The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-09-26
A Question OF State Politics.
From The Vermont Watchman.l

1t has been apparent to watchful
observers of the signs of the times in
this state that there has been, dating
back perhaps to the adjournment of the
Legislature last fall, quite strong
under-current of feeling as to the
future course of the state in respect
to the administration of it's affairs.
Various things have contributed to
awaken an interest in state politics
that ordinarily would slumber till the
near approach of the time for select
ing candidates for state officers for
the next biennial term. Certain eco
nomic facts and conditions have lad
much to do in projecting somewhat
lively concern in state affairs into
this period when interest in state
politics is usually dormant. Very
likely these, economic conditions have
been the originating cause of the very
evident state of political unrest in
Vermont, but amid the murmuring of
the waters the voice of the Office
seeker has been distinguished. High
offices in the national councils will
next year be stakes of the game of
|
politics. All the state offices,
also, are objects of consider
able solicitude in certain quarters,
and chief among them the governor
ship. In respect to the latter, how
ever, the interest seems to be not so
much as to the personnel of the head
of the next state ticket as to whether
practice that, between 1878 and
1886, and crystalized into sort of
unwritten law, shall be revived. We
refer to the matter of the promotion
Of the lieutenant-governor directly to
the office of governor through the
) action of the nominating convention,
since nomination by the delegates
of the dominant party is, in this state
equivalent to an election. In way
that is familiar political history and
that was singularly expressive of the
sentiments of the people, this practice
was broken in the convention of 1886.
SO much interest in this matter had
developed, and it had become SO
clear that on the affirmation or rever-
sal of the decision of the convention
of 1886 the question of the selection
of candidate in 1890 would turn,
that we recently prepared circular
presenting this question of the direct
succession of the lieutenant governor
to the office of governor, without an
intervening term of the governorship,
and sent it to a number of representa-
tive republicans in all parts of the
state, asking each for an expression
of his views thereon. We received a
large number of replies. The returns
are not yet complete, but in Difference
to the public interest in this matter
| we have concluded to present our
consensus of opinion" " so far as it
has been taken. 1t is proper to state
that the answers received represent
all sections of the state; that in num-
Der they are nearly treble the aggre-
gate membership of the Legislature,
and far exceed the roll of delegates
to the party conventions. In repre-
sentative character, also, the consen-
sus is easily the peer of any legisla-
) tive Or delegate body.
OF the whole number, about two
thirds, or sixty-seven per cent. made
4 the following answer:
81 believe the custom of immediately
promoting acknowledgements to be gov
ernors, which prevailed in our state from
1876 until broken in the case of Lieuten
ant governor Fuller, is unwise; and an
opposed to retGrn thereto by the
nominating conventions of the republican
| party"
OF the whole number, about one
eight, or twelve per cent. made tht
following reply:
Il believe the custom of immediatel,
promoting lieutenant-governors to be gov
, ernors, which prevailed in our state from
1876 until broken in the case of Lieuten
t ant-governor Fuller, is not unwise; ant
| am not opposed to return thereto b.
f the nominating conventions of the repub
> lican party"
TO few of the above answers, les
than one in four, comments wer
added either explaining or enforcing
the views of the writers. The abov
| accounts for seventy-nine per cent.
or about four-fifths of all answers
The remaining twenty-one per cent.
or about one-fifth, were either non
r committal, or wrote letters expressing
: varying shades of belief or unbelie
!. in the custom which was the subject o
inquiry. Some are of considera bl
length, some argumentative in charac
! ter, and many are marked "private
or . confidential"
; THE POPULATION Or LONDONDERRY
Is about 1900 and we would say at leas
: one-half are troubled with some atfectio
on the throat and lungs, as those con
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