Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-12-17

The Boston Journal recently had lone
article on Vermont politics and takel
practically the same view of the situation
that this paper did in recent article. II
says:
The Republican State Convention fol-
the nomination of Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Secretary OF State, State Treas
urer and Auditor of Accounts, will prob.
ably be held in June. The time for hold
ing the convention is not too distant fol
the consideration OF the question of can
didates for these several offices. In fact, 6
quiet discussion As in progress in politica
circles over the Gubernatorial nomination
to be made six months hence.
Since the Inauguration of the biennial
system of elections in siS72, no Governor
has been nominated Tor second term.
The nomination OF the present excel
lent Executive of the State has been sug-
gested by some of his numerous friends,
but the proposition meets with no encour-
agement from Governor Page. He fully
appreciates the compliment paid him in
this expressed approval OF his administra-
tion, but he feels that he has already been
highly honored by the people of Vermont
and that his retirement fIom the Govern
orship at the end OF his present term is
not only in compliance with a long es-
tablished precedent, but is necessitated by
personal and business reasons.
Governor Page has made one of the best
Executives the State has had for many
yeers, and his administration has been OF
a businesslike character, creditable both
to himself and the State. He will retire
from the Governorship with the well-de-
served commendation of his constituents,
whom he has served faithfully and well.
Among those who. have been proposed
to head The State ticket are Hon. Levi X.
Fuller of Brattleboro. Hon. Henry A.
Fletcher Of Cavendish and Hon. Josiah
Grout of Derby.
The custom of promoting Lieutenant
Governors to the Governorship prevailed
with more or less regularity up to 1888,
when Hon. Levi X. Fuller, who was made
Lieutenant Governor in 1886, broke the
precedent by disallowing she use of his
name as a candidate for Governor, in pur-
suance of a pledge made by his friends in
the convention in which he was selected
for Lieutenant Governor. In 1890 Lieut..
Gov. Woodbury. was defeated for the NOM
ination for Governor, largely by the nom
promotion idea which prevailed with
many delegates.
The friends of Hon. Levi X. Fuller now
come forward and urge his nomination
for Governor. They say that the prece-
Governorship to the higher office was
broken by Col. Fuller and that as four
years have intervened since he held the
lower Office he is wholly disassociated
from the position and would enter the
field on precisely the same footing as
man who had never been Lieutenant Gov
ernor. He has many supporters for the
head of the ticket. Col. Fuller is lead
ing mem Der of the Estey Organ Company
Of NEQ
Windham county in 1880 and is comman
der of the Fuller Light Battery, National
Guard OF Vermont. In 1886, as before
stated, he was elected Lieutenant Govern
or. he is public spirited and liberal
contributor to educational and religious
objects. He has an extensive acquaint-
ance in the State, and is well known In
business circles elsewhere.
Lieut.. Gov. Henry A. Fletcher OF Caven-
dish has many warm friends who would
like to see him promoted to the Governor
ship. II is stated, however, by his imme-
diate supporters that he is not a candidate
for the nomination. He was a soldier in
the war of the Union and is successful
Windsor county farmer. He made pop
ular presiding officer of the Senate and
made many friends during the last ses-
sion of the Legislature. The advocates of
the nomination of Lieut.. Gov. Fletcher
are somewhat embarrassed by the fact that
the Republican State Conventions in 1888
and 1880 failed to continue the precedent
OF directly promoting the Lieutenant Gov
ernor and went directly outside OF the in
cum bent ofthat office in selecting can
didate for Governor. The present Lieut.
enant Governor is on record as being a
0ainst the promotion rule in 1890, but his
friends argue that the precedent OF nom
promotion has been established by the ac-
tion of the two last State Conventions, and
that there are no good and sufficient rea-
sons why the people should not exercise
their choice and make the Lieut.. Govern
or their choice for Governor in 1872.
The name of Major Josiah Grout of Der
by has been occasionally mentioned in
poIitical circles for the Gubernatorial
in 1892. Major Grout is
Union veteran and one of the largest
farmers in Orleans county. He was speak
sr fthe Vermont House in 1886 and 1888
and made an excellent record. Major
Grout is not in the field for nomination,
but his position in the matter is under
stood to be this. That it is early for can
didates to declare themselves and that he
does not intend to seek the office, but in
this respect is willing to await the pleas
nre OF the people. When .ver they desire
his services in that high position he ex-
poets hey will in some suitable way let
him know. When the Office seriously
seeks him and he believes such to be the
,ase he will consider the matter. Major
5rout is favorably known to the people OF
Vermont.
OF course the field is always open to
dark horses, and it is rumored that sew
.ral good ones are being groomed for the
race. l have heard the
names OF Hon. Victor Spear OF Brain
rec. Hon. William Chaplin of Middlesex
md Col. Franklin Fairbanks of St. Johns
bury suggested for the nomination all
-.,<.l r,,er and true