The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-30

OOuhpJ ohONAN w oNaJ
The senatorial question excites much
interest. The desirability of getting back
to the old custom of the county in the
choice of these officials, to which reference
was made in THE WAToHMAN of July
9, is acknowledged on all hands. But on
the question as to how or when 1t shall
be done, there does not appear to be the
same unanimity of opinion. 1t is for the
convention to say whether it will nominate
one new senator at this time, or whether
it will nominate two new ones, with the
understanding that one shall be without
expectation of the customary renomina-
ton two years hence, or whether it will
renominate both the present senators and
put off for two years longer the restoring
of the old order of things. There is no
great principle involved in the question.
1t is rather matter of sentiment and
personal considerations.
As to the office of states attorney, it is
quite certain that Barre and Montpelier
will each have a candidate, and that the
nominee will come from one of those
towns. On the part of the former it is
maintained that her rival has had the
office for the past four years. Being the Sec
ond town in Importance in the county, and
not having had, at least for long term of
years, county Office of any consequence,
-, kha a0nranti0y, Nth N
competent candidate Barre reasons that
she should have precedence of Montpelier
in this matter. In point of fact, the can
didacy seems now to lie between E. w.
Bisbee and O. B. Boyce of Barre, and H.
w. Kemp of Montpelier. All are good
men. Voters will have their preference
and the convention will be entirely compe-
tent to consider all the circumstances and
elect which it will prefer for this Office.
We should expect that any one of these
men would faithfully and diligently
attend to the enforcement of the laws of
the state within the county. We simply
present the matter of the candidacy for
this Office as we understand it at this time.
The names Of Mr.. George Buckley of
Moretown and u. S. Stanton, ESQ.,, of
Roxbury, have been added to the list of
the "mentioned" for the Office of assist
ant Judge. Mr.. Buckley is worthy far
mer of experience in town affairs, in the
settlement of estates and as referee. If
Moretown presents candidate, she may
have to make friendly choice between
MIR. Sawyer, whose candidacy has been al
ready mentioned, and Mr.. Bulkley-both
of whom are "good men and true" and
entirely competent to fill the Office. Mr..
Stanton is a lawyer of good reputation and
of considerable experience in affairs. He
is candid, honorable gentleman, and in
point of qualifications is perhaps the first
on the list of candidates, which now in
cludes the names of ex-Sheriff Lyford of
Warren, of whom we recently spoke, Saw
yer and Buckley of Moretown, and Stanton
of Roxbury.
The much-mooted question whether
future conventions shall be m ass or dele
gate will probably come up for reconsid-
Grafton. If we remember Alright, the coun-
ties of the state have now, with the single
exception of Washington, adopted the
delegate system. Orange and Caledonia,
which had long and zeslously adhered to
the holding of mass conventions, have this
year yielded to reason and directed their
county committee to call delegate conven-
tions in the future. What the ratio of
representation is in all cases, we are not
informed. In Orange it is three dele
gates for each town and one additional
for each one hundred republican votes, or
majority fraction of one hundred. A
convention for this county, on this basis,
would consist of ninety-six mem bers, as
follows Barre seven, Berlin five, Cabot
five, Calais five, Duxbury four, East
Montpelier five, Fayston four, Marshfield
five, Middlesex five, Montpelier eight
Moretown four, Mortified seven, Plain
field four, Roxbury four, Waitsfeld FIVE
Warren five, Waterbury six, Woodbury.
four, Worcester four. If the basis were
double the number allowed in state and
district conventions, a county convention
would consist of one hundred and sixteen
If neither of the above methods produces
membership large enough to keep up the
interest in the towns and to awaken en-
thusiasm at the convention, increase the
basis till body sufficiently large, in single
delegations and in the aggregate, is OBJ
tanned for all purposes of an efficient and
interested dispatch of business. The
abuses and incongruities of mass conven
tions have been frequently illustrated il
this county, and it is useless to review
them. A convention of delegates is thu
only orderly and consistent body fol
choosing candidates for officers after thu
limit of the political unit, the town, hal
been passed. 1t is right in theory ant
successful in practice. The size of thu
town delegations, by either plan propose ed
will be large enough for safety at home