Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-03
Senatorial Elections.

Three senatorial elections soon to be
made attract general interest. In Illinois
Governor Cullom and ex-senator Oglesby
are reported to have a nearly equal prefer
ence among republican members of the legis
lature, with Commissioner Raum strong
third. The republicans have conceded
majority of twelve to fifteen on joint ballot,
and in view of this fact it is quite unac-
countable at this distance that it should be
said that David Davis therefore stands
better chance for reelection and that he
will probably be his own successor. The
statement seems unwarranted by reason or
by any statesmanlike thing the senatorial
Jumbo of the Sucker State has done to de-
serve its suffrages. Hubbell, of political as
sessment fame, is competing in Michigan
with Ferry for the latters seat in the senate.
Neither of them have qualities which
reconcile the country to Zach Chambers
sudden taking off. The case of Senator
Hoar of Massachusetts also excites interest
and comment outside of the Bay State. His
honesty and ability and thorough training
are conceded even by those who are strongly
opposed to his reelection. But he belongs,
it is claimed, to class of statesmen which
came to the front when human rights was
the great issue upon which political parties
divided. Administrative and politico-eco-
nomic questions are now pressing for solu-
ton. Mr.. Hoar, it is claimed, and his record
in the senate is cited as proof, has always
been most conspicuous in the senate in those
contests which relate to questions of human
rights, like the Ponca Indian question, or in
those affairs where party advantage was in
volved as in the memorable contest which
signalized the opening of the special session
of the senate when the Garfield administra-
ton assumed the government. In the strug
gle back to specie payments he took no &C.
tive part. The arrears of pensions act
seems not to have arrested his attention or
to have fixed the vigilant eye which ran
sacked the interior department for evil
dence of wrongs to the Poncas. His course
on the river and harbor bill has been the
| subject of severe criticism and doubtless
brought to head much lurking dissatisfac-
ton, especially among the younger republi-
cans, to whom the issues of the past have
chiefly historical interest and to whom
great economic questions and measures of
administrative reform have become living
issues In the recent debate in the senate
on the bankruptcy bill Mr.. Hoar achieved a
great triumph in the face of the favorable
report of the judiciary committee in OBJ
tanning the substitution of the Lowell for
the senate bill. lie managed that matter
with signal ability, and his brilliant success
then, together with his active participation
in the civil service debate and his efforts to
give the bill which passed the senate a week
ago practical character, have unquestion-
ably done much to reinstate him in popular
favor and to render the election of Governor
Long to succeed him correspondingly doubt
full. lie is man of tried and proved capac-
ity and integrity, and, but for his votes for
the river and harbor BILL it would have been
difficult to organize any serious opposition
to his reelection.