Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-10-12

The Springfield Republican has been
discussing politics in Vermont with its
customary nervousness and lack both of
knowledge and sense, thus
Under the memorable rules of geographical
alienation the next chief executive must
come from the eastern part of the State, and
II is said that the race lies between Col.
Pngree, the present Lieutenant. Governor,
and the bold Col. Hooker of Brattleboro.
There is some talk about Secretary of State
Nichols, but the understanding is that the
Smith ring hold him as their most popular
man, to be used only to head of Frederick
Billings with. There is always endless
speculation and trembling of the faithful In
regard to Billings when governor is to he
position either to seek or take office. Sew
eral Lieutenant. governors have been 'pro-
noted in recent years, which circumstance
tells IN Pingree's favor, and then he and
Hooker IRE both helped by the soldier
worship which has unaccountable vitality up
among the green hills: g..
And then the legislature next elected will
choose successor to Senator Morrill,. AL
though there was no opposition In the voting
the senator got his present term only after a
very sharp canvass In which 1t is said he
came within an ace of defeat; 1t was given
out at the time that he would not ask for
another election and many take that for
granted now. But the austerc observer
says; "Will he run again? That will de-
pend upon whether he is breathing or not.
Now, | know him. and you remember what
say" There is talk about Billings in this
matter, also; but the man who really shows
a disposition to giid on his armor and do
battle to all corners is d. +. Fifield, of Mont
pelier, a bright lawyer and att lrney general
for the Smith railroad party. The ring will
not care to back him or anybody else and
get beaten, however, and in the background Is
the ambitious Judge Powers of the supreme
bench. lie is man of good deal of ability,
can pretty certainly command Smiths aid,
is one of the best managing politicians in the
State, and will make it lively for Morrill, ard
everybody else if be concludes to start.
The Rutland Herald comments sensibly on
the above, as follows
Here are number of guesses at truth,
bnt we suspect that the Republican will find
very few of its intuitions actualities. A
newspaper within the State may as fairly
guess at the future as newspaper without
the State, so we guess that our excellent
friend and popular citizen, the bold Colonel
Hooker, won't be a candidate for governor
next year; Hooker is too bright man to
prematurely force himself to the front; he is
man of sufficient political experience to
know that when the governorship naturally
seeks him, it will be time enough to seek ii.
He is too young man and too versatile a
politician in larger field than Vermont to
die of the governor fevor." The day may
come when, as ripe legislator and citizen of
middle age, Colonel Hooker might be can
didatc, but, we guess, the Colonel is not
likely to he in the field this year We guess
Secretary of State Nichols is not kept back
by the "Smith ring" 10 brain Frederick Bill
lings, for the Smith party we don't believe
could brain Billings il it would, and wouldn't
if it could. Soldier worship" has no
more unaccountable vitality in Vermont than
it has in Massachusetts. Massachusetts, has
lately elected soldier governor in the
shape OF Butler; she has a soldier on her
Supreme bench 1t is not long since her lieu
tenent-gOvernor was soldier; the president
of her Republican convention the other day
was soldier In the list of the speakers
for the State campaign we notice the names
OF number of cx-soldiers. Our intelligent,
upright soldiers are treated in Vermont just
as intelligent, upright soldiers are in Massa-
chussets; If they are competent for civil
Office they get it, if they care for it; there is
no "unaccoun,ablc vitality" about it there
is ''no soldier ring" In other sense than that
the circle of good citizenship includes a
number Of men who were good soldiers this
ring" of good citizenship does not consider
good soldership as disability for civil office
any more than il accepts good citizenship
alone as pass to public favor or State trust
soldiers in Vermont have no more 'unac-
countaolc vitality" in politics than lawyers
or farmers. Regarding Mr.. Morrill, it ID not
true that he came within an ace of defeat in
his last canvass; If he cares to he his own
successor he will lin all probability be reelected
and at any even, he will not be beaten by
Mr.. Flfeld or Mr.. Powers. Both of these
gentlemen are men of decided ability, but
Mr.. Fitield has been 50 closely devoted to
his profession that he would be no match in
politics for the veteran Morrill,, and by th(
new division of Congressional districts judge
Powers is politically, though not altogether
geographically on the "West side" Neithe
Judge Powers, nor Mr. Flfield is likely I,
give Mr.. Morrill, a lively wrestle if he is
candidate. Fred Billings is the only mar
on the EAST side' who could give Mr.
Morrill, any trouble, but We do not under
stand that Mr.. Billings gives any encourage
ment to his Vermont friends to push hin
either for governor or United States Senator
Mr.. Billings Is very eminent citizen o
Vermont and entirely worthy of the suffrage
Of the state for any Office in its gift
Intellectually and morally he would ador
any position that he would accept from tn
people Of the State, and we trust that tn
day IS not far distant when Mr.. Billing
will be called from his retirement to iron
place in our State politics.
| We cordiallv ocbo thia homo