Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-16
In WASHINGTON COUNTY.
CIRCUIT LIKELY TO CARRY EVERY
TOWN IN THE COUNTY EXCEPT TWO
Two Washington County Men Have Gubor-
Material Aspirations-Ca for
state Senators-Names Mentioned
for Other Ofnces.

bearing directly on the political outlook
in Washington county this year but IL Is
a mistake TO assume that nothing mas
been done Indeed 1t Is probable that there
have been few campaign years in which the
ground has been carefully looked over
and narrowed and planted, so to speak,
as in this presidential year of 1896. III the
crop of candidates is not an abundant on",
1t will be due to campaign froSts, change
in the area of political high pressure or
local causes and not TO the politicians
In past years there has been complaint
among the political endcavorers ol the
county outside oil Montpelier, that the cap
ital dominated everything and its leaders
got all they wanted, or at least, all they
asked for. Since Barre became power
the cry mas been more frequent and potent
than over before and the preliminary
campaign of two years ago saw the, more
than partial, defeat of the Montpelier men
of might In the county convention. The
reason was not fully understood then but
it is too late to discuss 1t now. II was not
owing TO any discord in the party but rath-
er to n misconception Of the political geog-
raphy and topography of the county. 1t Is
safe to assume, however that the survey
has been more accurate this year, on the
part of the leaders, though the rank and
file know little and care less about the
whole matter.
The gubernatorial canvass has been
more complete than most people imagine,
for the simple reason that 1t has been
made more quietly. In fact, those who
have made the most noise in regard to
the case are those who are the least In
formed concerning 1t. If the caucuses
were to be held to-day there is every rea-
son to believe that Grout would carry all
save two of the Washington county towns
and I'm one of these there would be lively
contest. Much noise has tendency TO
create excitement but II is not convinc-
ing argument as the anti-Grout leaders
may discover, to their sorrow, n little
later.
Everybody Is waiting anxiously for the
convention of the 29th, and after that 1t
is expected that sentiment will crystalline
rapidly unless the very small anarchial
influence can keep UP the excitement and
suspense for a while longer. The coming
convention and the meeting of the state
Republican League which is to occur the
same week will naturally have more weight
and influence in Washington county than
elsewhere in the State. This will dis
scminate itself rapidly and the real ques-
tion at issue is whether 1t will augment
the forces already in motion or create new
ones to counteract the tide already coming
| In.
One other thing which may cause com
plicatons in this years campaign Is that
! Washington county contains two men who
are on a still hunt for the governorship-
not this year but as soon as the hour
seems propitious. One of these gentlemen
Is n resident of the capital, while the other
/ is just far enough away to fear his adj
versary's advantage of location. Each OF
! these gentlemen Is very popular in his own
| town and each will naturally do his best
| to build n ladder for himself to climb
| Just as naturally each will want to use
what material there is handy and this
/ Ill
| upon to determine which shall have the
! precedence The contest will be good ma
! tured but none the less earnest and de-
! cisive.
The candidates for the senatorship have
been discussed the least of those for any
of the offices to be flied and nothing def
mite can be said as yet. Ex-Mayor George
/ w. Wing of Montpelier is spoken of by his
| friends as a candidate and can no doubt
! have the nomination If he cares enough
/ about 1t to make even a moderate effort
/ He was a leading candidate two years age
but failed to get the nomination, through
no fault of his. He would make "A strona
/ candidate and every one believes he would
! make Il brilliant record in the senate.
\ Two years ago the candidates for senato
who failed of the nomination in the con
vention We're Il. r. Palmer of Waterbury
j. II. Huylett of Moretown, and Thomas b
Stevens of East Montpelier 1t cannot bc
said with certainty that any one of thes,
gentlemen will be a. candidate this yeai
but one at least is pretty sure to be- Ii
has also been said that Barre would pre-
sent n candidate in the person of DR.. Fl
o. Worthen. the present incumbent, but
as there is some slight feeling against the
doctor owing to his record on the Barre
city charter question, the idea may bC
dropped. Moreover Barre has held a SEN
atorship for the past four years and thai
is a point likely to be considered.
In 1894 the candidacy most talked OF
early in the campaign was for the States
attorneyship and history bids fair to re-
peat itself this year. No one has formally
avowcd himself a candidate for the place
as yet but several have been spoken OF
in loud whispers by their friends. They
are Hon. Xed s. Stanton of Roxbury, whc
now holds the office. Richard A. Hoar Of
Barre, and Fred A. Rowland of Mont
pelier.
The friends of the first named reteratC
the story OF his long and faithful servic,
in the past. his fidelity to honest purpose
zeal in support of the prohibitory law.
and answering fealty to republican prin
ciples.
Mr.. Hoar Is advocated as brllian
young lawyer, amply qualified for thu
position, able, eruditc and quick-witted
His friends aver that he might long aG(
have been elected States attorney haC
he not generously stood aside for Mr.
Stanton, under the impression that Mr.
Stanton would do the same by him wher
the proper time came. OF Mr.. HowlanC
much might be written. He is a membe
of the firm of Dillingham;, Huse & How
land and this alone is n guarantee of hi!
standing in the legal fraternity. He is {
bright lawyer. a scholar and a man of un
derstandlg, tact and patience
There Will doubtless be no opposition tc
the reelection of Sheriff o. r. Collins o
Cabot. His predecessor served two terms
and there Is reason to expect that Mr.. Col
Inns will be equally well treated by his con
, stituents. He was one of the men nomin
ated two years ago because his candidac!
was based on a knowledge of the geogra
ply of the county and II driven to /
could again demopstrate his skill.
No one will have the temerity to sugges
anyone save the Hon. Hiram Carleton fo
! probate Judge and he will be unanimousl,
re- elected, as his name always appears ol
r both the republican and democratic tickets
) 1t is just tribute due his honor and un
( derstanding and strict conception of righ
, and justice. No community could have
( more faithful public servant than Wash
/ ington county has In him.
For assistant Judges, II. II. Lance of Ca
bot and Levi Perkins of Marshfield are tn,
only ones mentioned thus far. Both thes
gentlemen belong in the same section of tn,
county and it Is likely that later In tn
season candidate or two will appear a
the other end of the county. The more tn
! merrier it will be for all save them
selves.
The actual campaign this year will b.
: longer than 1t has been heretofore as tn
county convention Of 1894, which was hell
In August, passed resolution directing
: | hlt n tnn I,