The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-06-10
The PhGnix's Fairy Tale.

The Brattleboro PhoniT puts in plea
for the support of Josiah Grout by
Windham county that the republicans
of that part of the state will Indignantly
resent.
Because, as it alleges, Josiah Grout
"took off his coat and worked for
Colonel Fuller, with the result that
every town but one in Orleans county
went to the convention with Fuller
delegates" therefore the republicans
of Windham county must turn round
and "show their appreciation of Major
CIRCUITS honorable course by giving him
their loyal support" The Phenir is
particular to say that there was no
trade or promise of favors to be re-
turned, but that it is only natural that
the home friends of Governor Fuller
should now show their appreciation,
etc., etc. If all this were just as the
Phenin puts it, it would be bad enough,
and would amply justify every state
ment of Encouragement, of bargain
and sale, that has been made against
the Grout canvass for the governorship.
Windham county republicans would
rise up in their wrath and repudiate
the contract under which they were
bought and sold like the sheep on their
farms.
But how was il about Josiah Grout
and Orleans county in the canvass and
convention of 1922 What assistance
did Grout render Colonel Fuller? The
editor of the WATCHMAN was in that
canvass, and was member of that con-
vention and its secretary. Orleans
county held meeting the evening be-
fore the convention. The delegation
was very far from being united. 1t
was broken into as many fragments
and factions as there were candidates.
Josiah CIRCUITS chance to get the nomina-
ton, in the event of deadlock, was
the main thing. The delegation was
hunting the main chance for Josiah
Grout and hoped and expected to find
it in the hopeless division of the con-
vention the next day. About mid
night, after every county had been can
vassed and it was clear that Colonel
Fuller had large majority of the dele
gates without Orleans county, then the
Grout faction climbed into the Fuller
band wagon. On the floor of the con-
vention Theophilus Grout seconded the
nomination of Colonel Fuller, but w.
1. Robinson of Barton, Gin obedience to
what he believed was the sentiment of
a majority of the delegates of Orleans
county," seconded the nomination of
Colonel H. A. Fletcher of Cavendish.
This is how Josiah Grout " took off
his coat and worked heartily for
Colonel Fuller with the result that
every town but one went to the con-
vention with Fuller delegates" The
Ph@nin's pretty tale of " Josiah CIRCUITS
honorable part in the canvass of 1892 "
is campaign romance.
"There was no trade or promise of
favors to be returned" the Ph@nia
AYERS, and this we believe is true, for
no debt or obligation to the Grout con-
tingent; was incurred. Nevertheless
the Grout heelers in Brattleboro, and
Windham county, we are informed,
are declaring to-day that there was a
trade or promise and that the republi-
cans must now pay up and redeem
their pledges. The Ph@nir came out
grudgingly for Colonel Fuller in 1892,
and it is now sheer presumption and
impudence for it to trail his name in
the dust of Grout'. raid upon the gov
ernorship. Windham county should
answer the Ph@nir's imputation OF
service rendered by Grout and recip-
rocal obligation by Governor Fuller's
"home friends" by sending to Bur-
lington solid anti-Grout delegation.