Ellsworth American., 1906-12-26

4
period. The feeling is that it will be
sides in the legislature, and lining up of
the delegations of the two great political
parties. Politics is bound to be factor
in the shaping Of legislation.
| The democratic representation is
stronger than at any time since Greenback
| days. Sixty-three OF the 151 members OF
the House and eight of the thirty one
senators are democrats.
The circumstance that practically all
the cities are represented by democrats in
the lower branch carries with it much
weight, and as a result the party in COM
parison with its number will have more
members on the floor who will be able to
talk than it otherwise would, while the
republicans will suffer correspondingly.
A big reduction in the number OF mem-
bers who have had Legislative experience
the cities and democratic counties hereto
fore republican, which usually gave their
representatives and senators two terms
| each, have been cut OF and are represented
| by new men, democrats, who have never
had an opportunity to serve in the legis-
lature because their party was in the
! minority. The men in the House from the
country, largely republicans as in the
| past, are mostly without experience in the
/ legislature, because 1t is the custom in the
/ class country towns to give q representa-
! tive but one term.
1t is generally conceded that the liquor
| question must overshsdow all others at
! this session. The democrats will endeavor
! to gain every possible advantage which
may be likely to give them prestige; they
I have not much to lose and everything to
gain. The democrats will have fixed
policy, resubmission and the repeal OF the
Sturgis law, while as yet the republicans
have none and may not be able to con-
centrate on any.
The initiative and referendum, primary
! elections and taxation will be several of
the important subjects of legislation Of
4 great public moment. The first will be
/ specially in the foreground, both political
parties having endorsed it. But it will
4 quite certainly meet with strenuous oppo-
sition from some directions. Some OF its
supporters are fearful that il a referendum
| bill should be passed, it will be of such a
character as to be of little practical use.
They will watch its progress in the legis-
lature carefully and endeavor to secure the
passage OF a perfect law. Herbert NJ.
Heath, of Augusta, who proposed the
I primary election resolution at the Port
Z land convention, it is said will prepare
bill for the legislature providing for such
Y elections.
The caucuses of the republican members
OF the Senate and house TO nominate eaE-
2 didates for officers of those bodies will
take place Tuesday evening, Jan. l. All
their candidates will be elected. fred j .
Allen, of Sanford, will be president OF tie
Senate, he having no candidate against
him. Kendall NJ. Dunbar, Of Damaris-
Gotta, who has served as secretary for
many years, is not a candidate FOR -
election, as he is running for State
treasurer. His successor will be Frank G..
harrington, of Augusta, now assistant
secretary. There will be two candida.cs
for assistant secretary, S. c. w. Simpson,
OF Portland, postmaster and mail carrier
of the Senate at the last session, and
4 Arthur Clarke, of Nobleboro. Charles II.
Lovejoy, of Sidney, the veteran messenger
of the Senate, will be reelected. He has
had more years of service than any officer
of the legislature.
AT the republican House caucus E. NJ.
Thompson, of Augusta, will receive re-
nomination for clerk; Harry r. Coolidge,
OF Pittsfield, assistant clerk; F. II. Hoar,
of Machias, probably the messenger;
VIM. J. Smith, of Gardiner, first assistant
messenger; VIM. III. Holmes, of Augusta,
second assistant messenger; Harry p.
Hawes, of vassalboro, postmaster; James
A. Chase, of Litchfield; mail carrier.
| The joint caucus of the republican
! legislators will take place Wednesday
evening, Jan. 2. This will be of more in
| terest than the caucus OF Tuesday even
| ing because Of several very warm con-
tests. The two candidates for secretary
of State have been canvassing the State
| for many Il onths. One of them, A. /.
Brown, of Belfast, is deputy secretary of
State, and prominent politician; the
\ other, w. S. Cotton, of Lisbon, was for
merly clerk OF the House. Mr.. Cotton
ran for secretary of State against Byron
| Boyd in 1905 and was defeated
! Hannibal e. Hamlin, of Ellsworth, hav-
| ing received but one term as attorney
| general, will be renominated for a second
term without an opposing candidate.
| Kendall M. Dunbar, of Damariscotta, and
Pascal P. Gilmore, of Bucksport, are the
only candidates for State treasurer.
Each has been active and the politicians
| are giving general attention to the fight.
F. M. Simpson, of Bangor, having declined
! to run again for State assessor, there are
/ three candidates for his place, w. j.
Thompson, of China, lecturer of the State
| grange Senator L. G. Morse, of Liberty.
and E. M. johnson, of Milo.
1t is the talk at the capitol that George
q Weasa will ha Iaodpr NJ tho ~o,,,LI.