Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-11
THE SECOND DISTRICT.
Some Opinions Of the Press Regarding the
Movement Against Gen. Grout.


Within the past few days it has become
known that an active still hunt move
ment is on foot to defeat the denomination
of Gen. Grout for Congress in the dis
trct convention and to give the place TO
some other aspirant. AS Il matter Of
course the prospective success of this
movement is largely conditioned on the
probable success of the Stickney guberna-
torial canvass in the State convention on
the following day.
About this movement just one thing Is
to be said Gen. Grout has done long ana
faithful and able service for the people OF
this district. He has given to them tho
best that he had to give, and. despite all
assertions 90 the contrary, he has acquired
high standing at the national capital and
commands the confidence and respect of
his colleagues. Whenever Gen. Grout is
displaced after making such a record he Is
entitled to have 1t done, and the people of
the district are entitled to have 1t done, in
n fair and open manner. There Is no other
honorable course.
No friend of Gen. Grout feels or will
claim, and he will not claim for himself,
that he has a perpetual mortgage on the
office which he holds. But his service in
that office has been such that 1t would be
unjust and unfair for the district to allow
him to be summary turned down by a
secret movement planned by some ambi-
tous asprant Beyond this and far more
important, Is the fact that the people of
the district are entitled to have their say
and make their free choice whenever a
change is made. They are entitled to have
tho contest for the nomination openly an
nounced, and to have the candidates come
out into the open and declare themselves
SO that the people may judge them and
select whom they will. They do not want
an unknown quantity thrust upon them.
hat ION FIR
him Is square and manly methods of at
tack and that he be given a chance to
stand or fall on his own merits
(Trom the Deerfeld Valley wilmington
Times.
| Gen Grout has represented the second
Congressional district in Congress for sew
eral terms now, and has been one OF the
most influential and useful members of
tho House, having discharged every duty
| In n manner which reflects honor upon
himself and the State which he represents
His political methods have been charac-
terized by manliness, frankness and honor
and the people in general have been very
we'll satisfied with his public career
There are other men in the republican
party who are Just as good as Gen. Grout
and who might have stood u good chance
of obtaining the nomination had they
been candidates. No other candidates
left with the people to assume upon good
ground that the nomination was univer'
sally conceded to Grout.
Had the name of a good Windham coun
ty man been proposed and announced as
a candidate in a straight forward manly
way few weeks ago, In time to expos,
him to the fire OF public criticism and Il
give the people a chance to think, in al
probability he would have received the
solid backing of the staunch republicans
of Windham county and his chances TO
success would have been good. But W,
believe that the people of the second Con
gressonal district will protest against thi
dishonorable, dirty, underground conspir
acy against one who has been a faithful
public servant for years past.