The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-23
THE POT BOILS
And Some Ancient TQasasswlss axe Bee
ing UneaF9hed.


The Democratic county convention is
to be held on July 8lst at City hall but
the Democrats are not yet sure of just
what is to be accomplished there. The
movement in the Democratic party to en-
dorse Rev. Samuel +. Pearson for sheriff
seems to be on the increase and although
the better politicians in the party are
very anxious to prevent Mr.. Pearson from
receiving the endorsement Of the con-
vention it looks to some of them as
though this is just what would be done.
A delegation of prominent Democrats
went to George L. SWEET one day last
week and asked him to allow the use of
his name for the Democratic nomination
for sheriff. Mr.. SWEET positively declined.
Tt was thought that being somewhat un-
der obligations to his party he might be
forced into the fight but up to this time
all the pressure which has been. brought
to bear upon him has been without effect.
A. @ Chute of Naples has been men
toned but it is not felt by the Portland
Democrats that he can control all of his
party vote. They argue that if the
Democrats put mp a candidate who can
pull out the entire Democratic vote, Mr..
Pearson viii get enough from the Repub-
lican and prohibitionists to give the
Democratic candidate the election. There
is little doubt but that q lively time win
be experienced at the convention for the
Democrats as usual are spelling for a
fight in their own ranks and it will sure
Iy develop at this gathering.
The feeling in the Democratic party re-
garding the old SWEET Somers fight has
not yet been forgotten. 1t will be re-
memebred that Robert f. Somers AM
George i. SWEET were candidates for the
Democratic nomination for sheriff in
1892. Then there seemed TO be good
chance of electing a Democratic official.
For the first time IN many years Sheriff
Cram had been rigidly enforcing the
prohibit0ry law and the Demo Gratis
thought that with the dissatisfaction
among the liquor dealers and their
/ friends they could swing the city. Both
Mr.. Somers and Mr.. SWEET wanted a
chance to try for this position. They de-
/ veI0p9d q very pretty fight in which Mr..
SWEET won out. He came within very
few votes of defeating Sheriff Cram and
it IS claimed to this day that it was the
votes Of Mr.. Somers's friends which
spoiled the chances of Democratic sue
cess at that time. Now when the Demo
/ Gratis seem to feel that they have some-
thing like a fair fighting chance this old
| fight is cropping out once more and it has
been suggested that that is the reason
why Mr. SWEET does not like to enter the
| contests again George Holman, the ex-
shipping commissioner, who is very
strong man politically, has been suggest
q but even his friends say that IL he Is
nominated should he consent TO have
his name presented to the convention, he
would be knitted by the friends OF MIR.
SWett VIII O claim that Mr.. TOlman did
not give him all the support he was en-
titled to IN the fight of 1892. This IS in
dignantly denied by Mr.. Holman S friends
" no say that the ex-shipping commits
sioner labored night and day to elect Mr..
SWEET when he was nominated. But the
Ratchet has not been buried so deep that
it may not be dug up again in season for
use at the approaching Democratic con-
vention here in Portland.
The district convention Of the Demo-
cratic party occurs the same day as the
county convention but is to he held at
Alfred. Hon. nj. j.. Frank has been
urged to allow the use OF his name once
more for representative to Congress. lie
is felt by the Democrats to be the strong
est man they could put up to contest the
place against Mr.. Allen, the Republican
incumbent. But Mr.. Frank says that he
has been set up twice to he knocked down
in contests in this State and he feels as
though he has done his sh are Of the work
for the party and that it is time for an
other man to take an innings. Mr..
Frank has run both for Congress and for
/ governor when there wasn't ghost of q
chance of his being elected but he fought
q we'll = IL was n0czf hin for man TO
fight under the circumstances and he
thinks that he has got enough for awhile.
General John J. Lynch of Portland is
mentioned as the Democratic nominee
for this place and viii be undoubtedly
the candidate who viii be selected.