Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-28
Some Political History.

certain newspapers about the State
committee farming out the guber-
material office" in advance of the State
conventions. This certainly would be
a just subject of criticism if it had
| been done. 1t is very easy to make as
sertions of that kind; but quite another
thing to substantiate them. Let Us
look at the facts for a moment and see
il they show anything Of the kind.
The last great contest for the guber-
Material nomination was in 1883 when
Mr.. BurleiSh, Mr.. Cleaves and Mr..
Marble were the contestants. In that
contest the members Of the State COM
mittee were divided, a majority OF
them being opposed to the successful
candidate
At the close Of Governor Burleigh's
administrator no one entered the field
in opposition to Mr.. Clcaves. His emf
nent fitness for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation was generally recognized by the
Republican voters of the State, and H.
would be unjust to him. and contrary
to the truth, to assert that his nomi-
nation was in any sense dictated by the
Republican State committee. The
voters were with him, and the m M
bers Of the committee simply acqui-
csced in the popular verdict. Follow
ing the administration of Governor
Cleaves came that of Governor Powers.
Mr.. Powers had seen service us Il mem
Der of Congress, and prior to his nonl-
nation for governor had served for a
rumbcr of terms as a member of TIL
Maine House of Representatives,. &C.
cupying tine speakers chair during his
last term. He was opposed in his
gubernatorial aspirations by John +.
Hill of Augusta. Tho members OF the
State committee were about equally
divided in their support between tn"
two candidates. Mr.. Powers developed
a very strong backing in the eastern
section OF the State, while his legis-
lative acquaintance gave him more or
less strength in nearly all the counties.
Outside of Kennebec county Mr.. Hills
came largely from the counties now
supporting Mr.. Fernald and Col.
Prescott. York WAS practically solid
for him, and he had a very strong fol-
lowing in oxford, Cumberland, and
Androscoggin counties. AS the cam
vass progressed it became evident to
Mr.. Hill that the popular current was
with his opponent, and he felt thai
party interests would best be served
he asked and received no political
pledges, and whatever sense of obi
cation may have resulted from it so
far as the supporters of Mr.. Powers
were concerned was due entirely to the
act itself and the popular recognition
of Mr.. Hills high character ard fitness
for the guberna torial Office. Now as
the term of Governor Hill is drawing
to "A close the party is once more en-
gagged in Il three cornered fight for the
gubernatorial nomination as it was i'm
1855. The candidates are all clean
strong men. and so long as the contest
il fought out fairly within party lines.
Republican interests will he in nowise
jeopardized. The interest engendered
by such contests usually results in
bringing out a bigger vote at the polls.
That there have been fewer such
contests in past years. has been in
nowise due to the state committee but
has been the result of the popular ac-
ceptpncc of three strong candidates
against two of whom no opposition de-
vcloped, ard all OF whom made strong
and able governors. To erdeavor for
temporary purposes at this time. to
convey a contrary impression is to
ignore the facts of history