Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-08-12

later here were bdt two candidates
-Milliken of Ballast ald OryIle
Bake of Augusta. Bak1r was a
prom nent lawyer and had been at
torney-generai of the STATE. As
there was no other candidaro in Ken
nebeC, of course he had
about all of the delega es from the
cities and towns OF that county. But
those who understood the situation
knew that there We're certain in
fiuences working in the district
which made il almost certain 'nat
Milliken would win.
Bal.er's friends charged hat Milli-
ken was not the right kind o. mar
to get the full republican vote. Mill
ken's friends retorted that Baker was
not the right kind OF man to set the
votes which Milliken had failed to
get.
On the evening before the cOnven
ton, Elmer p. Spodor1 of Deer Isle
came to me and sai1 that Millihen
had asked him 20 second his nomina-
ton in behalf of the Hancock
county delegation, but that he did
not want to give offense to the Ken
nebec delegates, and that Milliken
would release him if l would second
his nomination. l replied that, as
the county delegation was for Mill
ken, | would be willing to second his
nomination and was glad to have the
opportunity to refer to what WAS
done two years aSo.
When the time come to speak for
the Hancock county delegates, |
said: at is an old saying that
history repeats itself, and that say
ing will be exemplified here to-day.
Two years ago we came here to
convention and presented the name
of a candidate who was personally
satisfactory to all. We stated his
qualifications, and urged his nomina-
ton as candidate who would bring
harmony into our ranks and make
sure the election of a republican
Congressman. By your action you
said: Yes, your candidate is all
right, but we can't take him because
he is from Hancock county So you
turned him down and nominated
Millken.
"Now, if we say we can't take your
candidate, and nominate Milliken in
stead. it is not because we are trying
to get even with you, but because We
have had experience. We have
come to see the practical wisdom of
your action at that time. SO we will
act in this case the same as in a mat
ter of business. If we had a good
horse and a fellow came along and
wanted to swap. we would say L
know nothing about your horse, but
| do know mine. | have tried him
and am going to keep him And we
may say we have tried this Con-
gresham. and he suits us, and we
say keep him l believe that /
voice the sentiment of majority OF
the delegates of this convention. and
an overwhelming majority of the re-
publican voters of this district, when
| say keep him In behalf of the
Hancock county delegation, | second
the nomination of Seth L. AIilliken as
the candidate of this convention.'
Milliken was nominated ana
elected but he died before his term
expired. but his friends remem bered
his promise to Burleigh, and did
what they could to help him. He had
so many friends in all parts of the
district that he was nominated
against very little opposition.
The writing CT this letter brings
to me a feeling of intense sadness,
for Millken. Burleigh and WisWell
were all very near to me. Tue last
time | saw Milliken he thanked me
very heartily for my speech, and my
efforts to help him, and assured me
of his gratitude and good will
[ had given Burleigh very sub
stantial help in his efforts TO secure
the nomination for governor, for
which he was very thankful, and
showed his appreciation in many
ways, but he was much disappointed
that ! was not for him as candl-
date for Congressman | told nm
frankly that | was for Wiswell, and
should do all that | could to secure
his nomination, and he finally adj
mitted that | was right, and con-
tinued to show the kindest feeling
for me as long as he lived.
| admired Wiswell because of his
courage and frankness. We were
members OF the House in 1887, and it
was at that session that the great
fight was made against the Rodick
Water Co: Blaine was against
Rodick, and put all his political in
fiuence into the contest, and at that
time he was such a power in the
State that it seemed as though al
most every member having political
aspirations was anxious to help him.
But | think that Wiswell felt that,
regardless of whether Rodick was
right or wrong, the injection of this
political influence into the case was
all wrong, and that he would not
participate in it, and so he showed
his courage and independence by
openly casting his vote in favor of
the Rodick Company. 1t required
moral courage to do it, but I think
the other members respected him
more than if he had done otherwise
His conduct in this case proved to me
that he was a courageous, frank and
honest man. and l was glad at any
time to do what [ could to help him.