St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-09-09

Francis Walker 2
And t. C. Fletcher was declared
elected.
1t is rather late now to discuss the
causes that led to this result, chief
among which was that Col. Fletcher's
forces were united and well generated,
while the opposition seemed to lack a
head or central purpose. In putting
up Francis Walker they nominated
one of Col. Fletcher's warmest and
avOwed friends. 1t was currently
talked through the day that there was
more or less trading going on between
the Fletcher men and the democrats,
exchanging Peck votes as against
Bunker for Fletcher votes, and it looks
as though considerable democratic
strength went over to Fletcher on the
second ballot.
| l.. ID. Hazen's vote, considering the
fact that his name was presented at
the last moment and that no effort was
made to further his candidacy aside
very gratifying and we'll deserved
compliment to him. The smallness of
the democratic vote was source of
surprise all round.
The Serenade.
After the election, Tuesday evening,
the st. JOhnsbury band escorted a
| L. 0f 70 hn
dence of Col. Fletcher on Main street.
The front of the house was ornament
ed with Chinese lanterns and after
music by the band Senator elect H. C..
Bates, in behalf of the people of ST..
JOhnsbury, extended congratulations
to the Colonel. The people, irrespec-
tive of party, he said, extended con-
CALCULATIONS. The common people had
elected Col. Fletcher as their repre-
sentative and it was a source of graft
fcatiOn that he goes to the legislature
unpledged as to future action. He
was trusted implicitly to fairly repre-
sent his constituents on all questions
of public interest, with the same judg-
ment and wisdom that had always
characterized his management of his
own affairs.
After the cheering that followed
had subsidized Col. Fletcher respond
ed, first congratulating "Senator" Bates
on the results of the days work and
then saying that no honor ever shown
him by this people was so valued as
this election, which he accepted as
from the rank and file of the laboring
people. Many things had been said
on all sides that had better been left
unsaid but these should now be for
given and forgotten, though one little
thing should not be allowed to pass
without mention. When any person
in the town, he said, comes to spend
$1,000 for the purpose of "burying
another person out of sight forever"
1899 of that money had better be de-
voted to some other purpOse-the SOL
dier's home for example-but he had
little doubt but that some of the money
was yet unexpended. After promising
to faithfully serve his constituency the
company was invited into the house
where generous supply of lemonade
and cigars awaited them and where an
opportunity was given to greet the
successful candidate and his family.
1t was quite late hour before all had
joined in the hand shaking and the
friendly festivities were at an end.
Col. II. c. Fletcher.
Colonel Truman G. Fletcher, st.
Johnsbury's representative elect, is
lifelong republican. He was born at
Underhill, Oct. 81, l845 and moved to
st. Johnsbury in 1866, the intervening
years being spent in Shelburne and
Burlington. Here he purchased the
dry goods store on Main street which
he occupied until January of this year
and built up from a small country
store to one of the larger of the similar
establishments in the state. During
his residence of 20 years in this town
he has been closely identified with
public affairs. At various times he has
held the positions of director in the
Merchants National bank, director and
secretary and treasurer of the CaledO-
MIA county fair ground company, mem
Der of the county republican commit
tee and for two years past has been
member of the school board in this
place. In 1884 Col. Fletcher was
delegate to the Chicago national re-
publican convention, serving as sec
rotary of the state delegation. During
Gov. Stewards term he was appointed
a member of the governors staff and
thus acquired the title of Colonel. He
is prominent mason and has been
closely identified with the local and
state organization. Through recent
years he has been active in political
matters, both local and state.
How They Stand.
1t is impossible to classify Senator's
elect III. C. Bates and c. A. Bunke r of
this county or the st. Johnsbury rep
resentative, Col. t. c. Fletcher, in re-
lation to their position on the Ed
munds question. Neither of the three
are pledged to the support of Ed
munds. OF the senators the feeling
prevails that Mr.. Bunker may be