Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-19
But Those Opposed to Instruction Claim They Have
A Majority Of the Votes. Contests Over Se|eC.
ton Of De|egateS.The Democratic Platform
Will Declare for Local Option.
WORKING WILSON BOOM.

WORKING WILSON BOOM.
A strenuous effort is being made on
the eve of the State Democratic con-
vention to have the delegates to the
National convention at Baltimore in
structed for Wilson, Notwithstanding
that Chairman John 5. F. H. Wilson
of the Democratic State committee is
unqualified!y opposed to the instrue-
ton of delegates to the National con
vention for any Presidential candidate
The delegates to the state eonven-
ton are being polled by an astute po-
litieal worker from New Jersey Robert
S. Hedspeth of Jersey City, who is a
member of the Democratic National and
State committees from New Jersey
and ne declares that he finds tie rank
and file of the delegates ot large eX-
tent favorable for Wilson while on the
other hand, a number Of the leaders
feel that 10 instruct the delegates
would establish a bad precedent.
Several Maine towns have instruct
ed their delegates for Wilson and these
delegates under Mr. Hedspeth's diree-
tor are moving about among their
fellow delegates. trying to make vii
SpIA converts anu III SBilit eases HAt-tt
ing with success. Among the towns
that have instructed for Wilson are
Fairfield with seven delegates. Ram
ford with 10 delegates, Miliinocket
with four delegates and East Mill
nocket with two delegates. In Skowhe-
gan. a Presidential primary MAS he'd
at which 81 votes were cast for Will
son. rs for Harmon and two fer Clark.
The delegates 10 the State convention
were not instructed but it is under
stood that the entire nine are for Vii
son.
Senator Gardner is the only one o.
the Maine Democrats in Congress that
is openly and at all times for Wilson
but 1t is understood that one and pos
sibly two others would climb on the
Wilson hand wagon if il became evil
dent that an iron clad resolution to
instruct would pass the convention.
Whether the Wilson movement Will get
beyond the hands OF those who are
steering the convention and resolu-
tons OF instruction viii be passed re-
mains to be seen. If vote could have
beef taken about 10 O'Clock, Monday
night. ii might have been done, but
more conservative Counsels are quite
likely to prevail in the morning.
The platform makers are at work
while the delegates are moving about
in the hotel lobby and a few fairly au-
thentic reports are being given out IN
regard to it. 1t will be Il brief plat
form and the two leading planks
are the ones declaring for local option
and for i good roads bond issue, at
though some of the members of the
committee are urging the throwing
aside of the Governors pet scheme Of
a bond issue for roads. That the Plais-
ted administration viii be endorsed
gees without saving and some refer
enee viii probably be made to the leg
islative program for the special SEES
sion.
The matter of delegates to the Ma
tional convention occupied mnch OF
the discussion of the evening. both in
the committee room and the lobby.
District delegations held several meet
ings to talk over the matter during
the evening and it is understood that
a final decision has been reached ny
the committee to have the delegates
| chosen by districts, three to each dis
/ trict. instead of four at large and TWO
| from each district, as formerly. From
| the list district the names of DIT.
| Charles w. Sleeper of South Ber-
| wick, DIR. H. A. Weymouth of Saee
and stephen c. Perry of Portland are
mentioned. while there is quite a
lively scrap on for alternates, the
| names of Richard f. Harvey of Port
land, Warren B. Chute of Naples and
Hon. Nathan Clifford of Cape Eliza
beth being mentioned.
The candidates from the 2nd dis
trict for delegates, to whom there is
not likely to be any opposition, are
| Congressman Daniel ] McGillieuddy
| ard \ S. Kimball of Norway, mem
/ Der of the Governors Council. Knox
/ county has its usual scrap on and the
/ leaders are present in battle array.
/ The rival candidates are Philip How
| ard of Rockland and Hon. job ii.
| Montgomery of Camden.
| Governor Plaisted and William r.
/ Pattangall are likely to be sent from
the Sd district without any opposition
| and Congressman Gould also, If he
| cares to go. 1t Is the 4th district that
| the liveliest fight is on. Senator Null
| len would like to go but there are so
| many other candidates that he does
| not care to enter into a fractional fight
| Among the candidates for delegates
| are Col. Frederick H. Strickland OF
| Bangor Edward Murray of Bangor
| Patrick Fl. Dunn of Brewer and Percy
| Cakes of Newport. The name OF
| Frank A Peabody of Houlton is also
| being mentioned as a compromise cam
| didate.
| The crowd at the Augusta House
! Monday night, was big one and en-