The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-10
The Speakership.

At the time we went to press last week
but limited portion of the state had
been heard from. The composition of
the house of representatives in particular
was not clearly determinable from the in.
formation at hand. What material was
available for the speakership was not
apparent. The most conspicuous name
among the representatives chosen, so far
as reported, was that of Hon. w. P.
Dillingham; of Waterbury. He seems to
have been seized upon simultaneously by
many individuals for the speakership.
His instant and spontaneous selection for
the responsible and honorable position
once held by Edmunds and Stewart,
among Vermont's distinguished statesmen
now living and in active service, is
gratifying evidence of the esteem in which
Mr.. Dillingham; is held in the state at
large. We have reason to believe that
his candidacy would have encountered no
serious, if any, opposition. He does not,
however, aspire to be speaker and will
not be candidate for the honor of pre-.
siding over the house. As THE WATCH.
MAN intimated last week, he will prefer
to serve his constituents and the state on
the floor Of the house. By nature and
experience he is especially qualified to
render efficient and valuable service in
that position, and for man of his mettle
and equipment, there will be the post of
real honor. Among the members.elect
there are several whose capacity to per-
form the duties of speaker will be recog-
nized. Walker of Ludlow is such man,
but his abilities mark him for capable
service in other positions of responsibility.
Franklin of Newfane has had experience
in both branches of the legislature and he
has the personal qualities and the famili.
arity with parliamentary rules that would
be required in an efficient speaker.
Henry of Chester has shown, W lille tenn
porarily occupying the speakers chair, a
readiness for its routine duties that would
give him following if he should be can
didate. Grout of Derby, after several
years absence from the state, is again a
resident of Vermont, and his name re-
appears upon the roll of legislative
membership. He has the prestige of
having once held the Office of speaker
by the vote of the house. In 1874, after
Judge Powers election to the bench,
toward the close of the session, he resigned
the speakership and Mr.. Grout was elected
to succeed him. He has the qualifications
of good presiding officer and would
creditably discharge the onerous duties of
the chair. There is doubtless unde-
veloped material for a speaker in the new
body, and as the session progresses the
official head of some future house of
representatives may be discovered, but
we believe that the republicans of Airing.
ton, by electing James X. Batchelder to
the house, have also chosen the speaker OF
that body for the next bien NAL term. Mr.
Batchelder is young lawyer, distin
guished in his profession. For seven
years prior to 1876 he was states attorney
for Bennington county. He represented
Arlington in the legislature in 1874 and
1876, and in 1880 he was presidential
elector for the first district. Mr.. Bstchel
der has the equipment of an efficient
presiding officer. He has not only tn,
capabilities for the routine and technica
duties of the Office, but he has the deeper
qualities and the strength for the weightie
business of the position. If he is chosen
we believe he will construct the com
mittees intelligently, impsrtially, and will
reference to the best interests of the state
We believe the public business will b.
correctly done and rapidly dispatched
under his direction. He has the physica
endurance, the good presence, courtes.
and affability 80 essential to an acceptable
J performance of the duties of the chair
and we shall hope to see the hous
recognize his distinctive fitness for tn
speakership by electing him to that ofic
by reclamation.