St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-08-13
Republican County Convention.
A LARGE GATHERING WITH coNs1DE1

met at the town hall to-day (thesl2th.)
While awaiting the arrival of the IL
O'Clock trains, DR.. Billiard was called
out to address the assembly. He said
that about all he could do now was to
let them know he was a Republican.
He thought this very important con-
vention and this the most important
election since the war. The election of
Hancock meant the South in power, the
pensioning of rebel soldiers and the
Withdrawing of pensions from Union
soldiers. Hancock was not personally
objectionable-it was the gentlemen
who would manage him.
Lawyer Dunnett of Ryegate was
called out, and made short address.
He said it was charged that the Repub-
fican party was making a sectional is
sue. This was not true; it was the
Democratic party at Cincinnati that
said that there were 138 votes in the
South, solid for any available candi-
date. 1t was therefore the Democratic
party that made the sectional issue.
The convention was then called to
order by T. c. Fletcher, chairman of
county committee, and the call read, and
the name of franklin Fairbanks pre-
sented for temporary chairman.
While the committee were after Col.
Fairbanks, H. c. Ide, Esq, was called
out. After telling capital story of the
late Thomas Bartlett, in which at one
time this gentleman admitted in pub
lie speech that being bred a democrat
some of the ''pernicious and damnabler
habits of the Democracy still chung to
him, the speaker went on to show how
that party still chung to its pernicious
Mr.. Ide discussed the posi-
ton of the two parties on finance, tariff
and state sovereignty, making an able
though brief address.
At this point the committee appoint
ed for the purpose, presented the chair
man. After brief acknowledgment of
the honor, and bespeaking forbearance
and assistance, Col. Fairbanks declared
the convention open for business.
On motion, L. w. Sanborn and Alex.
Dunnett were elected secretaries, and
half-dozen vice presidents. The tenn
porary organization was made perma-
nent.
David Trull moved that committee
of four from each town be appointed
on nominations. iona. Law
renee offered substitute, to the effect
that voters from each town shall vote
for the candidates, that plu-
rality shall govern, and that such vote
of the different towns shall be called
one in the convention, Isaac, N. Hall
and A. E. Judevine opposed the mo-
ton, and Mr.. Lawrence spoke support
ing it. Frank Haviland of Danville
moved the nominations be made in open
convention, and E. P. Allen supported
Mr.. Lawrence's motion.
Charles Wilson of Danville replied to
Messrs. Hall and Judevine-said we
had come here on the call of mass
convention, and we could not satisfac-
tOrily delegate the business to a COM
mIttee of four from each town, and he
moved that we proceed at once to NOM
mate county officers in open conven-
ton. This was stOutly opposed by
Hall of Groton and Rogers of Wheelock
the latter threatening that if the con-
vention departed from its oldvtime GUS
toms that there would be a bolt-that
st. Johnsbury might perhaps control
this meeting but could not manage the |
II different towns when it came cleo
ton time.
Henry c. Ide was sorry for the re-
marks of Messrs. Rogers and Hall; st.
Johnsbury never had packed county
and had no desire to; and
there were less voters here to-day ac-
cOrding to its total Republican vote,
than from almost any town in the coun-
ty. He then in few terse sentences
showed how unjust it was to give the
smallest towns in the county the same
voice in the selection of its county of
ficers as the larger towns like Danville,
Lyndon, Barnet, and st. Johnsbury.
He was not therefore in favor of Mr..
motion, although it was
great improvement on Mr.. TrulPs. Mr..
Ide made a convincing and unanswera-
BILE argument.
Judge Rogers and Judge Hall talked
about precedent, and that this question
took them all by surprise, and Mr.. Will
son called their attention to the fact
that this was called mass conventional
if it was to be delegate, Danville could
as well have elected her four men at
home and sent them down to do their
business for them. E. H. George at
this point read confidential circular
in which Republicans were invited to
vote for something like the Lawrence
motion.
Capt. H. K. Ide called the attention
OF the convention to the fact that the |
Lawrence motion and Trull's were
only there was a little more
machinery in the former. On the ques-
lions being put, both the Lawrence and |
the Wilson substitutes were lost, al
though there was large aye vote for
Mr.. Wilson's plan, and the four from
a town motion passed.
At this stage of the convention David
Trull made O personal attack unon