The Republican journal., 1914-04-02
Democratic State Convention.
Ex-Mayor Hanson in the Lime-light. He
Bows to the Bosses to Escape Political
no,Sh

Ex-Mayor Hanson in the Lime.light. He
Bows to the Bosses to Escape Political
Death.
The proceedings at Portland opened with
session of the Democratic State committee In
the Maine room at the Falmouth early in the
evening that lasted well into the small hours.
DR.. G. C. Kilgore and Hon. John r. Dunton ap-
peared before the committee and protested
against allowing ex-Mayor Hanson to have
seat in the convention, on the ground that he.
having worked and voted with the Republic
cans, could no longer consider himself
Democrat and had no right to seat in
the convention as a delegate. Hanson
also appeared before the committee and ad-
mitted that he had worked for Mr.. Peters and
voted for him. but claimed that this was the
only time he had ever voted the Republica.
ticket. He declared that, outside of this CAM
paign he had always been Democrat and
would continue to be one. When asked If ne
would oppose and vote against Mr.. Pattangall
if the Waterville man should again be nomi-
mated for congress, he replied emphatically
that he should.
Hon. W. r. Pattangall, slated as chairman of
the convention, said that night that if Hanson
was seated by the State committee he would
refuse to preside.
When the convention was called to order
Thursday morning the State committee, as the
committee on credentials, reported as follows:
Your committee has heard a protest from
the city of Belfast, and after due considera-
ton has decided to seat the delegation with
the exception of Edgar F. Hanson. In Justifl-
cation of this action your committee has been
influenced by the past political attitude OF Mr.;
Hanson while claiming to be Democrat, and
by his declared intention to use his influence
to defeat regularly nominated Democratic
candidates in the future if he feels SO inclined
for personal or other reasons. Democratic
success must come from loyal and united sup
port OF our party candidates, and no man VINO
refuses to support the Democratic ticket
should be entitled to seat in this convention"
The convention broke into yell when this
report was read, plainly indicating that it
understood the situation and had made up its
mind what to do. Hanson, who was seated with
the Waldo delegation, tried to address the
chair, but the uproar continued and it was
sometime before the chairman succeeded in
securing silence and explained that under
the 8CClOn TAKEN ny Iuo CoumlttSo NAh. AAouooA
had no standing in the convention and that he
could speak only by unanimous consent, which
he hoped would be given John R. Dunton of
Belfast moved that this consent be granted,
and the chairman put the motion. A weak
chorus of yeas responded.
"Does anyone object?"
A moment of dead silence, the first since the
hcd boa
"You haye the floor" ruled the chairman.
Pandemonium again broke loose, but this
time taking the shape of demand that Mr..
Hanson take the platform.
With face white as chalk, but his head proud
ly erect and deep set blue eyes flashing de-
fiance, Mr. Hanson climbed to place beside
the speakers stand opposite the chairman and
began an address defiant in tone in which he
scored the Belfast men who had opposed him
and attempted to unseat him, claimed that he
had been loyal Democrat for 40 years and
had but once opposed his party and voted
against it. His closing words should be borne
in mind in view of what followed a few min
utes later:
"You may place me on the altar as sacri-
flee and bow to my fate one who goes to
his political death even as the martyrs OF old
went to theirs. / have always been Demo-
crat and always will be so far as it's principles
are concerned. But will never bow my neck
to the yoke of any unfit man nor will follow
boss like dog in collar. In years to come it
will be said of me that was the man who led the
fight of the party against boss rule and when
die want it writer my tombstone that am
the man they couldn't buy and couldn't boss
and who went down because he wouldn't obey
boss rule"
Hon. John R. Dunton of Belfast then took
the platform to reply to Hanson and gave his
version of political history in Belfast He ar
gued that the whole question before the con-
vention was simply whether Mr.. Hanson was
Democrat. He gave Mr.. Hanson the credit
of electing John A. Peters, Republican. to
Congress and did not question hi; right to do
this, but insisted that he should not now, after
having taken such position, be considered a
Democrat until he had shown by some act that
he had returned to the party. He explained
that Mr.. Hanson, at the first opportunity after
the congressional campaign, had again opposed
his party and had attempted to bring about its
defeat in the city election More than that,
after he was defeated he announced through
his paper that he was done with the Demo-
cratic party and began to organize the Wood
row Wilson Independent league.
/ The convention was now calling for the
question Peter Charles Keegan then came
to the front of the platform and argued briefly
that as the Belfast delegation had been regu-
| larly elected in a legal Democratic caucus il
should be allowed to take part in the conven.
ton The Belfast delegation had. however
been seated, with the exception of Hanson
against whom the committee on credentials
had made q unanimous report. Hanson ther
explained that by the call for the caucus in his
city Republicans who were in sympathy will
Democratic principles had been invited to par.
ticipate and if such men were welcome at thu
caucus he certainly had a right to be there
Whatever effect this "explanation" may have
had on the convention it will not be accepted
at home.
Demands for the question became more ant
more insistent and it was finally arranged thai
the vote should be taken by counties. While
the poll of the counties was not completed
Waldo county getting 10 farther than Brooks
it is said that all but two counties were
practically unanimous against Hanson, and thai
Waldo county was opposed to him bymore thar
two to one The convention at this time was il
great confusion. The chairman Of the Portland