News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-04-17
The GoVernOrShip.
From the Brattleboro Phoenix.

| rIOm Tie DTdJLleDOTO THCbnlA.
There has been something very like
a lull in the furious gubernatorial fight
during the past week. We suppose
that it must be that our friends on
the west side are cooling their guns
caring for the wounded, and bringing
up the powder wagons ready for the
next onset. When the Woodbury.
papers open up again there is one
point in this promotion business which
we want them to explain. They have
said great many times over that
while the Office of Lieutenant Gov
ernor ought not to give its holder a
mortgage on the Governorship, it
ought not on the other hand to be a
bar to the higher office. The man
himself should be the only factor.
This sounds well, but will they tell
us if it is not true that their candi-
date is being pushed for the Govern
orship simply because of the tempo
rary prominence which the lower
office has given him !? Do they mean
to say that he would have been
chosen among all the other men in
the State simply because of his supe-
rior fitness? This is the question
we want answered, and we ask it in
all seriousness, holding Col Wood
bury as we do in high esteem as
man and citizen. 1t is a serious ques-
ton and it can't be coughed down.
The state convention will have to
face the fact that if the promotion
rule is returned to this year it will
become a settled rule, and there will
be small chance that hereafter we
shall not have to take for Governor
IN each succeeding term the man who
happens to sit in the Lieutenant-G Gov
ernor's chair the previous term.
We still hold to our opinion that
the State convention will go very
slow in this matter. There was no
observer in the convention of four
years ago who did not concede that
at least 100 votes were instantly
changed to Col Fuller for Lieuten-
ant-Governor when it was announced
that, if nominated and elected, he
would not in two years be a can
didate for promotion. This was not
because the members of the conven-
ton distrusted Col. Fuller, or did not
wish to see him made Governor, but
because they welcomed chance to
break the promotion rule, and did it
with a rush. Because of this action,
and in justice to Col. Fuller, no less
than as matter of sound procedure
on general principles, we believe the
Windham county delegates to this
years convention will refuse to give
their votes for return to the promo
ton practice.
1t is true that up to this time the |
people of this county have failed to
wake up to an excited interest in the
canvass now in progress.
They know that the west side of the
State, under the foolish rule which
obtains, must furnish the candidate,
and has practically to name him. But
when the time for action comes we
believe that, for the reasons here sug-
gested, if the final choice lies between
Lieut. Gov. Woodbury. and Hon. Car
roll S. Page their support will be
given to the latter, and that it ought
to be. Mr.. Page stands outside of
any official influence, or, in other
words, outside the influence of the
" State house ring" which Mr. Blake,
Of the Barton M0nitOr, has recently
written effectively about; he is
bright, enterprising, successful man
Of the highest personal character, and
here is no man who has deserved
better of his party in Vermont for
able and effective service in recent
years.