St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-08-02
The Second District.

mrs Ek W ~ ii'lf 7 ~i'll
JOSIAH II. BENTON High Balm
The Second District
Last week we made SOME criticism
upon the manner Judge steele had
opened his campaign. We understand
that the Judges friends explain "r jus
ttN Somcw hat a. follows: That he had
changed his mind since his earlier AN
Inducements that he should not he Il
candidate: aud that his more recent de
NAL of such purposes, though made af
ter lrc had begun an underground can
Na>s. WAS before h,. had fully dercImim-
eel that he would accept. at this time.
the hazard of a campaign. Ais" that
the recent statements of Judge steele
were not 50 broad aS We put them. but
limited thus: that ''h, should not ran
against Judge Poland unless some 9th
81 candidate should put himself into the
field"
For present purposes let H. admit all
this to bc true. And how does the
ease stand Precisely thus: While try
my t" put himself into u condition to
pose To do 81. While Workin" up It
condition of things which would enable
him to Ium. he was DENY ing any pun
post, to ran.
Now IT requires Il pretty nice dis
elimination, 81 fan H. ANY moral Gle
mentS are concerned. to discover amy
difference between even this statement
of the ease and the one We put last
week. As to the affirmed Limitations.
that Judge Steele announces that he
should not run against Judge Poland
unlc>> some other candidate put him
self forward against Judge Poland. We
cannot see how this helps the matter as
no one has put himself forward. and af
ter diligcmt search throughout the en-
tire district. the man cannot ht found.
W i'll some one pleas" name him This
l. not the way the matter was explain
eel 10y Judge Steele I" one of Judge ro-
lands friends He claimed that he was
forced /" put himself into the field now.
hcclrI~r hc feared that some one would
run against him two Years hence.
But let u> look at the matter on IL
state of facts still more favorable tn the
other side. Let lis suppose that there
had been no canvass till after it was
publicly announced that Judge steele
WAS To bc II candidate. and no denial of
Il purpose to run after II canvass had
begun. How does the cast. then stand
Judge steele had said To Judge Poland'>
friends. that although he had been re-
que>ted to hrcuur a candidate against
him. he should not do So RumorS
were current that Judge steele wu> go
ing t" run. Judge Poland. rel ing up
ON these statements of Judge steele |
Was perfectly assured. and asked not
one of his friends even To their SUI
prise, a. is now known. to stand hN
him; but went away on important
business which WoiIld occupy at least
three weeks. and probably much longer.
Al this juncturr. and AT about the time
Judge Poland has reached / tab, his al
\"r>alN opens Il most vigorous and de
terminrd campaign along the whole
line; and when asked I" stay his hand .
till Judge f"land'> return. >ta> : his cf /
forts not one lot. ON the instant he
had sounded his tuc>in the mails are
hurdcnrd with his letters. lille Il re
tainer, or relative. springs mp in every
town in two counties. can
Na>>ing for him and plcdging men To his
support. Now the significance of all
this l. >rlN apparent to any one VIII"
knows the Importance in Il campaign of
first getting man's ear.
But let us put thi> matter in still
another and more fay "laht. light to the /
other side. suppose there had been no
Iau> a>>ing. openly nr otherwise no
l'lrdging of men. and even no state
hI'H'N at 'dllb'I tunes IIil ne would f.
not run against Judge Poland. How
does the case then stand The relations
IF the parties We're pcculiarl, intimate
We may almost SAY confidential. Judge
Poland goes away a. before stated. and
he campaign begins. Judge Steele is
-equcsted to DELAY till his ad>rrSar>'s
'cturn. There is no calling in of forces
every advantage must hc taken of
lI, tultuitouS circumstance that Judge
Poland WAS away. and could not return
or some DAYS. If this were not 50.
,hy the announcement by the c"nIman
Ter chief of Steelc'S forces in Gale
Ionia county that the campaign was
pened prcmaturcly. 50 far as Caledo-
ia county was concerned.
We hardly need comment upon the
igniticance of this statement. If ii i