Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-03-26
ADDISON COUNTY POLITICS.
WHAT Is SAID ABOUT STATE AND
NATIONAL CANDIDATES.
A Sharp Contest Likely for the Senatorial
Nom nations-Those Suggested for Of
foes in tho Two Districts-Demo-
Gratis and Prohibitionists.


fees In tho Two Districts-Demo-
Gratis and Prohibitionists.
Middobury, March 20.--1t is a little ear
ly for political matters in Addison county
to arrive at a stirring point and no one
except those who are quietly nourishing
booms in their bosoms, seems to know
much about the probable outcome of the
local campaign. So far as state politics
are concerned there is little talk as yet of
any candidate outside of few of the
prominent people, and there are no indica-
tons that any work has been done or Is
being done for any of the aspirants TO the
governorship or the acknowledgements
ship.
There is a strong and active interest
taken in the probable outcome of the
national republican convention, however.
While 1t is supposed that New England
republicans are heartily and unanimously
In favor of the nomination of Speaker
Reed for the presidency, it must be SAID
that many of the republicans in these
parts would not be surprised to see Mr..
Mckinley carry off the honor.
Early as it is, however, the friends OF
number of Addison county men are al
ready talking of them for places on the
republican county ticket Never since the
biennial system was adopted in this state
has Addison county reelected one of its
renominating and re-electing DIR. w. n.
Plat of Shoreham, our present senator
from tho south district of the county
This project will, however doubtless be
nipped in the bud before It has a chance
to blossom, for there are an almost UNI
limited number of men in the party south
who think that they are both worthy Of
and entitled to the honor and they may be
relied upon to sec to it that the Office is
passed around If DR.. Plat were to get
IL denomination, there Is not the slightest
reason to doubt that the friends Of his col
league, ID. II. Lewis of Ncrgcnncs would
make struggle to have Mr. Lewis re-
nominated also. Leaving DR.. Plat out
then the gentlemen most frequently men-
toned for senator in the south district are
Charles II. Lane of Cornwall. -. II. Ben
nett of Brdport, John H. Weeks OF
Salisbury and Judge James NJ. Slade Of
Middebury. Judge Sladc almost got the
nomination four years ago and doubtless
would have received 1t except for the fact
that IT would have given him two places
on the ticket, as he was also TO be the
nominee for Judge of probate for the Adj
Olson district. II Is not likely that he will
make a contest for the nomination this
time, and there is no way TO pick out the
winner now. as 1t is very likely to be some
one who has not yet been mentioned.
In the north, or New Haven. district
nently named for the senatorship. These
are DR.. A. A. Dean of Bristol, Willard f..
Barnes of Addison and Reuben Parker of
Ferrisburgh. These are all good men and
stll none of them may be fortunate
enough TO come in a winner, as no one
can tell what will turn up between now
and the time the county convention meets,
which will be about the middle of June
according to the custom in this county.
A c IN nj nj a
nothing has been said yet in regard to the
assistant judgeship, though there will
certainly be no lack of names to pick from
later on. The two judges of probate, Hon.
John d. Smith of Vergenncs and Hon.
James NJ Slade of Middlebury will in all
human probability be renominated as will
L. ]. Matthews of iMddlebury for county
commissioner Kent W. Merritt of Shore
ham for sheriff Of he wants It again and
Arson w. Frost of Cornwall for high
bailiff.
Two years ago there came near being n
contest for the probate judgship in the
north district between the incumbent,
Judge Smith, and f. w. futile of YER
gennes, but 1t was fixed up so that no
fight was made in the convention. There
would have been a severe struggle for the
nomination this year however, had it
not been for Mr.. Tuttles election as Mayor
of Vereennes, with the probability of at
least another term. and so 1t seems quite
reasonable to suppose that Mr.. futile Will
not make a try for the office this year but
will leave Judge Smith in possession for
another term at least
This leaves only the States attorney
ship to be accounted for. Frank l.. Fish
of Nergennes, the> incumbent, is under
stood to have held the place as long as he
wants to. and two years ago 1t was prac-
tically settled that William II. Button of
Middebury would be tho nominee this
year But Mr. Button now has a very
much softer and more lucrative job as
secretary of the United States Senate
committee on agriculture, and the conven-
tion will have TO look elsewhere for cam
didate. Very likely the office will go to
f. II. Button of Mddlebury, brother of
William II. Button. and about the only
young lawyer in the party In the county
available for the office. This in case
Mr.. Fish may not be induced to serve
again and also in case Mr., Button is
"wilin',"
In this county the democrats neither cut
| any ice nor saw any wood In the general
round of politics. They meet usually in
August and make up a county ticket hap
hazard, which they know will be showed
under by vote of or to /. so there IL
never any strife over the places on the
the ticket. This year the democrats will
! hold a delegate convention, contrary to
their custom for many years past, and 1t
will also be called at an earlier date. as
the last county convention voted favora-
| bly, on those two propositions.
The prohibitionsts will, of course have
their county ticket in the field as usual.
and will probably poll about the usual
number of votes. Two years ago they
got % votes out of a total of about 1900
In the county and there is no reason to
expect that they will do any better pro-
portiopately this year. The only uncer-
tain element in the field Is, therefore, Col,
Joseph Battelrs free silver party, which
Is as yet without habitation or precise
name, and how wide a. swath it will cut
not even the wlsest man knoweth.