Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-10-23

was not-tha is deny II. He simply asserts that he
gives no one authority TO say that he IL. He leaves
the gate wide open. None Of his intimate personal
friends dare TO come out and say be IL candidate,
but they act a. II he is. They declAim against Ed
munds. "He lie selfish, cold and unpopular" they
say; che has had enough. When are In straits he
never helps u.s. but is always ready TO be re-eected
And with accord they give him the credit Of elect
ing Cleveland. zone speech from him would have
saved Blaine" is heard everywhere. Gov, Smith
said as much, aud forthwith all his friends take up
All the Smith party against Edmunds. The line
is drawn there. And their watchword IL, "Edmunds
elected ClevelAnd.n On that line all the anti-Rd-
munds discomfort ls industriousy fomented. And It
is done for one object which object s to defeat Ed
Mind l do not say there will be = Republican vote
against Edmunds when the legislature meets. Smith
IL in position to recede or go ahead, II be huds
that the outlook is bad he will call Il that he never
was candidate, and hscribe all that s said 10 the
hostility OF his enemies But II this lndustriously
circulated talk against Edmunds and q dilgent can
vass gives favorable outlook be will be in the hqht
He wants terribly TO win, but be cannot afford TO
go in and be beaten.
Bald Lawyer Writers TO me, one Of the railroad at
torneys and Just receiver Of the defunot Bowes
bank: The governor wants TO be senator, but It is
not certain what be will do. II the outlook 10 favor
able and the chances bright no viii go in, but It
will depend good deal upon what the general poit-
cal situation Ia next year II the Republican party is
strong and the administration weak, and Edmunds
does well In the senate this winter he Is likely to be
returned. II John sherman is sent back that will
help him. But there IL good deal OF opposition 10
him" Mr. L. A. Smith, the governors cousin and
formerly representative, thinks the latter viii make
decided push for Edmundsb seat, while Treasurer
stranahan Of the National Car company the govern
ors brother-n law and present town representative.
said very frankly that while the Opposition 70 Ed
opinion the senator will be returned Others OF the
governorS friends dwell the hostility to Edmunds
but disclaim having received any limitations that
Smith Ia In the field.
The governor has paper here which was formerly
hostile 70 him, and which he silenoed some years ago
by purchase, after spending large in trying In
vain TO Kill 1t BY running rival The editor at pres
man Of the Republican state committee, Nj. Gibbs
was formerly an ardent Edmunds man, but somehow
grew sour toward him last fall. gibbs explains his
detection, a. All the Smith party do, because Of Ed
mundss attitude toward Blaine. This IL the way he
puts IL; 81 went up TO Edmunds after he came
back from Warrington, aud told him that weWere
coming up to serenAde him with band and wanted
good speech. He says: Don't come here With your
brass banda II you do, l will 20 OF fishing will
take no hand and no part for Blaine. A good many
men will vote for him ignorADty, but II make
speech l shall have to enlighten them, which
liked him better after that II he had not voted for
Blaine. But he did, and that shows there wasn't
much sincerity IN his talk against him."
Now Gibbs Il doing all he can and not attract too
much attention, against Edmunds. II was . matter
once IN Burlington to edit the Messenger, eSpSined,
as the Aut-smith people say, by his development OF
hostility to Edmunda But his editorial call is not
the only suggestive feature in Vermont Journalism
which looks "a II Smith was planning for campaign.
Some months ago, his then editor at 81. Albans d.
W. Dixon, bought the Waterman, the Republican pa
per at Montpelier. Tue money said TO be furn-
ished by Gov. Smiths friend, L. BART Gross, who
is very emphatic In his anti Edmuuds tak. Another
boosted newspaper accession IL the Rutland Herald
the best daily In the state. This time ago, for
debt, was acquired by Charles Clements, the chief
owner Of the Rutland railroad. Clements IL in init
mate business relations with Smith, who has lease
Of the Rutland road which till 1891. Clements
wants the lease renewed, and IL hostile to eI-Gov
Proctor, who opposes Smith. These reasons lead the
Smith faction 10 claim the support OF the Herald
which was formerly friendly 10 Edmupds. Here IL
smother straw. psper in Burlington, Edmunds's
home, the Clipper, 10 run by man who has always
been for smith. OF late he has developed remarks-
BILE animosity to Edmunds, and his paper is full OF IT,
While 1t has great influence, its persistent hngs
are annoying: The Edmunds folks attribute them to
A well known correspondent who Is In the inside In
this thing figured out to that Gov. Smith can rely
y he decides to make nght, upon the 81. Adams
Messenger, the Montpelier Waterman, the swAnton
Courier the West Randolph Herald the Bradford
| Opinion, Barton Monitor, Bennington Banner, Rut
land Daily Review and Daily Herald, Burlington Clip
per and White River junction Landmark, with the
active assistance Of Hiram AtkinA's Montpelier Ar
deed, the stock Joke il that the Democrats Of Yer
mont are an attachment Of the Central Vermont rail-
see considerable talk made about the effect one
way or the other, aud particularly helping I'd
munds, Of the legislative reunion at Montpelier
That Ia laughed at here. State Auditor Powell tells
me that the senatorship was not discussed much
