The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-09
The Second District Canvass.

The canvass in the second district for
representative in congress is rapidly de-
veloping. General Grout and Colonel
Hooker seem to have covered the ground,
in the extremes of the district at least,
before the entry of Mr.. Dillingham; into
the field. The extent and thoroughness
of their work is disclosed by the announce
ment of the latter's candidacy. The odds
Mr.. Dillingham; has to encounter are
found to be, in the.north and extending
down towards the center of the district,
canvass diligently and systematically
worked up by General Grout for two years
past men of experience and influence in
political work and management have been
pledged to support him, and have been
actively engaged in the work of fixing
things" in the interest of their chief. In
the south and well up toward the center
of the district the canvass of Colonel
Hooker has advanced. His canvass is
younger than that of his northern rival
but it has all the vigor which man
familiar with "practical politics" can
infuse into it. Between the territories
possessed by these two formidable candi.
dacies is a neutral ground with constitu-
ency that is fully satisfied with neither
1t has powerful ramifcations into both
extremes of the district. This interme-
diate and conservative element has been
looking for candidate who more exactly
fills, not only its idea of the kind of a
man the district should choose at this
time, but one whose candidacy does not
represent methods upon which the people
in the late state canvass stamped the seal
of their emphatic condemnation. This
element has found in Mr.. Dillingham; a
man as near its conception of the kind of
material the second district should choose
for its representative as any that is avail
able, and he has been put forward to con-
test the nomination of Messrs. Grout and
Hooker.
We have from every quarter of the dis
trict evidence which shows clearly that
the suggestion of Mr.. Dillingham's nomi-
nation was instantly recognized as the
most promising solution of the problem
presented to the voters when Judge Po-
land announced his determination to retire
from public life at the end of his pres
emit term. From one extreme of the dis
trict representative republican, honored
by his fellow-citizens with high official
position, writes "There ought to be no
delay in bringing out w. P. Dillingham;
as candidate for congress to take Judge
Poland's place. was very much pleased
with your editorial on this subject last
week. If we have not got the right kind
of timber, full grown, let us take the
young tree and grow it," From the OPP
posite extreme we have a spirited letter
of commentator from which, among
many warm expressions of approval of
Mr.. Dillingham's candidacy, both on &C.
count of his own merits and what he
represents, we extract the following: 81
sincerely hope Washington county will
present Dillingham; and urge him persis-
tently. 1t seems to me that he must be
our deliverance in this district. All over
the district there is strong feeling
against accepting either of the candidates
who is pushing his own fortunes. "Give us
the BEST" your own atchword, is the de-
mand everywhere among the thinking, un
selfish portion of the party. Dillingham;
meets all the requirements, and my OWL
opinion is he will be the nominee if you
present him and stick by him. There il
no man in the district for whom car
, vote more cheerfully. He is just thu
, right age to 60 and stay until he become
, power. The writer of the above is
man of high intelligence, of wide &C
quaintance aud of thorough knowledge o
, men and affairs in the state, and espec
tally in this district. Another, livin
midway between these extremes, ger
. tleman of unbiased judgment and of higl
position in the community in which h
lives writes 81 have carefully read you
article in THE WAToHMAN advocating tn
8 candidacy of Mr.. Dillingham; for congress
Q l entirely agree with your ideas concern
!, ing his ability and worth, and l sha
Q heartily support him" These are fairl
8 representative of letters which are comm
G in from points in the district outside {
9 Washington county. They are entirel
q spontaneous and were written with n
o thought Of publication. We present thel
4 as evidence of the fact that Mr.. Dillin
8. ham is everywhere received as the ma
10 of superior fitness for the Office of repr
1t sentative, that his reputation is not
is local matter nor his candidacy matt
'g of local pride and Partially merely. I
ly is in the field in response to a grown
by popular demand, in response to the il
n portunities of that element that triumph'
or in the late state canvass. He is Il
3, representative of that element that loo
D. for the union, in public officials, of hi