St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-02-27
State Convention.

The Republican state convention met
at Montpelier yesterday, to elect four
delegates at large, to represent the
state in the Republican national con-
vention to be held at Chicago the see
ond of June next, for the purpose of
nominating candidates for president
and vice president. We expect to an
nOunce the names of these delegates in
this issue, but shall not be able to give
more than simply the result of the con-
ventiOn.
Our state is entitled to ten delegates
in the national cOnventiOn-four at
large, and two from each congressional
district, which latter are to be chosen
at district conventions, the one for this
district not having yet been called.
This double duty of choosing delegates
seems unnecessary and expensive. Each
district might as well have called its
convention at Montpelier, Immediately
following the state convention, and the
same town delegates acted at both.
THE CONVENTIONAL LARGE GATHER
ING.-ENTHUsIAsM FOR EDMUNDs.
There was a large convention at
Montpelier Wednesday, probably about
500 delegates. Gen. VIM. w. Grout
presided over it, making very good
speech on taking the chair, touching
the salient points at issue, and foreshad-
owing the policy of the Republicans in
the coming campaign.
Proceeding to business, the cOnven-
ton unanimously elected viva vOce its
first three delegates at large, as fol-
lows: Ex-Gov. John Gregory Smith Of
st. Adams, Ex-GOv. John w. Stewart
of Middlebury, Hon, Frederick Billings
of Woodstock. For the fourth delegate
the names of Col. Geo. w. Hooker o
BIattleborO, Col. John B. Meade O
West Randolph, and Hon. Luke p. Pc.
land of St. JOhnsbury, were put il
nomination.. Mr.. HoOker's nomination
was at once seconded by men in turI
from Windsor, Rutland, Franklin, Chit
tenden, Bennington and Addison coun
ties, and it was evident that tn
Colonel and his friends had "fixed
things. Judge Poland at this point de
clined to allow his name to he used
stating very candidly and briefly tina
it was position he did not expect an,
did not want; that he had the honor q
being delegate at the last nationa
convention, intimating that it was we
to pass the honOrs round. The cOntes
was thus narrowed down to two candi
dates, and the result was vote of "a
for Hooker, 1875 for Meade, and seve
scattering.
At the opening of the convention
resolution was introduced by H.
Huse, ESQ.,, presenting Mr.. Edmund
name us VermOnt's choice for Presiden
This was received with tremendous al
plause, and on motion of Judge Polan
was passed ut once without being re
leIleu 10 lHt cOHllllIUct Oh EeSOlt
tiOns.
AS regards the delegates electe
Smith, Stewart and Billings are repr
sentative men; able, sagacious, co
spicuous; an honor to their constit
ency. Col. Hooker is a young ma
ardent, enthusiastic, great wire-pu
Ter, hale fellow well met, and a gre
favorite with the B'hoys. He may ma
a valuable delegate. but one cannot I
sist the feeling that it was a sad taperi
out of the representation, and that l
form in politics has not made any We
great stride in Vermont since the Ii
election.
Thealternates elected TO act in case t
principals can not, were Ex-Gov. He
dee, VIM. Rounds of Chester, G.
Grandey of Vergennes, and John
Stearns of Bradford.