The Portland Daily Press

EATING CROW.

The Democrats Make an Enormous Meal on the Bird,

ALL BUT TWO SENATORS GIVEN TO THE GREENBACKERS.

The Democratic County Convention met at headquarters at 10:30 o'clock yesterday morning and was called to order by A. F. Moulton Esq., chairman of the county committee. The hall was filled with spectators as well as delegates.

Mr. Moulton read the published call, and then said it devolved upon the meeting to nominate candidates imbued with the grand principles of the good old Democratic party, those of economy and honesty. He eulogized in the most glowing terms those veteran Democrats—Hancock and Plaisted—true types of Democracy, and said the Convention means to send Gen. Anderson to Congress. Strange to say the name of that popular candidate was received with but little applause. He begged the convention to give them a good county ticket, men entitled to their support, and they would all go to work and elect them, and not talk.

Mr. Moulton then announced Capt. J. T. Turner, of Bridgton, for temporary chairman of the convention, with Charles Burleigh and George B. Emery of Gorham, for secretaries.

Mr. Payson of Portland moved that the temporary organization be made permanent, but the chairman reminded him that he was too much in a hurry as the committee on credentials had not yet reported, and it was not known who had a right to vote.

It was moved that the county committee be made a committee on credentials, which was carried, and Mr. Anderson, of Portland, reported that of the full number of 137 delegates, 135 were present.

Mr. Pierce, of Portland, moved a committee of five to nominate a county committee and he was quickly informed that he was out of order until the organization of the convention was made permanent. This little lapse was quickly supplied on motion of Mr. Payson, who urged his former motions to that effect, and then ensued quite an excitement. It appeared that the county committee had decided to urge the enlarging of the committee from eleven to twenty, so that each representative district in the county could be represented and thus, as they claimed, the organization be made more effective. Each representative district was to nominate their own member of the committee and the above arrangement was reported by Mr. Andrews for the committee, with the further understanding that the committee was to serve two years.

Then Mr. Pierce of Portland said one district understood this arrangement had been made by unanimous vote of this committee, and he thought it a very undemocratic proceeding. Mr. Moulton of Scarboro said the old committee was large enough in point of numbers perhaps for some purposes, but not large enough to keep in strict communication with all parts of this county. If increased to 20, such a committee would nominate an executive committee which would carry out Mr. Pierce's idea.

Mr. Pierce said by the suggestion of an executive committee to be selected from the county committee the other side virtually gave away their whole case. If they increase the number of the committee the cry of ring rule will be raised from those members not appointed on the executive committee. They will say favoritism kept them off. (We always supposed everything the Democratic leaders did the others thought was right.) He believed in the town committee doing their own work instead of trusting to an unwieldy county committee. He also wanted the convention to understand that a new apportionment of districts would be made by the next legislature and that the committee should be appointed so as to keep the full Democratic strength unimpaired.

A delegate said he thought the committee knew their business and ought to be supported, especially if they could carry the county, and he believed in carrying out their suggestions.

Mr. Andrews, of Portland, said all they wanted was to get a perfect organization, and that the town committee work would not be interfered with.

The question was then put and the committee's motion was carried. It was divided as Mr. Pierce had moved, a committee of five to select a town committee, so that his motion had to be reconsidered to allow the districts to choose their representative members on the committee. The following is the new county committee:

Baldwin—G. H. Norton

Bridgton—Capt. J. T. Turner

Brunswick—W. R. Field.

Cape Elizabeth—Geo. Fickett.

Harrison—Alonzo Moulton.

Deering—Solomon Stuart

Cumberland—H. R. Mountfort.

Pownal—G. A. Sleeper

Gorham—Dan'l F. Watson.

Westbrook—A. S. Gore.

Yarmouth—Capt. R. Harding

Windham—E. H. Mayo.

Scarboro—A. F. Moulton.

Gray—J. Whiting

Raymond—G. P. Davis

Portland—Chas. McCarthy, G. E. Bird. B. F. Andrews. E. S. Redlon, T. F. Donahue.

Col. Lyman moved that the Convention divide into four Senatorial districts and then report on candidates for Senators.

