Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-05-09

w certain persons connected with one Of
the leading railroads To this Mr.. Marsh
replied that he did not believe any Of these
gentlemen would he hostile IN Mr.. Page on
this account and he said in addition that
he would make an explanation Of the situa.
ton when circumstances offered Mr.. Page
made no objection TO this, but did saw that
as Republican candidate for governor, he
tcouid not, ereH for The sake Of being gorern-
or, lie his hands IN any icay. or pledge sub.
Serriency 10 any interest Mr. Marsh adds
that the proposition on his part to make
such an explanation was an entirely free.
will Offering, and that any conversation
which he subsequently had on the subject
with any person in the railroad interest was
incidental to other business. The utmost
frankness Of speech was used. and each
party to the conversation was left free to
the exercise Of his choice as to what candi-
date for governor he might support. There
was no attorneyship about it, no fee nor
nor reward, nor any hope or expectancy of
any fee or reward"
This certainly puts Mr. Page in a good
light and relieves him of all suspicion of
having tried, through an attorney or other.
wise, to secure railroad support for his can
vass. No man in Vermont is of higher
personal character, or enjoys more unver-
sal confidence and respect than does Mr..
Marsh, and there can be no doubt of the
truth of his statement.
What were the circumstances attending
the appointment of chairman of the Re.
publican state convention of 1888, as al
luded to, the Waterman thus explains. and
the statement is of interest
After the adjournment Of the state convention
at burlington, In April 1888 for the choice of del
eRates to the national convention at Chicago The
state committee held a meeting to arrange for
1ne convention for nominating the state ticket
Inc question Of the temporary chairmanshin ~
that convention came up for Consideration The
name OF George T. Childs. Governor Smiths nri.
vate secretarY, was suggested. One by one the
members OF the committee expressed their a n
prOval, with single exception This member
expressed his objections frankly If any one con
hecteu Win the Central railway were to be chosen
ny Ptlerred Governor Smith himself The
chairman was the last to speak He referred To
tne pontcal situation in Franklin county The
iact mat the Republican party there was divided
INTO two hostile camps resulting in Renublicon
weakness and defeat, reviewed We are en-.
fIlnE' ne SAID, upon canvass in which vast in.
nation will see In the result Of the election in Yer.
mont sign OF victory or defeat of victory, as in
ISy u mat splendid majority shall be recovered;
OF ueieat as in 1884, IL there is discord and divs
ION and NermOnt's historic majority is again Sc
rlously impaired. Chairman Page pleaded for
concord In the party in every nook and corner of
the state IN which the first battle Of the campaign
was TO be fought. He urged that il would be- un-
wise TO choose for the man who was to sound tine
ntst buglenute of a campaign opening with so
,liucn promise representative Of either Of the
t MSesing factions IN Franklin county or of an in
this ste ;,eat where timothy was sown, "ioS
the grass was gnnrdhIustly. was regarded in
as ,-.~.e with widespread jealousy. The force
OF the chairnans reasons and the practical wis
That the selection of a chairman be delayed for
awhile was accepted In this sagacious act
Chairman Page justified the wisdom that had
made him the Republican leader IN Vermont
His subsection of personal considerations to the
dictates of official duty characteristic of the
man, Nermont's splendid canvass and the ma.
tional triumph that was furetOkened was I'M
questionably attributable, in some large measure
to the quiet resolution and wise foresight at that
time, OF the chairman of the Republican state
committee. But by that act of duty aud courage
he incurred the bitter enmity of the man-and
his personal adherents- whose ambition had been
disappointed. Angry threats Of vengeance were
made, and apparently the parties believe the
time to execute those threats has come
This incident simply illustrates, as we
think, the independence of conviction which
characterizes Mr.. Page as a man While
the fact that Col. Woodbury. is understood
to have, in this canvass, the sympathy and
support of the railroad interests, ought not
to be unduly counted against him, it ought
not to be understood, on the other hand,
that Mr.. Page, if elected governor, would
entertain any hostility toward those inter
ests. We believe he would simply try to
hold himself free from undue influence or
prejudice of any kind, and administer his
office for what he conceived to be the best
interests of all the people of the state We
believe. moreover, that he would give the
financial affairs and condition of the state
the competent scrutiny and attention of
which they certainly stand in need