Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
BLAINE,s LITTLE GAME.
Plot TO TX i'll the Edmunds Movement in
New England.
from the Boston Herald. J


A middle state Republican politician in the
city last evening said: 81 have been trav.
cling through the country on my private
business and incidentally taking in what
there is gong on in politics. l am surprised
that here in New England the newspapers
favorable to Mr. Edmunds have not dscov.
cred that Blaine has good sized boom on
foot, designed TO head off and discredil
the Edmunds movement in the house of Its
friends. If the New England delegations
to the first Chicago convention can be badly
broken up at the outset, it can then-I nigh,
say will then-be said that Edmunds is moi
50 strong at home as he should be If he
is to he considered seriously as
Presidential candidate. In Rhode Island
find that Edmunds has the lead most decide.
dly, but in Connecticut, where the friends
of Mr.. Edmunds have thought everything al
serene, the Blaine workers of four years age
are plotting To capture the delegation. Bran.
dagCe, who was chairman ct the Connecticut
delegation in Chicago four years ago-a near
political friend Of Blaine-is dong his best
in very quiet way ID carry out secret in
structions from the decentralization.
They have started out to set back fire to
damage the Edmunds movement all they
can. 1t will he necessary for the friends OF
the Vermont Senator TO look after these
silent workers"
"lIave you been in New Hampshire 2"
Yes; it is on that historic political
ground that Chandler is dong his level best
TO get delegation elected that will be for
Blaine while nominaly for Arthur. Neat
game, isn't that? Chandler has three strings
to his bow-first, the Arthur string, that he
would just as lief would break next, the
Blaine string, which he hopes to have a
chance to use, and third the Tecumseh
Sherman string, which is his fancy string,
not for serious purposes. Chandler and
Rollins hope to head the State delegation.
There is, | find, 10 New Hampshire young
mems party, or more properly, a move
men, which favors Edmunds; but it is to
be doubted if this young party will be able
to carry the primaries against the old wheel
horses OF the party. Vermont is, OF course,
solid for Edmuuds; in Maine there is divis-
ion, the federal oflice-holders having to put
in the semblauce of work for Arthur while
Blaine has them under his magnetic spell.
Massachusetts, you know more about than
do. fancy that your Arthur men here are
not working against Edmunds. That is the
result Of my observation"
What do you find out of New England 2"
"ln the Southern States the federal office
holders will make up the bulk of the delega'
tions from that section, and they will lie for
Arthur, with their second choice Edmunds,
for they have come to believe that he would
disphce no official incumbent who could
show good record for honesty aud party
fidelity. Oh, the Southern delegation would
take kindly to Edmunds. Ohio is a big power
in the convention always, and out there
Charley Foster is for Edmunds. The State
delegation will be divided this year, and the
Vermont statesman will share the represen-
tltiUn of the great cedtral State and national
makewelght. New York will give Il portion
of lis delegation to Edmunds. But what |
wanted to call the attention of your politi-
ciaus to was the little game which James G.
Blaine has set on foot here in New England
right under your noses"