there he thinks, as does every else here, that
Smith will not go to work through legislative reun-
ions but by quiet canvass by Of the railroad
people throughout the state II will be emphAticAny
"shn hunt, for II An open hght is made Edmunds
Smiths strength lies in his railroad. 1t enables
MIN 70 employ half the lawyers in Vermont In one
way or smother at nominal retainer and pass. Tho
pass business In Vermont il established that hard
y man Of any influence il without one, aud mileage
tickets are always tap. His strength lies In the
little army Of politicians who believe In rotation who
want to make dollar and who have found the rail-
roed good friend. II rests on the hope Of over
turn and subsequent advantage somehow. But tits
met BY the fear OF failure by the non-response Of the
people and Is oowed by the pride which Vermont
Smiths great weakness is at home He cannot car
Y bis own county That Is admitted. 81. Adams is
his, ana probably Richford and Bakersheld the other
IL towns are hostile. Il Is nothing new. For half q
generation St. Adams has been In hght - It's trib-
utary country. 81. Adams is nothing but what the
railroad makes It. Its politics are controlled by the
road The last seven town Representatives have been
two brothsr.in-lAw Of Gov Smith, two cousins, one
nephew, and two Of the railroad lawyers. large
and bitter opposition exists led by ex-ConRresaman
Barlow potential in the county, but helpless in town
Governor Smith is very much like Mr. Blaine in
physique and methods. He is GffAble and handsome,
large nose that in BlAines makeup, and he even
has slight Blaine sort Of . lisp; He is worshipped
accuse him Of duplcity and insincerity and M fact
charge him with almost everything. He rules with 1
steel hand albeit well gloved Spite of all opposition,
all predictions OF failure, he has succeeded. His
wealth is enormous. His presidency Of the Northern
Pacific made him millionaire. Courts and legisla-
lures for years have done his bidding. The Central
Vermont system, once owned in Boston, IL now en-
urely in his control What he took a. receiver, he
enemies say this done by oofruptinR the bench
and legislature. But 1t has all been done under the
form Of law, and however much they may have raged
him 10, after all. much OF against the state in
its ofhoia representatives against him. He s the
powerful.
. Yet # has al come at great cost In this town he
lives elegantly owns thousands Of acres OF land and
spends money like prince. His home IL one Of lux
ury and refinement. His farms models in their
way HIS family are cultured BY travel and study.
one OF his sons "a growing TO succeed him pres-
ident OF the road. He is foremost in the church. His
friends are all on top his enemies injured and In
many cases ruined. Grown up here from boy, he 10
the magnate Of the town. He entertains layishly
But the town itself is bighted. There is no town
spirit, no local pride-amply jealOuses and hatred
Smith party and an anti-smith party are found.
THOSE on one side have little TO do with the other
business Is dull The town IL heavily IN debt. All
the three banks have failed by the dishonesty Of their
managers and no one starts another because there il
no public confidence. One business enterprise after
another has been brought In 1t large expense aud all
have disappeared. Those who were on top ten years
ago who rode in their carriages aud hOurhed in style
copied In every detail from the current New York
fashion, have come 10 grief save the governors per-
sonal following. Some are under Indictment, some
mp Few Of the hne houses are 10 The hands OF those
who then owned them. Speculation and financial
crook have left their marks behind. The Bar
lows brAineTds and sowes, once rich and strong
now poor. There is a dry rot In the town. Through
II al aoyernor Smith has ptood-stood 70 be envisd
and hated. Hia lie the royal family" He ia not pop
ulAr. His enemies charge upon him the beginning OF
their troubles He has tried 70 suppress the hostility
and at times apparently with success But the smoul
dering flames Will always break out. He has been Al
enmity with bis own people. His brothers-n-laW, two
~ men, nSvs declared that ne wronged them in set
Brainard, was for years local rival Two Year, ago
his bank broke, and he Il nov fugitive from justice
The Smith party are trying to bring him back from
Canada. They want 70 witness his humIllation-to
see him In court aud 10 prison. Besides, they want
70 make political capital 10 their enemies viii have a.
by securing his return. And 80 Brainsrd becomes An
object OF pity and good will IN some quarters for this
feud overeAps and breaks down ali other considers
tionei aud e0ndones crime Furnishes Innocence ao-
eording 10 the prosecuting faction.
Aud while lawrence Branerd Is q fugitive, others
concerned In these bank robberes go scot free II Is
Impossible 70 convict any Indictments are faulty
or compromises are made-by whom how, no one
can tell and 30 II last theee inQuilies which ought
10 no one going.
II has grown to be the theory In FRANKLIN county
that none Of the railroad people need fear the courts
whether this u true, or whether, Governor Smiths
friends say It s one Of the endless fabrcaOns Of his
enemies, need express no opinion. Enough TO say
thai suspci0n treAehery aud dishonesty mutually
charged and believed And while the Smith party u
on top, with BArlew'a wealth gone and BrAnerd flu
give II seems TO avail them nothing when II comes
TO votes or In leaaening the old hostility,