The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-25
The State Convention.

attention OF commanders and their STATS The
candidates for all the offices except that Of gov
ernor were on the ground watching the de-
velopments OF the situation and looking out for
ambuscades. In regard to the governorship 1t
was clear that Mr.. Billings nomination was
the one thing desired by the delegates as
sembled. It was made equally clear that Mr..
Billings. actuated by circumstances entirely
beyond his power to control, had put up the
bars 80 high and strong against the acceptance
OF nomination that delegates reluctantly
yielded their resolution to make him the cam
didate, and in a half-rebelious mood submitted
to the very conclusive evidence presented that
1t was physically and morally impossible for
him to respond at this time to the demands OF
his fellow-citizens. The friends Of f. j. Orms-
bee and J. X. Batcheder were busily canvass
ing the developing strength OF their respective
candidates for the acknowledgements
This office, and that Of secretary of state 1t
was plain, were the only ones over which there
was likely to be a contest. Later in the even
ing the results Of the meetings OF several county
delegations was made known and out of the
chaos Of claims and coniectures something
like definite shape began to emerge. In the
opportunities which these informal meetings
presented for freedom of expression of indi-
vidual preference delegations put themselves
on record to their real first choice for COVER
nor by declaring emphaticslly for Frederick
Billings. Realizing, however, the folly of voting
for q man who, by reclamation, could, but
ton, Colonel Pingree's candidacy was accepted
as foregone conclusion Ormsbee, appar-
| emily, had the lead for the second position
No serious opposition to either Dubois or Pow
ell for treasurer and auditor, respectively, was
| developed in the skirmishing OF the evening
| For secretary OF state 1t was evident that G. W.
Porter had the advantage over his veteran OPP
| ponent, the present incumbent, DR.. George
| Nichols. At the caucus of the delegates of
Washington county, the home of both can
| didates, of the thirty-five who had arrived and
| were present, Mr.. Porter had twenty nine.
| This very fiat ;ering endorsement by his own
county was Of decisive force in the subsequent
| canvass. Later on in the evening 1t appeared
that Windsor, the county of Mr.. Porter's birth,
was solid in his support and Caledonia was
| also giving him most substantial backing, He
was the choice of spunky Lamoille," Of Rut-
land, Addison and Windham, and had strong
| following in Orange and Chittenden. Frank
lin was for DR.. Nichols, save one delegate In
| Orleans he was conceded a preference, and Or
ange had declared for him by majority of her
delegates present Such, substantially, was
the situation.
| WEDNESDAY MORNING.
There was large accession of delegates by
the early trains. About five hundred delegates
| out of total of over seven hundred were pres
emit. The counties revised the expressions of
preference given the night before at adjourned
meetings. There was no material change in
|
generally come in with their mouths made
| up" for Billings for governor Again the Bill.
lings boom defiantly fourished, but receded
before the sturdy confirmation the telegraph
| brought from Mr.. Billings himself OF the repre-
sensations of his friends and townsmen that his
| business engagements and his enforced alb.
sence from the state next fall at the time of the
biennial legislative session, imperatvely forbade
his acceptance of the honor the delegates were
eager to do him. In the race between Ormsbee
and Batchelder for Acknowledgements the lat
| ter seemed to have lessened the gap between
himself and his competitor. Orange county
by its new arrivals, had changed from Nichols
to Porter for secretary of state, and Washing.
| ton had reaffirmed its original choice by vote
Of forty-three for Porter to seven for Dr. Mich.
OILS. The morning edition Of the Free Pres,
| illustrated its character as an impartial pub
Usher Of news. 1t had championed the cause
of DR.. Nichols, and by undertaking the rea
| strength OF the opposition sought to help Out
its own candidate The exact status OF thu
canvass Of the night before was known to it
but It contained the astounding intelligence
that 1t was reported that Mr.. Porter had a ma
jority OF Washington county, but DR.. Nicho
had the inside track Before the assembling
OF the convention Mr.. Porter's canvass seemed
to have prevailed his nomination had becom,
an assured fact, notwithstanding the Ere
| Press unfairness and the fact that the ole
guard, to man, had rallied to the support Of
the doctor and was fighting desperately to saw
the day.
THE CONVENTION ASSEMBLED
at Howard Opera House somewhat past thu
appointed hour. The assemblage did not siz
up well in the Opera House. If the buildin.
had been secured in expectation OF great con
course the expectation was not realized. Tn,
delegates comprised the audience for the mos
part. Among the delegates and back OF thu
seats allotted to them was a sprinkling of spec
tators. DR.. George Nichols, chairman Of tn
state committee, called the convention to or
der. At the last state convention for the nom
nation OF governor and other officers, tn
prayerful intercession of a democratic recto
OF the Episcopal church had been obtained. Il
performing this act of self-abnegation the ceri
had benignantly expressed his willingness t.
pray even for republicans, II he could d
them any good. Either experience had show
the chairman that no prayers were better thai
democratic prayers, or that not even their pc
ltical enemies would longer pray for republi
cans; either he had lost his trust in Providence
or, for some other unexplained reason, the bless
ing of heaven was not formally invoked upol
the labors OF the convention. With worldly hast
the undevout doctor directed the convention
at once to the despatch OF business and nance
Hon. Henry c. Ide of St. Johnsbury for TEN
porary president On taking the chair Mr.. Id
} addressed the convention as follows:
!. Gentlemen Of the Convention IL thank yo
most heartily and sincerely for the high homo
! you have conferred upon me- Before pro
! ceeding to the formal work before us, allow m
few suggestions as tothe duty before u.s. Gu
| primary work is to choose candidates to fill GU
state offices for two years to come. That thi
, work will be well done, that entirely sutabl
nominations will be made, and that the usua
republican majority will be rolled up next fa
> no one here can doubt. But the work of thi
, convention extends far beyond the limits O
Vermont. A great issue Is to be fought be
tween the party of progress and the part
which opposes. In that contest Vermont Is i
] the vanguard. Ours 10 the first state conveI
ton since the national convention chose tn
standard-bearers who are to lead us on to vic
[ tory Vermont will be the first state to pas
upon the great questions at issue. The ques
tions which will be asked next September are
What says Vermont? What is her opinio
| Of the ticket Is the majority as large a
! usual, or does Vermont hesitate and fall back
II was the universal wish here that the stand
l ard-bearer should be that illustrious statesma
whom the state honors and who honors tn
: state. Why was he not nominated? Not be
8 cause he is not eminently qualified for tn
, presidency; not because he was not cordial
supported by his own state; not because cat
, cuses were manipulated. Another was nomiI
ated because the great heart OF the naton-th
, | voters who must elect q president-said, Civ
us the candidate we want-the man who wi
| arouse limitless enthusiasm-James g. Blaine
a All OF us regard our senator with affection an
pride, but we unite with the republicans a.
, | over the country whose choice was that ma
i who Is the nearest the heart of the people sine
: Abraham Lincoln died. Our candidate is
brilliant statesman, who has never faltered bI
always borne aloft the standard Of republican