The Portland daily press., 1900-07-30
Something About Con
gressional Nominee.


Mr.. sammy L.Bates has troubles of his
own, but the worst scrape he ever got
into was IN accepting the Craftsmanship
OF the Democratic city committee. To
some men this would not be very much
OF trouble, as some of those who have
OBLIGATED in this capacity have worried
very little over the disorganized condi-
ton of his party, but Mr. Bates is mould
ed of different stuff. He is a Democrat
from the top of his head to the s0Ies of
his feet. He is a worker and is disposed
to make others work who wish to play
in the Democratic backyard. and this is
distressing, for the disciples of Bryan
hereabouts are more fond of making
speeches about Imperialism and free sill
yer than they are of getting down to
solid facts and really doing something.
Saturday Mr.. Bates held three conven-
tions in Reception hall, at the City build
ing. The place for holding these conven-
lions was i'll chosen, as Mr.. Bates himself
had to admit. Had they been called for
Scarboro flats with a free lunch thrown
in, or at Long island, with a free sail
down the harbor, to boot, the attendance
would have been larger, as it was Mr..
Bates was about the whole thing and he
had the weight of the entire party of the
city of Portland upon his shoulders.
The convention of delegates to choose
three delegates at large to the county con
vention was called for half pass two
O'Clock. The hands on the dial of time
moved slowly for Mr.. Bates, who waited
for some of The delegates chosen by the
Democrats of Portland to the county
convention to assemble and attend their
duties. There wasn't what could really
be called a rush of people to this conven-
ton. Half past two o'clock found Mr..
Bates about the only occupant of Recep-
ton hall. Later there drifted in Levi
Greenleaf, Esq, Joseph +. +. Connolly,
L. p. Mcdowan and several others. There
were nine IN all IN the hall at O'Clock,
Including Mr.. Bates and two reporters
Mr.. Bates, after some urging, went
up to the rostrum ana removed his hat.
The other eight men who were present,
did the same thing. and then Mr.. Bates
formally called the convention to order.
He did not attempt to make a speech.
The outlook was too discouraging for
any flights of oratory, but he simply
called upon those present to select a
chairman.
4 nominate Mr.. Bates as chairman, -
said Mr.. Greenleaf.
Il am not delegate, % SAID Mr.. Bates
with a wan smile
Mr.. Joseph Z. +. Connolly was chosen,
but no secretary was selected. as there
We're not enough remaining delegates to
the county convention present to 60
around AMI fill the offices. This was
rather remarkable, as there are usually
a dozen Democrats Tor every office in
the land, as the whole world knows, but
this convention had only one officer.
Mr.. Connolly discharged the duties Of
his position with becoming dignity. A
motion was made that the chairman ap-
point a committee of three to select
names for delegates at large. This was a
hard one for Mr.. Connolly to solve. He
really hadn't much of q choice, because
there were hardly three other delegates
besides himself entitled to serve on such
a committee. He took brace, however,
and appointed NJ. Small, Asa B. Russeu
and Il. p. McGowan as the members of
this committee. The gentlemen men
toned solemnly walked to the front of
the big hall, seated themselves at table
and proceeded to select the three dele
gates at large. They reported after few
minutes of deliberation that they had
chosen Levi Greenleaf, Edgar j. Young
and Joseph e. f. Connolly as the dele
gates at large.
Il am already delegate from Ward
4, y said Mr.. Connolly. 81 feel honored,
but you must select some one else.
Again the committee retired and this
time reported the following delegates at
large: Levi G1eenleaf, George p. Thomas
and Edgar j. Young.
The convention of five delegates then
adjourned
After this there was a lull. The con-
vention to choose three delegates at large
to the district convention was to have
been held at 8 O'Clock. There were very
few of the district delegates in attendance
though one more man drifted in at this
time to perform his duties as a Democrat.
Mr. Bates was advised to go ahead and
call the convention to order and finish
up the job, but he said that some one
would be along presently and there was
no particular hurry. After a long silence,
during which the Impotence of the dele
gates was manifest by the pounding of
feet, and in which one of the delegates
went to sleep, Mr.. Bates, with watch
in his hand, walked sedately up to the
platform again, He saidI THE time
having now arrived for the calling to