Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-06
GOSSIP ABOUT THE
VACANCY IN COUNCIL

state House 10 ma an instance where
a member of the Executive Council has
resigned as was the recent case of DR..
Charles NJ. Sleeper of South Berwick,
the councillor from the First District
which comprises the counties of York
and Oxford who will the first Of the
coming week succeed Willis T. En-
mons of, Saco as collector of the port
Of Portland. Instances are on record
even in recent years where members
Of the Council have died in office, like
the case of Hon. E. Dudley Freeman
Of Yarmouth, who in 1898 represented
the second district which is composed
of Cumberland county and who went
to his death on the Inflated steamer
Portland, and Hon. James P. Hutchin-
son of Auburn, who was a member of
Gov. Haines' council from the Third
District. composed Of the counties of
Androscoggin, Franklin and Sagada-
hoe, who died in November, 1914 1t
is a singular coincidence that both
Messrs. Freeman and Hutchinson died
within a few weeks sof the assembling
of the regular session Of the Legisla-
ture.
Should special session be called.
successor to DR.. Sleeper as the coun-
cillor from the First District will be
selected. Some doubt exists as to how
the Progressive members, MeSsrs
Lawrence Of Fairfield, Libby of Mer-
rill, Campbell of Cherryfield and Per-
ham of Woodstock, will line up when
it comes to question of voting for a
Councillor Under the apportionment
the county of York names the Coun-
cillor from this district for the years
1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920 The
Democratic margin is so small in the
Legislature that no one can tell what
may happen. Perhaps a Republican
may be selected to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation Of DR. Sleep
er, or rather, there is possibility that
such may be the case.
AS far as is known here no one has
announced his candidacy for Dr.
Sleeper's seat at the table of Governor
Curtis official family, but when it is
definitely decided that a special session
will be held, it is presumed, as is gen.
orally the case, that it will not be nee
essary to call out battalion of the
National Guard to round up a candi-
date. Charles T. Read of Biddeford
the chairman of the Democratic State
committee, has been mentioned IN this
connection, but Mr.. Read seems to
nave an aversion to holding public
once, preferring to serve in the ranks.
Other names suggested as the possible
successor to DR.. Sleeper are those of
Or. Harry A. Weymouth Of Saco. for
York county, James W. Meserve of
bar Mills, one Of the inspectors Of
prisons and jails, Hon. Nathaniel r.
walkers a former mayor Of Biddeford
and a former county attorney of York
county. DR.. John l.. NJ. Willis of Eliot
member of the State Board OF R,,;s-
tration of Medicine, and Hon. Cornelius
Horlgan of Biddeford, a former mavor
OF that city and former member Of
the lower branch of the Legislature.
should 1t so happen that in the mix
up that the Republicans. with the aid
OF the ProSressives, might have n ma :
Jorlty, the names of Hon. Horace
Mitchell of Kittery, a former member
OF both branches OF the Legislature
Hon. Willis T. Emmons of Saco far.
merry clerk OF courts for York county
ana formerly collector of the port of
foftiand' Hon. Frank II. Hargraves Of
west Buxton, a former member Of the
Legislature and a former member Of
the Board Of Prison and Jail Inspect-
ors, and Hon. Edward +. Gowcly of
Berwick. former member of the SEN
ate, nave been suggested as n succes.
sor to DR.. Sleeper