Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-25
FRIDAY, APRIL %, 1890.
CONGRESSMAN AND GOVERNOR.

SONOhGSSMRN ANU 0OVEhNOh,
The State and district campaigns are
now well under way, and the discussion
concerning the merits of the several can
didates is becoming somewhat heated.
Especially is this true in the north part
of the State and district, where the gov
ernorship question is, to judge from the
newspapers, regarded as of the greater
consequence.
Addison county, however, does not
look at it in that light at all. 1t is so far
removed from the homes of the candi-
dates that its voters can view the situa-
ton calmly and philosophically, and can
reach conclusions unbiased by personal
or local considerations. Such concu-
sions they are arriving at and expressing,
unanimity yet, there is a slow, steady
and solid growth of sentiment in favor
of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Woodbury. for
governor and for Hon. IL. ii. Powers
for member of Congress.
The governorship is universally re-
garded hereabOuts as a matter of second
ary importance. Mr.. Woodbury. and Mr..
Page are known as far-sighted, enter
prsing and successful business men.
The records of both are clean, nothing
to the contrary having been adduced by
the enemies of either up to date. No
one cares cent for the promotion"
bugaboo one way or the other, nor is any
stock taken in the charge that Mr.. Page
has unworthily used his position as
chairman of the Republican State COM
mittee to further his own political for
tunes. 1t is the almost universal opinion
that as to character and attainments
these gentlemen are about Oh Il par, and
that either of them would make Il credit
able chief magistrate. At the same time
there is feeling that no particular
reason exists for the elevation of either
to the highest Office in the gift of the
people of Vermont and that the burden of
proof is upon each to show why he him
self should have the place, not why his
opponent should not. But it is plain
that one or the other will be the candi-
date, so that "A choice must be made; and
the people of this county have very
largely chosen Mr.. Woodbury.. Exactly
what the ground of that decision is il
would be difficult to state fully, but the
decision is fact. Probably the Older
men base it to a considerable extent upOr
the war record of Col. Woodbury., think
iDg-and justly, too-that when one OF
two men up for an honorable place was
good soldier and the other staid a
home for whatever cause, the soldier de
serves the honor. The younger voters
to whom the war means less, are willing
to accept the Judgment of their elders
and so it has come about that the cOndi
ton of things, as we understand it, is al
above set forth.
So much for the governorship; now a
to congressman. If there is apathy re
garding the governorship, there is nom
concerning congressman among the so
ber-minded element of the county
Thoughtful voters see that there is some
thing at stake, that the two men who as
pire to represent the district at Washing
ton are wholly unlike by nature and b,
training, and that the nomination of TIN
better one is of vital interest not only t,
the district but to the State and nation a
well. How the candidates differ was told
very clearly and justly, in these columns
two weeks ago, by a correspondent VIII,
signed himself Republican" He sal,
of Mr.. Batchelder:
One is a lawyer of fair ability, loca
politician of considerable skill. As speak
er of the House in our State legislatur
he discharged in creditable way the du
ties of the highest office to which he ha
yet been called. He makes a pretty fai
after-dinner speech, and has addresse,
agricultural fairs with Indifferent success
But he is in no sense a leader of opinion
in his district. In all that goes to con
stitute the safe and strong and conscien
tious legislator he is wholly untried. III
stands in no position either from expert
ence, demonstrated ability, or othe
ground of eminence, to cause the voters o
this district to turn spontaneously to hir
as their candidate for Congress.
The same correspondent said of Judg
Powers:
The other candidate is attending to hi
duties as a judge of our supreme court
In this high and honorable position h
has achieved a reputation second to tina
of none of the eminent gentlemen VIII
are his associates, and in it he has nov
come to the fullest and maturest strengt