Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-02
The President Makers.

As the result of the Chicago convention
may now be flashed over the wires at any
moment, speculative statements as to the
nominee yield their tame interest to an in
tense straining for the supreme fact itself
The interest which just now centered in the
forensic contest is transferred TO the jury
box, and all the fever of the trial burns with
tenfold intensity to catch the first syllable
of the verdict.
We briefly summarize the conspicuous
events thus far developed out of the babel
of conflicting reports from Chicago. The
preliminary contest is over the temporary
craftsmanship of the convention. In accord
ance with established custom, the chairman
of the national committee names this officer.
The temporary chairman decides the ques-
ton as to the binding force of the unit rule
on instructed delegates, though his decision
is subject to appeal to the convention. On
this question two parties only are presented
Grant and anti-Grant-and each is striving
for whatever strategic advantage victory at
this point will give them. Don Cameron,
as chairman of the national committee, will
name the temporary presiding officer of the
convention, and the efforts of the ants are
directed TO securing from him q pledge that
he will name a temporary chairman or pur-
sue course in harmony with the views of a
majority of the committee, which is anti
Grant. Failing in this, they threaten to de.
pose him and elect new chairman. 1t wav
reported that compromise had been eff.
fected and Mr.. Cameron had agreed to select
temporary chairman from list of six
names presented by the ants, and it was
confidently expected the choice would fall
on Senator Hoar, but all the names were re-
jected, and Cameron claims the right to
make his own selection of a temporary chair
man. The antagonism between the Grant
and Blaine forces is violent and bitter. As
the prospect that neither of these candidates
will receive the nomination increases, the
Sherman men grow eated, and talk conf
IDENTIFY of the success of their candidate, A
large number of delegates whose first choice
is Grant, Blaine or Sherman, have expressed
their cordial friendship for Vermont's can
ddate should their first choice fail of the
nomination. Both Cameron and Logan are
reported for Edmunds as their second choice.
The course of the Vermont delegation in
not antagonizing the interest of the various
candidates in their advocacy of Mr. Ed
munds seems to conciliate the good will of
other delegations. They have kept entirely
out of the fight between the leading candi-
dates. They occupy nearly the same posi-
ton that the Ohio delegation did in 1876,
and the same result is looked for now as
then. In the event of failure of nomina-
ton on the first ballot, break is not i'm
probable in favor of Edmunds as the candi.
date least Objectionable to the factions at
war with each other. Ex-Governor Smith
will present the name of Mr.. Edmunds, and
it will be seconded by members of the Mas
sachusetts delegation. Dispatches from
members of the Vermont press on the ground
confirm the favorable accounts of Mr.. Ed
munds' prospects and the press comments
are of an equally hattering character.
A dispatch, which seems to lack any of
the earmarks of probability, appears in the
papers stating that Mr.. Edmunds has writ
ten letter to Senator Hoar declining to be
a candidate. Until this report is fully con-
frmed, the friends of Mr.. Edmunds will give
it the benefit of their serious doubt.
THE LATEST.