Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-06-03
70 DELEGATES as follows.
The Governor Question.

From week to week we have Civ
en- in the OPINION extracts from
State exchanges upon the governor
canvass, but have RETAINED from
expressing our own views. AS the
day of meeting of the nominating
convention has been designated,
and is near at hand, it may be wise
to glance at the present aspect OF
the question.
OF the score of men who have
consented" to have their names
"mentioned' in connection with the
Governor canvass, not more than
five can be considered really in the
field, viz: d. B. Harris, Jacob Els.
tey, Col. j. B. Mead, Il. p. Walton
and Asahel Peck. The others have
been "suggested" as compromise
candidates, but so far as we can
learn, have no particular strength.
1t is claimed, perhaps justly, that
Windham county is entitled to the
Governor according to precedent.
But how can Republicans of Wind
ham county expect the party to cor
daily support either Mr.. Harris or
Mr.. Estey, when the members of
the party in that county cannot de-
eide which is the better man to pre-
sent to the convention In fact, if
we are to believe one-half that is
said by the friends of either candi-
date against the other, neither are
fit persons to be Governor Of Yer
mont.
There can be no doubt that Mr..
Harris record as Republican will
not bear close inspection. We do
not refer particularly to his embrac,
ing Greeleyism, but in many other
things he has shown that he has
been like Mr.. Micawbcr waiting for
something to turn up. Such man
is not one we want as Centennial
Governor.
The claim by Mr.. Estey's oppo-
nents that he is illiterate is proba-
bly, true; but we do not deem that
fact reason why he could not fill
the Governors chair well and to
the credit of the State. The strong
est objection to Mr.. Estey is that he
has large ring to work in his in
terest, at the head of which is Col.
Hooker, prominent politician. 1t
is u notable fact that after Hooker
has visited a place and "fxed things
or "seen" somebody, there is won.
derful Estey interest developed at
once in that locality. Evidently,
the Colonel is a very persuasive
man; whether his power of persua-
sion lies in his head, heart or peck
ct is known only to the initiated.
The people demand this year that
candidates for office be free from
any connection with political rings
or cliques.
That Mr.. Walton is well fitted for
Governor no one will deny. That
he would make clear headed, hon
est executive, all will concede. But
there is no chance of his receiving
the nomination, because the Mont
pelier party leaders do not want it so
to be. They know well that if the
Governor is chosen from Montpelier,
some of the State offices. nearly all
of which are now filled by hiolApe-
lier men will be claimed by and Civ.
en- to men outside of that village.
Hence the party managers at Mont
pelier do not wish that one of their
citizens should be selected for Gov
ernor. They will therefore not adj
vocate the nomination of MIR. Wal
ton.
Col. Mead is a good talker-some-
what superficial, but still pleasing
speaker-of fine personal appear
ance, a genial, sociable companion,
and withall good fellow generally.
He represents lots of good things
and good orders, but is not popu-
lar at home. In fact, his greatest