Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-03
The Third District.

The Third District.
The nomination in this District, as we
have said, seems to lie between Mr.. Hendee,
Gen. Grout and Hon. Bradley Barlow and,
as we have also said, We think the District
can do better than to take Mr.. Barlow.
Both Mr.. Hendee and Gcn. Grout are more
reliable Republicans sounaer on the imam
| cial issue, more scrupulous as to their meth
DDS of carrying their points, better represen-
tstives Of the square straightforward Re-
nublicans of the Third District. We have
known Gen. Grout for many years. and
marked his rising influence. His town and
county, where he is known best, have
shown their appreciation of him by keep
ing him almost continuously in one or the
other branch of the Legislature and, as our
readers know, he has been prominent and
leading member and Senator. He is an easy
speaker and an able lawyer, is well versed
in public affairs, is active and Industrious,
and can be trusted, if be should be sent to
Congress, to give careful attention to his dn-
ties and to creditably represent the District.
We could give him our cheerful support for
the position.
Under all the circumstances, however, 1t
seems clear to us that the District
can unite once more on Mr.. Hcndce,
more cordially than on any other man
and that it is his duty to permit
his friends to press his name for reelection.
We say permit, for Mr.. Hendee is not crowd
ing himself upon the District. If be were,
he could not have our support. He has ask
ed no man to support him. He has said to
all who consulted him that be had been well
treated by the Republicans of the District,
and was ready to retire, if they so pleased.
lie has told gentlemen who wished to urge
their fayorites for the succession not to hold
back on his account He has not lifted a
finger, directly or Indirectly, 50 far as we
can learn, to secure a denomination. Yet he
would, we know, cons ider it an honor and
privilege to continue to represent the Dis
trict. His attitude, as it seems to us, is al |
together creditable to him. Mr.. Hendee
has grown steadily in public estima-
ton, since he has been in Con- |
grcss, and there is no question but |
that he can serve the District better |
than any new member. A correspondent
has urged that Mr.. Barlow could do some
thing for the Caughnawaga canal. Con-
gress is not going to build canals in foreign
countries. But if anything can be accom-
plished in Congress in aid Of that enterprise,
Mr. Hendee can do more than Mr.. Barlow
to secure such aid A new member, serving
his first term in the House, be he who he
may, is practically Of little account. lie is
at the tail of his committee, if he is on one
at all. lie has yet to mako his acquaint-
ances, and to get wonted in his seat, and to
learn the ways of the machine. Mr.. Hen
dee already has position and influence in the
House. lie is known and respected. His
on the District of Columbia, from
its peculiar relations to Washington affairs,
gives him prominence and influence. He
can accomplish more for any desirable
than any new man we can send to
Washington.
1t has been said by correspondents, that
we shall need Mr.. Hendee to enable Yer
mont to keep her three Representatives uuGer
the next apportionment. If that is practic
able thing it is true that Mr.. Hendee can do
more to secure it than a new man. But we
have no idea that Vermont can keep her
present representation after the next Con-
gress. And this Of itself makes reason
for not making any change in our Represen-
tative at this time. Let us return Mr.. Hen
dee for one term more. After that the
State will be redistricted. into two districts,
divided, probably, by the mountain line. Then
We shall have to take new departure, under
new relations, and with new candidates.
Fill then what need, on any public grounds,
to put in new member, to serve for but @
single term, probably, and then to be drop
ped, from the necessity of the case, without
opportunity to do much either for his own
,redit or for the good of the District? This
rev of the case will not suit eager aspirants
Tor the place; but We know that it is held
1y many sound, earnest and sensible Repub-
leans all over the District