St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-06-28
The Late Republican Mass Convention.

SpOnSlUllIIy. llIle VIII uoil WucIHCl Tx
was right or wrong.
The Late Republican Mass Convention
The Republican County Convention
being called upon our publication day
we could but briefly give its doings il
last weeks paper, and so we will re-
view its proceedings:
The call was for a mass convention
and every town in the county was
largely represented, filling the large
hall quite full. Immediately on organi
cation, David Trull of Burke, moved
that nominating committee of .fOul
from each tOlUR be elected to bring in 6
list of nominees for county officers. As
usual, A. j. Willard moved to amend
by selecting a nominating committee OIL
the basis of the last Republican vote
for Governors similar to the plan OF
delegate state cOnventiOns-and made
brief speech showing the injustice OF
Mr.. Trull's motion in giving the small
towns-Stannard for instance-with its
twenty or thirty Republican voters, the
same voice in the nomination of officers
as the larger towns which have from
200 to 800 voters.
As usual, Calvin Morrill, opposed Mr..
Wizards amendment, not because it
was not just and eQuitable,-no one
denies that,-but simply on the ground
that Mr.. Willard had attempted to COM
NIT the party to this act of justice for
many years, and had signally failed
every time but one. Mr.. Morrill, was
backed by Charles Davis of Danville,
Charles Rogers of WheelOck, S. G. Otis
of Sheffield and although opposed by
Charles Wilson of Dan0ille, who spoke
with great good sense and vigor, and
by Edward P. Allen of this town, who
appealed to the sense of justice in the
convention, the argument based upon
prejudice against Mr.. Willard prevailed,
and Mr.. Trull's motion finally passed.
A motion by Mr.. Wilson, looking to a
similar equitable adjustment of repre-
sentatiOn upon the nominating commit
tee, was also declared lost by the chair
on a viva voce vote.
The several towns then elected their
members of the nominating committee,
and after being out until after three
o'clock, the list of nominations given
last week were brought in. On motion,
these nominees were taken up separate
ly and acted upon. On reaching the
name of the candidate for States At
torney, c. NJ. Stone moved that the
name of III. E. Carter be stricken out
and the name of Henry c. Ide, the
present incumbent, substituted, and
that the question be decided by ballot
in open convention. Mr.. Willard con-
sidered this motion irregular, and
thought that if the nominees were OBJ
jected to, the proper way would be to
refer the matter back to the committee
Mr.. Stones motion was further opposed
by Bliss N. Davis, Henry G.. Bates,
Charles Davis and Henry Blake of Hard
wick, the latter advocating Mr.. Carriers
candidacy mainly upon the fact that he
had lately joined the reform club and
was now all right on the temperance
question, and also that he came very
near being nominated two years ago.
Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Bates both eulo-
gized Mr.. Carter, endorsing his abilities
handsomely. One or more of these gen
tlemen thought Mr.. Stones motion out
of order, while some insisted that he
should state his objections to Mr.. Car
ter. The mover of the motion appealed
to the chair on the point of order, and
being sustained, declined to state any
objections to Mr.. Carter, but based his
action wholly upon the fact of the abil-
ity and efficiency of Mr.. Ide, and the
strong desire among the Republicans
throughout the county to retain him as
States Attorney. The question being
called for, the convention decided by a
I've wv 'OSO hOb W GLt
tuition.
Very similar action was taken with
the nominee for sheriff, the same person
moving to substitute the name of w.
ID. Preston for that of Mr.. Sulloway.
This brought out opposition from Chas.
Rogers of Wheelock, David Trull of
Burke, and others. The motion was
sustained by MI. Wilson of Danville.
and II. S. Wright of St. Johnsbury.
Mr.. Wilson rallied the convention ON
their stupidity of the morning, and re-
minded them that they had been caught
In trap set by themselves. He said
he believed that three-quarters of all
the Republican voters in the county
wanted Mr.. Preston reelected. Mr..
Wright also spoke earnestly for Mr..
Preston, and said he believed that four
fifths of the Republicans of the county,
who had no axe to grind, were in favor
of his reelection. The substitution
was refused by viva voce vote, and
after reading the resolutions, the con-
vention adjourned.
L.