Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-11
The FIRST Week Of the LssislAtues.

The First Week Of the Lsslslature
In iss three days Of session last weak
the Maine legislature accomplished
about ell that IL practicable for the open
ling week OF the session. Now that sen
tence was written inadvertently, and Il
incorrect. The legislature was In ses
sion only two days, Wednesday and
Thursday; but Tuesday is 10 some re-
spects one OF the most interesting days
Of the legislative calendar, and Seems
almost like an actual part OF the session,
That IL the day when the members
assemble, old friends exchange greet.
ings and new ones are introduced-and
incidentally or otherwise, considerable
political work is done. The lobby oil
the Augusta House IL filed with we'll.
proomed men, conversation and Cigar
smoke. And other rooms Of that hostel.
~ and other places In Augusta are well
supplied with those same concomitanti
of the meeting of the legislature.
In connection with the organization Of
the legislature, the chief interest was IN
the. contest for attorney general, which
was settled by the joint Republican
caucus on Tuesday night. This resulted
in the nomination of Ransford w. Shaw
of Houlton, on the seventh ballot. The
Joint caucus, while not equal In length
to the historic caucus OF 1917, was new.
ertheless fairly we'll drawn out, and II
was half an hour after midnight when
the nomination was finally made.
The other candidates besides Mr.. Shaw
In the order Of their strength were Fred.
erick R. Dyer OF Buckfleld, Raymond
Fellows of Bangor, Fred +. Lawrence OF
Skow began, and Walter A. Cowan OF
Hallowell. Mr.. Dyer had an enthusiastic
body OF supporters, who held to him
from first TO last, and gained some
strength as the balloting proceeded. On
the first ballot, out OF total OF !oS
votes, he had "a, and the number gradu'
ally grew to 90 on the seventh, deciding
ballot. Mr.. Shaw started out with 40,
and when the break came on the lesser
candidates, the larger part of their
strength went to him.
Frank w. Ball Of Dover was nomi.
mated without opposition for another
term as secretary of state, and William
L. Bonney of Bowdoinham was unani-
mously nominated for state treasurer.
The expected contest for commissioners
of agriculture did not materialize, Frank
P. Washburn Of Perry receiving the
nomination by reclamation. The name
of Howard L. Keyser of Greene was not
presented to the caucus, az he had de-
cided to withdraw from the contest.
In the senate and house caucuses,
Hon. Percival P. Baxter Of Portland was
named for president of the senate, and
Hon. Charles P. Barnes of Houlton for
speaker Of the house. There were no
contests except on some OF the minor
positions. Benjamin A. Swasey OF Can
ton, who was folder for the preceding
house, was a candidate for the same job
in this house, but had made no canvass,
and failed of election, being second In
list of three candidates.
Hodgdon G. Buzzsll Of Belfast, who Is
serving his third term, was chosen floor
leader for the Republicans OF the house.
Wednesday forenoon the senate and
house were duly organized In the usual
manner. Officers chosen by the senate
are:
President-Perciyal p. Baxter Of Portland.
Secretary-L. Ernest Thornton of Houlton.
Assistant Secretary-Harry T. HAYES OF vas
salboro.
Messenger-James +. Ashford Of Windsor.
Assistant Messenger-Stephen D. Lord OF Leb.
First rolder-william W. Brown Of Bowdoin.
Second Folder-Philnp T. Carroll Of Lubec
Postmaster-W. NJ. Stewart Of Newport.
Doorkeeper- Mellen Tryon OF Pownal.
Officers OF the house chosen are:
speaker-Charles P. Barnes of Houlton.
Clerk-Clyde r. Chapman Of Belfast.
Assistant Clerk-Roy G. Fish OF Belfast.
Messenger-Patrick Hayes Of Chelsea.
Assistant Messenger-G. A. Smallidge OF Win
Postmaster-Harry L. Rankin Of Sanford.
Mail Carrier-D. 8. Clement of Winthrop.
First Folder-Julian K. Croxford Of Newport.
Second Folder-Francis j. Cayouette OF Au
Doorkeeper-Patrick Fitzgerald of Augusta.
The Democrats of the legislature
named as their candidate for secretary OF
state, Bertrand G.. McIntire of Norway;
treasurer of state, Thomas Doherty OF
Houlton; attorney general, Frank B..
Haskell of Portland; commissioners OF
agriculture, Frank E. Mace of Augusta.
Wednesday afternoon in joint conven
ton the following state officers were
elected:
Secretary of state-Frank W. Ball Of Dover.
Treasurer of State-William L. Bonney OF
Bowdoinham.
Attorney General-Ransford W. Shaw Of Houl.
ton.
Commissioner of Agriculture-Frank P. WASH
burn of Perry.
Members Of Executive Council
Henry Ii. Hastings, Bethel.
Herbert A. Lombard, Bridgton.
Ernest r. Clason, Lisbon.
Willis e. Swift, Augusta.
George A. Gregory, Boothbay Harbor.
George w. Stearns, Millinocket.
Clarence A. Powers, Fort Fairfield.