St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-16
RADIX
The Views of Gov. Smith.

1t has frequently been asserted since
the state convention that Gov. Smith,
chairman of the delegation elected, is Il
strong Grant man. He was presented
by the Franklin county delegation,
which were neatly solid anti Grant.
Assurances were previously given to
them by those in a situation TO know
Gov. Smiths views, that he was not
committed for or against any candidate
and WIS entirely free to exercise his
best judgment at the convention and to
faithfully represent the republicans of
Vermont. We have beard nothing from
him since then to cOntroveit this
position, although papers of Grant pro-
clivities continue to claim him. Last
week he was in New York, and a Tri-
bune reporter sounded him. The in
terview is reported as follows:
"Who is the first choice of Vermont
for President 2" asked the reporter.
"Senator Edmunds is of course the
favorite," said 'Ir. Smith. "The party
in Vermont will be unanimous in his
favor. He is by far the strongest man.
The delegates are not all chosen yet
but the delegation will he a unit, al
though uninstructed."
"WhO would be the second choice p
''Puhlic sentiment is not settled
enough in Vermont to make it possible
for me to form il positive opinion as to
the matter of the second choice. The
delegation went against Blaine at the
last convention, but there was then and
there still is strong Blaine feeling in
the state. 1t would he very difficult to
say on whom the second choice would
fall if Edmunds were out of the way.
1t is thought that Grant would be the
strongest man in certain circumstances,
but those circumstances would have to
be clearly defined"
"What is the feeling in Vermont re-
garding the third term :" asked the
reporter.
"OpiniOn is divided on that subject"
said Gov. Smith. Grant has not lost
anything in the last three months.
There is an impression that the south
is not to he trusted. The country does
not feel secure that its policy is chang
ed. The present quiet attitude of the
southern leaders may be merely lull
Should they again become FESTIVE Grant
is the best man to handle them"
''What is the strength of the Sher-
man movement ?"
Secretary Sherman has been very
successful in his financial policy, but |
do not consider him Il leading caudi-
date"
"What is the attitude of the republi-
can press of Vermont p
"rhe press is divided two of the
prominent dailies are for Grant"
"How is Tilden regarded ?"
He has no strength in Vermont, nor
anywhere else"
"What will be the action in Vermont
if EdmuDds is not nominated 7"
"Times are very trying and Vermont
is loyal enough to stand by the nomi-
nee of the convention, whoever he may
be. Sentiment will crystalize before
the national convention meets, and we
shall know more clearly where we
stand"
Gov. Smith might have said that the
two prominent dailies to which he al
luded are about the only Grant papers
in Vermont, and even their booming
has toned down wonderfully of late.
The Governor is certainly mistaken in
the idea that Grant has not lost anything
in the last three months. He had but
little to lose in Vermont, and has lost
most of that. And the number who be-
lieve that he could handle the southern
leaders better than some other man, is
extremely limited. If Gov. Smith
would lay aside his railroad business
for a week and go out among the peo-
pie, or read attentively the 30 or 40 re-
publican papers in Vermont, he would
find that there never was a greater
nnanimity of sentiment upon any sub
Ject, than there is now against third
term of Granlism.-St. Adams MeSSen-
ger.