Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-31
Big STAY At HOME Vote FEARED
The Farmers Infected With the
Silver Argument.
ANT OF HARMO NY
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.


he all under the surface. The republicans
had made arrangements for a spirited
speaking contest. They felt that as Vermont
was the first state in the Union to cast her
vote after the nomination of the presidential
tickets, an extra allowance of responsibility
rested upon their shoulders. If the demo-
Gratis should increase their vote or the re-
pubEcans have their majority cut down,
the effect on the country at large would be
injurious to the cause Of Mckinley and
gold, as the people far away from the state
would not realize the peculiar local condi-
tons that now exist In the Green mountain
re gion. 1t is these local conditions on the
republican side that complicate the Situa-
ton just now. The republicans of Vermont
are never very harmonious family. There
are too many of them with ambitions. AT
the bottom CT the whole trouble is the
senatorship question. The senatorship Is a
shadow that covers every part OF the state
and every question that comes up within it.
1t Is the one rule by which men are now
measured politically in Vermont. There Is
a common belief in the state that Senator
Morrilrs seat in the Senate will soon be
vacant. and there are crowds of republicans
prominence from the Massachusetts border
to the Canada line is figuring upon being
Mr.. Morrilps successor.
Want to BE Senator.
Every republican who has been governor
of the state thinks that the place is his by
right, SO that there are a half score of ex-
governors. a Congressman and twenty 9TH
ers all waiting impatiently to don the SEN
atorial toga. This senatorial question led
to the closest fight for governor in the re-
publican convention this year that was
ever carried on in the state. Senator Proc
tors candidate for the nomination was
John Grout, a man who had served with
distinction in the war, had become pros
porous business man, and had served with
credit in the state legislature. ending his
career In that body with the Speakership
At once there arose a tremendous opposi-
ton to him. The senatorship question
blazed up fercely. Mr.. Grout is the brother
of Congressman Circuit. and the Congress
man Is one of the leading candidates for the
senatorship. Owing to Mr.. Morrill's age. 1t
is felt here that he will not serve out his
next term, and there was put forward the
claim that Proctor wanted John Grout as
governor, so that when Mr.. Morrills seat
became vacant the governor could appoint
Congressman Grout as his successor There
was another candidate brought forward,
and when the convention came Grout won
the nomination by only couple of votes.
This fight. carried on as 1t was all over the
state. left scars which are showing them
selves now. There is no doubt that Grout
belief that his election may result in the
choice Of his brother to the Senate.
Anti-PrOctor Faction.
Then, too, there is now an anti-Proctor
party in the state. This is composed of
young republicans, who claim that they
have been ignored. There are great many
strong Reed men, too. in the state. who do
not relish the way in which Senator Proc
tor firted with Reed and then made love to
Mckinley.
There is still another trouble in the re-
publican camp. Some time ago the Rut-
land Herald came out and accused Gov.
Woodbury. of breaking the state liquor law
by having liquor sold in the Van Ness
House in this city. which hotel he owns.
The Rutland Herald is. perhaps. the most
influential paper in the state. solidly re-
publican. and for it to openly attack the
governor of the state, man Of the same
political faith, shows the utter lack of har-
mony in the party ranks The governor
promptly brought a suit for libel against
the paper, and the verdict which has just
been reached In the case, was practically
compromise, as only a nominal amount in
the way of damages was awarded to the
chief executive Of the state. This incident
served to create additional friction in the
party. and may make difference in the
way In which a number OF votes are cast
on the LIST day of September.
Added to all this is the fact that the free
silver sentiment has considerable of foot
hold among the farming communities of
b
rich man. In many cases he is no more
prosperous than his western brother, and
can show about the same number of mort
gage papers and the same lack of bank ac-
count to pay the interest. He does not
complain as much as the western brother,
but he thinks as hard. And the result Of
the thinking in a good many heretofore
republican farm houses is that things could
not be worse certainly under free silver as
far as he is personally concerned, and there
is possibility that they may be better.
With this element the republicans are
working. But the Vermont farmer is
hard man to persuade. He is slow in MAX
ing up his mind. and still slower to change
1t. 1t was on all these accounts that the
republicans wished vigorous and pyro-
technic campaign. They wanted to convert
the backsliding farmers, and also to give
to the campaign distinctly national tinge,
SO that republicans would overlook tempo
rartly their local grievances and roll up a
big majority for the moral effect it would
have.
Stny-at-Home Contingent.
On the other hand, the small democracy
of Vermont il still smaller this year. Its
leading men have deserted it and are still
deserving. When ex-Minister E. J. Phelps
announced that this year he was a republi-
can, he spoke for others than himself
merely. Men who have led the party in
other years are openly on the republican
side this year. The great trouble that the
republicans fear is that the total vote will
be small. This means more in Vermont
than it does in other states. The republic
cans are so overwhelmingly in the majority
here that the stay-at-home vote cuts di-
rectly out Of the republican majority. The
total vote Is so small that 1t needs it all 10
roll up real good majority. great many
OF the republican leaders, taking all the
conditions into consideration, the dissatIs-
faction with the nominee for governor in
some parts Of the state, the friction over
the senatorship. the fight against the pres
ent governor that was carried into the
courts. and the free silver sheaves in lre
harvest field, will not be surprised If the
republican majority is cut down on Tues
day. They intended to have a flood Of
speakers. and had Senator Lodge and Sem
ator Thurston and others on their rolls but
these men were taken away to Maine on the
ground that the campaign was more i'm
portant there. and SO most of the speaking
and enthusing has been left to the local
talent. 1t is all year of mystery. for no
one can tell to what extent either the re-
publicans Will neglect to vote for Circuit for
governor or the democrats vote the reDubii-
can ticket.
Artist c. s. Reinhart Dead.
Charles Stanley Reinhart, an illustrator
Of international reputation, died yesterday