The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-15
Mr.. Plaisted Wins in County Com
missioner Contest.
Mr.. Whitehouse Nomi-
mated BY Acclamation.
Yesterdays Convention Was
Large and Harmonious.

The Republicans OF Cumberland county
met at City hall yesterday forenoon, to
nominate candidates Tor the September
election. The gathering was q large and
representative one of the Republicans of
the county and the convention was one
Of the best that Cumberland has ever
had.
Chairman Isaac l.. Elder OF the county
committee, called the convention to order
at twenty minutes past ten O'Clock, AMI
read the call. He then announced that
Scott Wilson, Esq, Of Deering, had been
chosen as the president of the convention,
and William II. Browson and A: Il. i.
Cummings of Portland as the secretaries.
President Wilson was introduced and
spoke as follows:
MR.. WILSON'S SPEECH.
Gentlemen of the Conventional is
with the deepest sense of appreciation
that l accept the distinguished honor
which you have seen fit to confer upon
me In inviting me to preside over your
deliberations on this occasion. While
am not insensible to the responsibilities
attendant upon the honor, l assure you
that esteem 1t high mark of confidence,
as well as a very great privilege, to be
called upon to preside over an assembiage
made up of representative Republicans OF
Cumberland County.
We have met to place in nomination
the candidates of our party for county
officials In the apr oaching election.
Whatever may be the result of your
choice as representatives of the Republi-
cans of this county, Of this much we
may rest assured, that the candidates
selected by you will be entitled to re
ceive, and will receive, the loyal and
united support of our party at the polls;
and this much more may be safely pre-
dicted, without bringing dishonor upon
the prophet, even in his own country,
that to your candidates will be entrusted
the management OF our county affairs
during the next two years.
We do not find ourselves, therefore, IN
the irresponsible position of members OF
Democratic conventions in this state. 1t
makes little difference what sort of can
didates they place before the people, as 1t
is well known at the outset that their
nominees will never be called upon to
display their capacity for the performance
of official duties. Fitness and conspicu-
for Democratic candidates in Maine. The
great problem with Democratic conven-
lions in our state is, will he acceptY'
And when Democrats enough have been
found, or if Democrats are scarce, third
party candidates can be used to supply
Vacancies, to ill the spaces left for them
on the Australian ballot, Democratic
delegates are at once relieved from all
further responsibilities. AS to whether
their candidates could perform the
official duties incumbent upon them, if
elected, the voters of this state have
tken pretty good care that they need have
no further concern. As general rule
the people have found that experimenting
with the Democratic mule is not always
attended with unqualified success: He
always presents the wrong end OF his
anatomy to the front, and any attempt to
do business with him may bring Wis
dom but not happiness.
Our duties Include something more
than the selection of names to be print
ed upon the official ballot. 1t Is for us
to select competent and trustworthy
men to manage for two years the affairs
of the wealthiest and most populous
county in the state, and the high stand
ard of the Republican party as to illness,
ability and integrity in public officials
must be maintained. We may not be
of one mind in all questions. There may
be candidates on which you will not all
agree. There may be offices as to the
conduct of which you may not be of one
accord. But this much we must not
forget: that wherever there Is weakn ess,
the people have come to look to the Re
publican party to strengthen; wherever
there is inefficlency, they rely on US to
supply the lack; wherever there is need
of reform, we must not hesitate to supply
corrective measures; and wherever cour-
age, faithfulness integrity and wisdom
in public officials are required, the people
are looking to the Republican party to
meet the demand. And 1t cannot afford
to fail The record of the past forty
years Is too glorious to mar with failures
or unfaithfulness to the great principles
on which our party was founded.
The example set us by our first great
leader, the patient and inspired Lincoln
who shares with Washington the rever'
enee and respect OF the whole American
people, is a source Of inspiration to all Of
us; that martyr to the great cause, which
called our party into being, who, to Dor
row his own Language, gave TO that causS
1.-THE last full measure OF devotion,
offered up that noble life at his country
4 altar, in order that this nation under
God might have a new birth OF freedom
and that government of the people, by
i the people, and for the people might not
perish from the EARTH" Such was th'