Mr. E. L. Poor, of Sebago, said the Greenback party was holding a Convention, and that, as a union was to be effected, the best way to get at results was through a committee of conference. If, said he, we should nominate for Senators we couldn't get but two, and if we should claim a certain two, then the Greenbackers might want those very two. So we had better see what we can have. He made a motion for a committee of conference of three. Another member requested it be increased to five. The chairman requested them to go easy, as he couldn't attend to more than one thing at a time. Mr. Poor accepted the amendment, and the chairman named E. L. Poor of Sebago, J. M. Adams of Portland, Samuel Rolfe, Portland, Jacob Farr, Harpswell, and T. H. Haskell, Cape Elizabeth.

Then a member objected to Mr. Poor on the committee, but his motion was not carried.

Then it was announced that Adams and Rolfe were not present. Mr. G. E. Bird was named, but declined. Mr. C. E. Morrill was named, but was absent. Finally the committee stood E. L. Poor, Sebago, James M. Bates, Yarmouth, C. H. Fling, Portland, Jacob Farr, Harpswell, and Thomas H. Haskell, Cape Elizabeth.

A delegate moved that the committee report as soon as possible.

Mr. Poor said he supposed they'd have sense enough to do that.

Mr. Sleeper of Freeport moved a committee of five on resolutions. Lewis Pierce and Charles McCarthy, Portland, George B. Emery, Gorham, Charles Littlefield, Bridgton, and C. S. Snow, Pownal, were appointed.

Convention adjourned to 2 p. m.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The afternoon session was called to order at 2 o'clock.

On motion of Mr. Andrews it was voted that all vacancies occurring in the County Committee should be filled by the town committees where the vacancies occurred.

Mr. Poor, of the conference committee, reported that the committee had a long session with a like committee appointed by the Greenbackers. The result was that the Greenback committee reported themselves in this condition:—That the Greenback convention stood 58 in favor of union with the Democrats to 55 opposed, a majority of only three in favor. [A deep gloom seemed to settle on the convention at this announcement.] They said they were only authorized to allow the Democrats two Senators, and they might take whatever two they wanted, which proposition the Democratic committee accepted finally, although they tried hard to have the County Commissioner added, which was declined. The committee stood four in favor of accepting the Greenback proposition to one opposed, and the report was at the disposition of the convention.

On motion of Mr. Sleeper, of Freeport, the report was accepted and the recommendation adopted, and we will do the Democrats the justice to say they took the dose of crow bravely, although, as one prominent member whispered to the reporter, "I wanted to get up and tell them that if half of that convention didn't want to fuse, as far as I was concerned I didn't care a d-n, and they might go to h-ll."

Mr. C. H. Fling, from the committee, said (prior to the adoption of this report) he didn't understand that in their conference any special demand was made or accepted. The Greenback committee stated just how they were placed. Their convention was not harmonious. It appeared as if some peculiar influence had been at work to change the complexion of the convention as compared with the late District conventions. Still we said we can't do any better, taking everything into consideration, and we concluded we couldn't have harmony anyway without agreeing to their propositions. In fact, we didn't see how we could do any better under the circumstances. [This frank avowal was actually received with applause, but was explained by several of the delegates sotto voce, who said they guessed they knew what they were about. We have got those fellows to agree to Anderson said they with great glee.]

Mr. Sleeper of Freeport nominated William R. Field of Brunswick for Senator from the Eastern district, and the nomination was carried by acclamation.

Capt. J. J. Lynch nominated Daniel W. True for Senator from the Portland district, and the nomination was carried by acclamation.

Capt. C. H. Chase moved that the conference committee notify the Greenback convention of these nominations, and report as soon as possible and a recess was taken.

Mr. Poor, from the committee to notify the Greenback convention of the nominations of this convention, reported that they were accepted without a dissenting voice. (Applause.)

The convention then took a recess to await news from the Greenback convention.

Mr. C. A. Chaplin, chairman of the committee from the Greenback convention, reported the acceptance of the two Senators from this convention by acclamation. He then announced their nominations, and stated that they were appealing from the decision of the Supreme Court to that supreme tribunal, the people, in the case of Mr. Skillin, the candidate for County Commissioner, and D. W. True for Senator. The nominations were accepted by a rising vote with great applause.

The committee on resolutions reported, pledging support to the Cincinnati platform and the candidates of this convention. The report was adopted and three cheers given; also three cheers for Gen. Hancock, "the next President of the United States," and a tiger added on motion of an excited delegate. As they were about to adjourn it was remarked that Plaisted had been forgotten and three cheers were given for him and then three added for Anderson and the presiding officer.

The convention adjourned at 3.30 p. m.