The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-03-11
Colonel Parkhurst Visits Skowhegan


Quite a company of representative
Skowhegan citizens assembled at the
Selectmen's room Thursday evening of
last week to meet Col. Frederick H.
Parkhurst of Bangor Mr.. Parkhurst's
visit here was of more than social
significance. 1t was in the interests
Of his candidacy for gubernatorial
nomination on the Republican ticket
at the June primaries, and he was
frank in stating the particular reason
for his errand Mr.. Parkhurst as
sumes that he is following a perfect
" natural and laudable ambition and
has no apologies TO offer. II want
the job says Mr.. Parkhurst Il
am out among those who pose as be-
ing pushed forward by their friends.
Quite on the contrary I am doing the
pushing in this campaign, altho my
friends are rendering very loyal and
acceptable assistance
Mr.. Parkhurst has very little to say
about his fitness for the office. being
content, as he says, to let his record
speak for or against him, on that pro-
position. He is however, always
ready to discuss his availability as a
candidate and is bristling with data
and arguments on this point. He
calls attention to the fact that he was
second in the contest for this same
nomination two years ago. and in
this connection mentions that for very
many years the defeated candidate
in one gubernatorial contest has in
yariably been accorded nomination
two or four years thereafter. He
makes no claim that this has become
the law of the land. but submits the
fact as being a precedent of interest
ing value.
Mr. Parkhurst calls attention to the
fact that he Is a resident of the fourth
Congressional district, and that
this is one Of the two districts which
make up the Eastern part Of the state.
He cites with a good deal of salts
faction the fact that in comparing
the primary vote in all of the contests
since the primary law was established,
the two Eastern districts have cast
a larger proportion than the two
Western. This, according to his To-
gle, is a bearing on his own ayaia-
bilitv He contends that a candidate
coming from a section which has cast
50 per cent of the primary votes in
past contests has behind him win
ming power other things being equal.
in excess of a candidate from that
half of the state which has cast but Al
per cent of the primary votes. Mr..
Parkhurst likes to consider the facts
Just cited in connection with the vote
of the third Congressional district
in the last primary contest. The
third district is the largest district
in the State and was carried by Mr..
Parkhurst by 81 votes.
Mr.. Parkhurst also takes pride in
the activity OF his supporters In the
city of Portland He relates with
pleasure the organization of Park
hurst for Governor League On its
executive committee ii seems are the
following distinguished citizens: Ex-
Mayor Chapman; Ex-Mayor Strout;
ExMayor Randall. Herbert Payson;
Albert p. Gardiner former Progress
siye candidate for Governor; Col.
Tom Anderson: It. Fl. Mcdonald. John
Proteous of Proteous, Mitchell and
Drawn Judge John Howard Hill,
Frank L. Ridlon. Major Frank B.
WEIGH, City Clerk OF Portland and
other prominent Portland business
men. 1t is reported to Mr.. Park
hurst that between one and two thou
sand members have enrolled and
that similar clubs are being organized
in Westbrook and South Portland.
Mr.. Parkhurst had an enjoyable
time with those who had assembled to
meet him and the following morning
put in a few hours in visiting some
citizens who were unable to be at the
assemblage the previous evening