Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-22
Massachusetts, Senator.

Massachusetts Senator.
The three weeks contest in the Massa-
chusetts great and general court" re-
suited last Friday in the choice on the
thirty-third Joint ballot, of Governor Will
liam B. Washburn to Senator Summers
vacant place. The Dawes and Hoar par
ties held several caucuses, and made
several propositions to each other previous
to the election, but came to no agreement.
The Hoar men Npposed first to lay aside
the two leading candidates, and to go into
a caucus to settle who should be elected.
The Dawes men refused to withdraw the
name of their favorite, and rejoinder
from the Hoar men followed. The parti
sans of Mr. Dawes were willing to go into
caucus if his name could be presented, and
claimed that the votes having shown him
the leading candidate throughout. the
blame of obstructing an election was with
the friends of Mr.. Hoar, who were " the
minority"
Things stood like this on Thursday,
when the Hoar. men rallied, and gave
their man lightweight votes to ninety-two
for Dawes. This showed their real strength
unbroken, although Mr.. Hoar's vote the
day previous had gone down among the
thirties Thursday night and Friday there
were more consultations, but no agree
ment was made, and the first ballot on
Friday resulted in placing Mr.. Hoar ahead
of Mr.. Dawes. they receiving ninety three
and ninety-two votes respectively. A
second vote was taken after further consul
tation, and Hoar led by three votes.
The Dawes men, during recess which
was Immediately taken. held a private
caucus, and the Butler element in that fac
ton came to the front, and was able to
give DR.. George B. Loring a majority of
votes on the question of who should be the
compromise candidate. The two houses.
however, went into convention again be-
fore any formal proposition was made, and
it was evident the Hoar men would not
support DR.. Loring. They had received
intimations from some of the Dawes men
privately that if they would vote for Gov
ernor Washburn, many of the Dawes men
would also support him. There was no
definite arrangement made. though. and
the convention supposed itself not near the
termination of the contest, when the thirty
third ballot began. On calling the roll
William Abbott, the first Hoar man on the
list, led off in firm voice for Governor
tha -
was evident the final break had come
When the end of the list was reached,
Governor Washburn had one hundred and
seven votes, and changes Immediately be-
gan from other candidates, so that when
the vote was announced he had one hun
dred and fifty-one out of two hundred and
sixty-scven, and was declared elected.
Mr.. Dawes had twenty-six votes, while
the supporters of Judge Hoar went in ii
body for the successful candidate
William B. Washburn was born in
Winchendon, Massachusetts,, in 1920, and
graduated at Yale College. He afterwards
became successful business man at
Greenfield, and was for number of years
in the House of Representatives au Wash
ington. In 1871 he defeated General
Butler in the first raid made by the Gen
orat On the E5ufJcrn.IroI ft1 cfIiIr Of tho Bay
State. He has been twice reelected gov
ernor, the last time after another severe
contest with the Essex statesman.
Governor Washburn is man of fair
abilities, without ostentation, and of as
strict honesty as his great predecessor in
the Senate. His election is received with
general satisfaction outside of those whose
personal Interests warp their judgments.
Certainly it is unpleasing to the believers
in Butlerism. The General, himself, re-
marks that Governor Washburn never has
been elected to any office except as com
promise candidate, and that he was not the
choice of anybody, and that he is the first
governor of that State who has demeaned
himself by being candidate for Senator
Finally the General says that this election
is lone of the accidental, immaterial facts
in politics." The dissatisfaction with
which the result is received in that quar-.
ter does not displease the great body o.
republicans in Massachusetts,.
Lieutenant Governor Talbot of Billie
RIGA, who is now in Texas travelling for
his health, will perform the duties of Gov
ernor during the remainder of the year
and the new Senator will proceed tC
Washington next week
Ocean Disasters