The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26
Vermont Presidential Preferences.


+. d. Root, correspondent Of the New York
Times. has been through Vermont feeling the
political pulse Of the people, and communicates
the results Of his observations In long letter
TO that journal, from which we make the fol-
lowing extracts: "Why, then, do the politicians
Of Vermont and the most loyal OF Mr.. Ed
munds, friends use so many butts and IFS
when they talk about supporting him for the
office Of president? Why do those who are not
unfaithful to him talk 80 much more about their
second choice than they do about their first,
and how shall we account for the fact that they
are not moved by enthusiasm and that they
even show q kind OF indiffe ference and hope
lessness while giving him their highest praiseP
have talked freely with active and prominent
republicans, in and out OF office, and these
questions can best be answered by their state
ments. Yes, the party and the delegates will
support Edmunds,' said one OF his personal
friends, an active republican, who holds no
office. He Is our candidate II he will take the
nomination. But he doesn't want it, and he
would not encourage us to work for him. He
has no presidential bee In his bonnet. Nor do
the members of his family desire that he shall
be president The republican politicians of the
country don't want him because they can't
handle him. And yet, in my opinion, he's the
best man we could nominate, for two reasons:
First, he is better equipped for the place than
any other man who has been named; and,
second he would carry New York, Pennsyl-
vana and Ohio by receiving every independ-
emit vote Another sturdy old republican said:
Our voters are for Edmunds, but they think
that he doesn't want the nomination and that
he can't get it. A prominent federal office
holder also declared that Mr.. Edmunds was
not the favorite OF politicians because they had
not found him tractable.' This gentleman is
friend and supporter Of the senator If any
work Is done for him, said he, 1t must be
done outside of Vermont, for the organization
OF Edmunds clubs and all attempts to give him
aged here by his friends He does not care for
the Office. In $780, said a prominent repub-
lican who has been a student of politics for
many years In this state, there was a strong
team working here for Blaine to induce the
delegation to support him as second choice.
Mr.. Edmunds then wrote a letter, In which he
expressed the hope that Vermont would send
no delegates for Blaine, and he gave some good
reasons for his attitude toward that candidate.
He very frankly and emphatically opposed him,
and | think that he would have found 1t diff
cult to vote for him. The warm friends OF
have the senator, and those who support him
because they don't dare to oppose him would
be for Blaine IL Edmunds were out OF the way
From statements made by others judge that
the majority Of Vermont republicans are
pretty fairly represented as to their polit-
ical attitude and tendencies by the sena-
tor himself. He is independent and 80
are they. He has been classed with the
stalwarts' but has not become obnoxious
to the other wing. The friend of Conk-
hesitated to point them out. Ten years ago.
said one Of the senator's friends, Mr. Ed
munds praised General Arthur very highly,
and after the last convention he frequently de-
clared that the second place on the ticket had
been given to man of great ability Another
said that Edmunds did his work at Washington
and let his popularity at home take care of it.
self This gentleman asserted that the re-
publicans of Vermont were so intelligent and
independent that even their senior senator,
great as he was in their eyes, could not lead
them to support man whom they regarded as
as unworthy They are very proud of him "
he continued, "but they will assert their in
dependence as freely as he does. They feel
that they have small state and man larger
than the presidency. They have offered him
to the party as candidate. The party didn't
take him; they are not sure that he would al
low himself to be taken, and are forced to be
contented with the situation.
As for the office-holders, they assume that
! it is understood, OF course, that they are for
, Edmunds first, but they talk about Arthur.
They speak OF his excellent administration and
his popularity with business men. One cannot
forgive the republicans Of New York for fight
ing among themselves; another says that the
voters are for Edmunds first and Arthur next
The business men and the farmers, he adds,
look upon him as a safe president Another
SPEAKS Ol tne great InlStdhe tnat arthur maze
when he went to Albany to work for Conkling.
II there is anything the people can't forget
when they think of Arthur he says, it is
I that This gentleman wants some one who
Nan carry New York. have heard great
deal in Vermont about that mistake and about
Conking's making an ass Of himself. But
the people seem to think that Arthur learned
wisdom after Garfield's death, and have al
lowed the merits of his administration to out
weigh his political errors. cannot discover
that any attempt has been made to affect pub
lie opinion through the office-holders. They
are strong men, who are respected by the peo-
pie, and in their talk they really represent
pretty fairly the views Of their fellow-citizens.
Blaine sir said an old and prominent re-
publican, is the Mephistopheles of our party.
The republicans of Vermont regard him as a
trickster.' The ex-senator from Maine doesn' t
seem to have many followers in the state One
of the office-hoders fears that Blaine will do
some work i'll Vermont, but it does not appear
that he will have the assistance of any of the
active politicians. II he ever had any strength,
Edmunds has broken it,"
Any account OF the political condition of
Vermont would be incomplete that did not con-
tain something about the " republican state
ring" 1t hardly deserves the name of ring"
and may be more accurately described as a
machine" that parcels out the state offices two
years in advance of an election, elevates small
men and Ignores many larger ones.
"' Here is the situation in a nutshell, so far as
Arthur is concerned said republican politi-
clan. The republicans of this state want to
hear no more about Conkling. They think
that Arthur violated all the proprieties and
made fool of himself before the death of
Garfield. They tell you that the terrible event
sobered him and opened his eyes, and that he
has become good President and given us an
excellent administration, which is especially
satisfactory to business men. II he shall con-
tinue to act as he has acted since he ceased to
be vice-president, and if the general impress
sion that he has cut loose from Conkling and
his faction shall not be removed, it will be very
easy to take delegation to Chicago that will
vote for Edmunds first and Arthur next"