Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-20
SEEN At HOME.
CONTINUED from page ID

some one touched my shoulder and
spoke my name.
The speaker was Mr.. Cobb. We
chatted pleasantly for a few moments.
during which time he learned that
was a representative of the Journal.
Previous to then he knew no more
about my business than / know this
minute of what is taking place in Port
Arthur.
My next opportunity to study the
man was at Bangor, last June, during
the convention week. He was the
same cool, collected transformations
man was at Bangor, last June, during
the convention week. He was the
same cool, collected unostentatious
man as from the first. Visit his head
quarters at the Bangor House and, I'M
less you knew him. Mr.. Cobb was the
last person in the room you would PICK
out as the prospective candidate LOT
Governor. He was not excited, nelth-
er was he cold-he was just natural.
Kind and courteous to all, he impressed
you as being a humane man, iiidii
without affectation.
After the convention I went down to
ROckland with him on the steamer feh-
Obscot, which carried the Knox couh-
~ delegation home There was seen
another side of the man. Most OF you
know how the majority of men act uh-
der such circumstances. There hau
been a fight which, it is safe to say,
had never been equalled in the history
Of the Republican party in Maine, and
he was the victor. He had triumphed
over his opponents by good big ma
iority: had won on the first ballot.
which 1t had been the contention of
the opposition was entirely out of the
question Under the same conditions
the average man would have been Ju-
bilant and have Dragged and talked
about the great victory from the time
the vote was declared until he retired
for the night and then have kept it up
for days, and. in a sense, he would nave
been justified.
Mr.. Cobb did nothing of the sort. He
was pleased with the result and said
So His admirers and hackers were
glad and they made merry, and their
doing so pleased Mr. Cobb. When the
boat left Bangor he retired to his State
room. not a large roomy one, but a
small modest place on the port side OF
the steamer. where he received MS
friends accepted their congratulations
and assured them of his sincere appre-
citation of what they and the Republic
can party of the State has done for
him. But no unkind word did he ut
ter of the candidates who were OPP
posed to him or of those who supported
them. This is what he said on that
point:
Yves. it has been n great canvass
and we've all done our best to win. /
am the fortunate and honOred one, for
1t is an honor to be nominated by the
Republicans of Maine. but had either
Mr.. Prescott or Mr.. Fernald won this
State would have been assured of
good Governor and I should have been
proud to have given them by heartiest
support"
That was his way. No Dragging. no
growing. just simply thankful for what
the members of his party had done for
him Making no claims of superiority
over his opponents. he frankly said
that they We're good men. and true. and
men in whose hands the affairs of the
State would have been safe. Such n
man. certainly. ought to make just the
best kind of Governor for Maine.
Someone. just who slips from mind. in
speaking of the next Governor. remarked
that he wasn't Democratic man With
him 1 must disagree; any man would dis
agree with the statement who could have
sepn the nimnee as I saw him on
" dnesday, of this week. for that was
the day I saw him here. A more pro-
pitious time for seeing the man In his true
character could not have been chosen. 1t
was the day of the big 'Old Home Week
and centennial parade here. the day when
Rockland folk gave up the cares of bust
ness and enjoyed themselves. Mr.. Cobb
did as his neighbors did during the fore
noon. for he was obliged to leave the
city at noon.
Honestly I am convinced. after seeing
the man that day that up to the time
arrived at his coZy home he had not had a
thought of politics during the forenoon. 1t
Is from the manner in which he appeared
before knowing that I was anywhere
around. which brings this conviction Ia
mind. At the time the parade was just
passing Mr.. Cobb's home. Both he and
Mrs. Cobb stood upon the sidewalk watch
ing and applauding the parade. Both
hands were thrust into his trousers peck
cts. a most Democratic way of disposine
of them. you surely will say. He applaud
ed the fancy decorated rigs laughed
heartily at the hOrribles and thoroughly
enjoyed the whole thing. Perhaps it was
. wrong to stand back in the crowd ant
watch the man I was about to interview
. to give II its polite newspaper name. al
though talk with" would be much more
correct. In defence let me call your at
ton that it was more for the purpose o.
studying the man than interview him tina
the trip to Rockland was made.
Did l say that he stood with both hands
thrust into his pockets? Well now. CONF
to think of it, such is scarcely a truth
full statement. Let me modify 1t and sa.
that he endeavored to stand that way a
he appeared to be more comfortable. H
couldn't because of the fact that his RICH
hand was kept constantly busy hftin,
his hat to the ladies in the parade VIII
recognized him and to return the saluta
tions of the men who knew him. In TIL
few moments that / was the unobserve
observer the conclusion came into m
mind that he knew every one in Rockland