Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-06-09
A Resume.


torial canvass is about over, and a
few words, as n sort of resume, may
not be out of place:
Col. Woodbury. began to be talked
about for governor by certain set
of friends in the fall of 1888 at Mont
pelier during session time. A slate,
as we claim, was prepared and GER
tain influential men and politicians
then and since that time have been
interested in the candidacy of MI.
Woodbury..
A wide acquaintance IN the state, a
good standing as citizen, the in
fiuence of the c. A. r. and some
minor things helped his candidacy on
the start. After the preliminaries
were arranged and Col. Woodbury. s
name was mentioned, certain papers,
among the most prominent of which
were the Free Press at Burlington,
and the Messenger at St. Albans, be-
gan to boom Col. Woodbury.. 1t
turned out later that for some reason
a large share of the customs officials
were friendly, and, in many cases,
actively interested in Mr.. Woodbury.
behalf. From an open letter written
by Col. W. it seemed that he had as
surance that the influence of officials
of the Central Vt. r. r. would be
exerted for him. Meanwhile some of
the papers took up the discussion in
regard to the matter of promoting
the lieutenant governor to the first
office, and the drift of opinion was
against the idea of promotion. 1t
was stated by some that Col. Wood
bury owned and leased a hotel in
Burlington, in which there was bar
and liquor selling. 1t appeared that
that Mr.. Woodbury's record was all
right in the matter of temperance, and
the papers which had published the
statement printed counter statement.
Since Col. Woodbury. has been more
actively in the field, the newspapers,
notably the Free Press, have found a
very wide circulation, and the Col
himself has been quite active in his
interests in various meetings. assem-
blies, ETC., and has united with sew
eral secret organizations, thereby
showing an unwonted interest in the
affairs of the state. Certainly he
and his friends have pushed his can
vass vigorously. No particular scan
dial has appeared against him. He
stands as good, clean man, of av-
erage ability. As a governor his
purposes would be good. We think,
however, that the powers which will
make him governor, if he is made
such. will have such a control over
him that he can do, will do, little to
suggest or effect anything new in the
line of economy or reform.
Mr.. Page, the other leading candi-
date, has been assailed with more Wig
or and in more points than Col. Wood
bury. The history of his entrance
into the field is simply this, that after
the success of the campaign of 1888
so creditable to the state and to
the state committee-a large number
of leading republicans thought that
G. S. Page, the most active spirit in
IN the state committee, had done a
work that merited recognition. His
successful business career was we'll
known; his work as Inspector of FL
nance, his admirable report; his ha-
bitual interest in everything that
gave credit to the state and benefit
to her people were understood. and
the office of governor, so far as a
very large number of leading men
were concerned, sought Mr.. Page.
He had a right TO consider this fa-
vor compliment and to turn his at
tention in that direction. Later, by
personal inquiry, and by letters under
his own signature, he asked people
in various parts of the state to write
him the state of feeling in their locali-
ties, and received such favorable re-
sponses that he went into the field.
Very few men would have done 9th
erwise.
Once in the field, like other men,
he fell under the harrow of criticism
and abuse. In, as we think, a very
unfair manner, stories were circulat-
ed in regard to his ''war record" and
it was whispered all about that he
showed the "white feather" away
back in 1861-'65. This story had q
wide run; but it was shown to be
false and really recoiled on those who
originated and promulgated it.
While the first slander was diving
out another started in this section
which had a wide and violent run.
This was the assertion that c. s,
Page was a monopolist in hides and
calf skins. Many intelligent men
without careful thought, who haG
formerly sold hides and skins at, sa,
double, the present paid. were ready
to think that a Vermont dealer. in ar
obscure town in the state, was really
to blame for the fact that all over tho
country-all over the world-skins
hides and leather had deprecated
terribly in value in the last five wears
Men who are selling butter at from
twelve to fifteen cents pound. anc
are trying to give away their bee
cattle, did not for time realize tha
the same law of low prices from owe