St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-12-05
Vermont's Next Governor.

Frederick Billings is the most promi-
nent and imposing name, outside the
state; and is pressed upon Vermont by
that of Bayard upon the democratic
party, as one emiuently fit for the place.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Billings is
a smart man, and personally irreproach-
able, though there are some who are
fond of mentioning him as "Park's
pious partner" But those who know
what the business relationships of
these men were in California and else
where know that Mr.. Billings never had
any part in the speculations that have
made Mr.. Parks name unpleasantly
odorOus. There are, however, many
obstacles in the way of Mr.. Billings
progress to the governOrship. His old
antagonists, ex-Gov's Stewart and
Smith, favor his nomination no more
now than when they headed him off in
1872 with dark horse in the form of
his venerable tOwnsman, Julius Con-
verse. His foes then are still his foes.
But that is not all nor the worst of it.
Mr.. Billings was "mad clear through"
at the ballOting in that convention, and
though he kept the appearance of good
temper ON the platform, he laid about
him right and left afterward, accusing
his friends of selling him out, and his
enemies of foul blows ''belOw the belt"
most vigorously. The result has been
that Mr.. Billings has not had great
many friends since among the folks that
make governors in acknowledgement
Correspondence Republican.
AS to Mr.. Billings, it is not true that
he has not identified himself with the
people of Vermont, though it is true
that he resorts to none of the arts of
the demagOgue. 1t is not true that he
spends little of his money here, though
it is true that he invests none as a po-
litical bid. 1t is not true that he cher
ishes bitterness Oh account of his for
mer defeat in convention, though he
may have felt little natural resent
ment at the time, for he has been heard
to express admiration for the tactics
that threw him, and friendly regard for
his opponents. 1t is not true that those
who opposed him then oppose him now.
On the contrary, the very leaders of
that opposition, with the possible ex-
ception of Gov. Stewart, with whose
views we are not familiar,) are now in
his favor, believing that the objections
then raised are not now tenable, and
that his nomination now would be one
prominently fit to be made. 1t is not
true that Gov. Smith was then his enc
my. On the contrary, he was under
stood to be his friend, and that very
fact cost Mr.. Billings few necessary
votes.-St. Albans Messenger.
/
Mr.. Billings presided at the cOnven-
ton held at Bellows Falls in May, 1872,
for the election of delegates to the ma
tional republican convention at Phila-
delphia. His speech at the opening OF
that convention made very fine i'm
preston upon all who heard it, and his
friends began from that time to urge
him to consent to be be candidate for
the office of governor. 1t was the gen.
eral understanding when the change
from annual to biennial elections was
made that the governor must, with the
members of the General Assembly, &C
cept an election to the biennial term as
equivalent to two elections under the
old system. John. w. Stewart of Mid
dlebury, an able and popular man, was
the first governor elected after this
change was made. The friends and
supporters of Mr.. Billings on the
strength of this general understanding,
supposed that Mr.. Stewart would not
be candidate fol- reelection, and as
sured Mr.. Billings that the field was
open. Gov. Stewart dallied with the
question until he had given Mr.. Bill
iings and all his friends a fair Opportu-
nifty to press his nomination and until,
as the result proved, it was impossible
Tor him, however much at the last he
may have desired it, to obtain a re-