Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-13
Democratic Bosses In
Maine Are at Odds.
Conditions Indicated by Gather.
Ing Of Leaders IN Boston.
Letter ArraIgnlng Dr. Jones Of
Watsrvllle Is suppressed.

Boston, Aug. 12.-Col Alexander
Troup of New Haven presided over the
three hour session of the New Eng
land Democratic Progressive League
Yesterday at the Quincy house, during
which the national and state elections
in Vermont and Maine, which are held
in September, were discussed. Plans
for raising money and schemes to
make Democratic success possible in
November were talked over, and it
was voted to hold the summer meet Of
the league at Burlington, VT, Aug. 20,
q and %. instead of Aug. q, % and 20,
d. originally planned at the meeting
in Denver in July.
It was voted to ask Senator Gore Of
Oklahoma to take the stump in Yer
mont the last two weeks in August.
Mr. Bryan and chairman Mack of the
Democratic national committee will be
requested to so arrange Senator Cores
Speaking dates that he may go to the
Green Mountain state.
Vermont occupied the center of the
stage at the meeting. Maine came in
for scant consideration. The men who
run the Maine Democratic machine
haven't much use for the league. They
made that apparent a year ago last
spring, when Mr. Bryan visited that
state under the auspices of the league.
DR.. Jones, Cyrus w. Davis and Mayor
Sheriff Plaisted of Augusta, the recog-
nized leaders Of the state organization
did not enthuse over the league tour.
At Portland, neither Col. TrOup nor
George Fred Williams would attend
the banquet, which was rendered Mr..
Bryan by the Maine Democratic club.
At the Denver convention, DR.. Jones.
one If the Maine delegates, refused to
vote for Bryan and stuck to Gov John
son to the last. The only representa-
tives from Maine at yesterdays meet
ing were John c. Cobb and E. ]. Fos-
set of Portland. Fossett and DIR.
Cockett of Thomaston were the men
who had charge of the Maine Bryan
trip year ago last spring.
DR.. Crockett has since resigned from
membership of the executive commit
tee of the league. He has joined the
Hearst party. J. Edward Sullivan of
Bangor has succeeded DR.. Crockett as
the Maine member of the executive
committee of the league. Mr.. Sullivan
wrote letter to the secretary, DR..
John T. Cahill of Lawrence, in which
he Is said to have criticised DR.. Jones,
the chairman Of the Democratic state
committee, who is also the member of
the national Democratic committee
from Maine.
The letter is said to have been such
severe arraignment of DIR. Jones for
his alleged opposition to Bryan and his
refusal to conduct the Maine campaign
on national issues. that Sec. Cahill
thought 1t not best to make it public.
He handed 1t to Chairman Troup. Col.
Troup read the letter to himself and
then announced that as 1t reflected on
the chairman of the Maine Democratic
state committee he would let the meet
ing decide whether it should be read
or not.
Leave 1t to the judgment of the
CHAIR said half dozen voices. Il
want to remind the gentlemen who
have made that suggestion" remarked
Col, Tro,ip. that if the matter is left
to the chair, he will read it aloud. The
chair never writes letters that he is
not willing to be made public"
Mr.. Fossett jumped up and said that
II tho letter contained any reflections
on the chairman of the Democatic
state committee of Maine he hoped in
the interest of harmony that it would
he suppressed. I'VE want to get to-
gether and lick the Republicans of
Maine" declared Mr.. Fossett. land
WHAT'S more we are a going to do 1t
next month. We have got good fight
ing chance to elect Obadiah Gardner
governor and | think we are going to
dc IT,
Eve been in eight of the 16 counties
of Maine within three weeks and the
trend is all our way among the farm
ers. If there is anything in that Sulll-
van letter that Is going to stir up
trouble In our state. l hope it will not
be made public. Personally, I believe
that we ought to make our campaign
down our way on national issues, but
our state organization has deemed
otherwise. and I'm not going to make
kick here about it. We are all for
Bryan and we want tos elect Gardner
governor. 1t won't do to stir up q
fuss"
Col. Troup announced that if Maine
Democrats felt that the only issue in
their state was the rum question he
for one didn't care to mix into their
affairs. 81 am for Bryan and care
nothing for the rum question in
Maine" said he.
John G.. Cobb of Portland said that
he didn't believe that the league should
butt into Maine affairs if the state
committee didn't want the assistance
OF the league. Col. Troup said that In
all cases the work of the league would
be conducted in harmony with the
state committees and the discussion OF
the Maine situation was dropped. after
the Sullivan letter had been placed on
file without being read.
TIE nArrN0 At MlnN1GAT