Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-11

Senators each more than thirty years
in Congressional service. That is what
gives Maine her prestige and her
power.
And, gentlemen, | have no doubt that
that wise course will be continued, and
today am to present to you the name
of gentleman who has distinguished
himself | have the pleasure and the
honor TO present to you the name or
our present representative, the Hon.
Edwin c. Burleigh, and | shall move
his nomination by reclamation as a
candidate for representative from the
Third Congressional District of the
State of Maine, (applause).
There was a time, gentlemen, not
long since, when we began to fear as
we read the bulletins of the twelfth
census, that the prestige. and power
and influence of this grand old district
might be shortened and lessened, and
our numbers broken and our ranks
thinned, when the fact was borne in
upon us that Westward the Star of
Empire takes it's way" But hye and
bye, we learned that the representative
from the Third District was member
tionment, made up by the representa-
tiyes OF the great states OF this country.
New York was there with her able
men: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois with
her chairman, Tennessee, Wisconsin.
Indiana. The great states of the
country We're represented on that COM
mittee: one of the most important COM
mittees ever appointed by the Amerl-
can Congress. And we began to gather
strength. and gather courage. In that
committee for long time there were
two propositions pending, and we re-
member how anxious we We're about
them. We did not know what
might take place. We did not
know whether this convention
would convene on the banks
of this beautiful river, or whether IL
might convene on the shore of the ocean.
We did not know where these historic old
fields would find a place when they
should be absorbed by other districts. SO
we were intensely interested. Mr.. Hop
kins of the committee submitted a bill
providing for the same number Of rep
resentatives as under the eleventh census.
Something must be done. The Burleigh
bill was carried before that committee
providing for an increase which would
secure TO Name the continuance OF ntr
power and her prestige And upon those
questions the committee struggled and
contended until, later, proposition was
made to compromise the matter. A prop
osition was placed before that commit
tee, if ] remember, taking care of every
state represented by the members of that
committee, with the one exception, the
lone exception, of the northern State of
Maine; but it was Sde-tracked by the
vote of the representative of the Third
District of Maine, and he carried before
the Burlesgh bill. 1t was generally
thought that the country was hardly able
to enlarge it's hall. 1t was thought it
would be too large and cumbersome
body. All sorts of things were thought
II was thought that Maine would be cut
out Governor Burleigh fought on. Meet
ings of our delegations encouraged him
Our distinguished United States senator's
said to him: Flight the battle through
We Will stand by you. we will endorse
you, and we will assist YOU" And.
strange to say. later along came into the
meetings of our delegation. the deiega-
tons from Kansas and Nebraska and old
Virginia. By and by the Burleigh bill
swept through the House like cyclone
and men said Who is this Burleigh OF
Maine?" Why, gentlemen. we know who
he is. He was the representative of the
Third District of Maine. Men are known
by what they do. Men are remembered
leigh was bred in good old New England
blood. You may trace his pathway from
his pioneer home meath the shades Of
the primeval forest of AroOstook by the
trees he blaZed as he climbed the rugged
hill! of life until You gave him a seat be-
meath the lofty dome of the Capitol of
the greatest nation on the face of the
earth. (ApplauSe).
Governor Burleigh has made his marks
along the way. You saw him for four
years as Chief Executive of our State.
His record is a part of the history of the
State. The monuments he has builded are
as eternal as the granite walls of the
Capitol upon the shores of The Kennebec
Gentlemen, such man you sent to Con-
gress. You have found him prompt d {
every call. You have found him untiring
in his efforts in behalf Of his constitu-
ents. You have found him, best of all,
an American and a man who believes in
America. You have found him true to
his political opinions and beliefs You
have found him seepless. tireess per-
sistent, successful in securing to you the
benefits of national legislation. | move
that you will nominate him today by the
united voice of this convention. and. gen
tlemen, when the last echo of your loud
acclaim shall have died away in silence, |
you will hear coming from the prosper |
Gus happy homes scattered all over this |
district the loud and cordial response |
Amen. Amen So mote it be Cap
plause).
Mr.. Smith had to make frequent |
pauses to allow the storms of applause |
to subside He spoke slowly and forci- |
Dly, not Single WOrQ DelllS fliiSseu ny |
any of his hearers. In opening, when |
called upon to take the platform, he |
answered that he wished to be in on |
the ground floor. Before he had fin |
ished it was plainly evident that he |
was public speaker of no mean abil- |
ity and his speech was a delight to all |
who heard it. In closing he moved that |
the nomination of Mr.. Burleish be made |
by reclamation. |
The nomination was seconded by rep |
resentatives of the counties as follows: |
The nomination was seconded by Geo. |
Fl. Morse of Pittsfieid, who spoke as fol- |
lows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the |
Convention:-The Hon. Edwin c. Bur |
leigh is no stranger to the citizens of the |
third district of Maine. nor is he 4 |
stranger to the intelligent citizen Of the |
United States. for he is not an untrie'; |
man. As chief magistrate of the good |
old State of Maine his career has been |
marked by ability. sagacity. diligence |
and loyalty, and his congressional ca
reer. since that time, has been charac- |
teriZp1 nv the same uDlIifipa tiDDS Dur