Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-11
The second nl.,rle, Candidate.

iANNNil NVANueNNs
The Second District Candidates.
The only change in the contest for the
membership in Congress in the Second dis
trict from the situation two weeks ago, when
we announced Gen. Circuit, ex.Gov. Farnham,
Warren O. French and Col. Hooker as being
in the field as declared candidates, lies in the
fact that Hon. VIM. P. Dillingham;, Of Water
bury was definitely announced last week as
the candidate of Washington county, with q
strong local support behind him. The Mont
pelier Waterman says Of Mr.. Dillingham; this
week
"w. 2. Dillingham;, Washington countys candidate
for representative from the second district IL forty
years old but measured by the experience he has
had he is many years older -Four years states attor
ney for Washington county, during which time he had
lifelong experience and developed very rapidly; six
years in the state legislature ending with two terms
in the senate, retiring from that body in 1880 two
years tax commissioner, with active professional
life and large experience in many important matters
involving millions Of dolars-thls is q reasonably
good record for young who was admitted to the
bar only seventeen years ago. He is in the field
in response to growing popular demand in response
to the opportunities of that element that triumphed
that element that looks for the union, in public ofl
cals, Of high character and fine abilities, called to the
front by the voice Of the people themselves"
The grounds on which Gen. Grout rests
his claim to the nomination are fully set forth
by friends in his own town and county in
communications which we print this weok.
As is intimatod in one of these letters, we
know Gen. Grout from our school-days of old,
we have been familiar with his career since,
and we believe his case is stated with truth
and fairness His friends claim for him the
solid support of the three northern counties
in the district, which were q part of the old
Third district, and large amount of strength
in Orange and Windsor counties.
The candidacy of ex-Gov. Farnham Of
Bradford and Warren q. French of Wood
stock has not yet attained prominence outside
the local support which these gentlemen re-
ceive in their own counties. The chief sig
nifcance of the movement in their behalf
seems likely to lie in the support which they
may be able to give some of the other csndi-
dates when the final contest comes.
In this end Of the district, as we have before
announced, and as is well understood, Col.
Geo. w. Hookers friends are making an &C.
tive canvass for him, and he hopes to receive
in the convention the support of this county
and to have considerable following in Wind
sor and Orange counties. Col Hooker was a
member of the 4th Vermont regiment and
assistant adjutant general, serving with dis
tinction on the staff of Gen. Devens. He
was delegate.at-large to the national Repub-
lican convention in 1880, and a member of
the national committee and its assistant Sec
rotary in the presidential campaign of that
year. He represented this town in the legis-
lature in the sessions of 1873 and 1880, and
in the last was chairman of the committee of
ways and means, and active in securing the
passage of the corporation tax law. He was
sergeant-at arms of the House of Representa-
tives in the 47th Congress and performed the
duties of that Office with ability and fidelity.
He is at present a member of the Republi-
can national committee and secretary of the
executive committee.
1t can truly be said of Col. Hooker that he
has we'll performed the duties of every posi-
ton which he has occupied, and furthermore,
that he has the goodwill and support of this
town and community in his efforts to secure
any Office for which he is qualified. A seri-
GUS question arises, however, whether his
education, training and natural bent of mind
fit him for the duties of national legislation.
Thi1 comes from no feeling of antagonism to
Col. Hooker, and is here suggested FROM
no motive of captious opposition nor in any
spirit other than one of entire friendlness to
him. We suggest it solely because the
office in question is above every personal con-
sideration, and is larger than the claims or
ambition of any one man.
For generations past Vormont's strength
before the country has lain in the ability and
high character of the men whom she has
sent to represent her in the two houses Of
Congress. In an editorial on this subject two
weeks ago We urged that the man who this
year goes to Congress from the Second dis
trict should be man whom the people mean
to keep there to grow up to fill place in the
line of preferment after men like Foote,
Collamer, Edmunds Morrill, Willard and Po-
land. To do this, as we then said, he must
be man of ability, of integrity, of thorough
training, and of capacity for craftsmanship.
He should also be man in active sympathy
with the principles of political reform for
which the people of Vermont have this year
emphatcally declared
The rule is one which should apply, not on
ly in Col. Hooker's case, but in that of all
the gentlemen who are named for this office.
The question is in the hands of the people
for their action, and it will be practically de-
cided at the oaucuses to be held next Thurs.
day. The duty of Republicans in every town
is to attend these caucuses, keep the control
out of the hands of political manipulators,
and elect as delegates fair. minded represen-
tative and independent men who will correct
ly voice the views of their constituents. If
this is done we shall cheerfully abide by the
rasnlL of tho nnnunntinnln Srn.E ..l.a.. a