-Attorney Gen
eral Charles K. Little1eid was read with
interest especially by members of the
House from other States who have had
acquaintance with MIR. Littlefeld at the
Republican National con vef tons, espec-
tally at the last convention at st, Louis,
three years ago.
At that convention Mr.. Littlefeld had
q very difficult task to perform. de was
the leader of the Maine delegation, select
ed to present Mr.. Reeds name to the
convention. He arrived at st. Louis In
the midst of the utter decentralization
which resulted from circumstances stu
fresh In tbs public mind, ard set at work
at once to do the best that could be dons
under the circumstances. He had many
difficulties to contend against. IL mad
been part OF the astute politics OF the
powerful and well organized opposition
to demorallze delegations friendly to other
candidates by dangling before them the
vice presidency. Tennessee had been
wheeled into line by the hint that Mr.. HI.
Clay Eyans of that State might be Vice
President The same tactics were tried
in the States of Connecticut and Rhode
Island but the delegates from these States
who were for the New England candidate
took the ground. that New England came
there to present. a candidate pre- 'eminently
worthy of the first place, and not TO pick
up such sundry crumbs of political COM
fort as might drop from the table TO the
political manager who was Tor the time
the absolute master. The vice presidency
was dansled before the Maine delegation
as well as before the Others, and at hrst
thought made some impression. But Dir.
Littlefleld had both the wisdom and pele-
tration TO zee that 1t was merely an at
tempt to play with the Maine delegation
and destroy its influence, When the mat
ter was preached to him ne at once and
very foroibly opposed the idea, and took
the strong and common sense ground
that Maine sho AID do nothing to render
less effective the support when her dele
gates came to render TO distinguished
son of Maine. He knew the glory that
Dhu CODlo W halHc III tAo iosA YUM Ath VI
century by her faithful adherence to the
eminent statesmen who represented her
at Washington. lie was In the midst of
a memorab ole demonstIa ion OF the resist
less might that belonged 10 the Vest. and
could see with his own eyes that the star
of political empire had long since passed
the western border OF New England. The
only political hope OF the far East lay in
the course that Maine had pursued for
twenty five years-the selection Of men
OF high ability and loyal support Of them
when selected.
Looking backward this seems the only
logical ami right ground. But in the
midst OF the great upheayai of the st.
Louis convention it was very different
When man used 10 politics for twenty
five years, and trained in all its man
oeuvres confessed iat he had been swept
from his feet ard carried away. there was
need prominently of intellect, wisdom
aud lofty moral and physical courage In
the man upon whom devolved the leader
ship OF the Maine delegation.
Ii is the opinion OF members OF the
House OF Representatives who were 1850
clated with Mir. Littlefeld at that tins
thai he showed these qualities. Colonel
William Il. Hepburn, of Iowa, was there
rs leader Of the Allison delegation from
his state, and was thrown into almost
constant association with Mir. Littleheld
In the discouraging labors of that con
vention. Colonel Hepburn has known
much of men and their contentious and
conflicts. He was the first staff officer
who reported TO General Phil sheridan,
when that afterwards famous officer at
tanned the rank that carried with IL the
assistance of a staff. He was with Sheri-
dan in his first great battle. Since the
war be has been prominent In politics in
his own state aud has long been MEM
Der of the National House OF representa-
tives He was prominent mem Ter of
the National Republican conventiouns of
1892 and 1896 and in the latter convention
met MIR. Llttleiield. since that time he
has spoken in terms of the warmest
eulogv and admiration of the qualities
which MIR Littleheld showed. The bat
tie of the new England and the Iowa men
was common fight TO keep their dele.
gates from being unseated by the trium-
phant and reckless majority Of the con =
Vention. And like every other losing
tight was a supreme test of the constanoy
and courage of the men who maintained
it, In that contest the leader of the
Maine delegation showed devotion and
courage crediJable TO himself ana his
state.
ROCHESTER, GETS PLACE