The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-13

eral committee room had been crowded
night after night at the public sessions
of the house and senate committees on
education. Interest in the subject was
intense. The testimony was conclu-
sive as to the superiority of the
town over the district system, from
whatever point the subject was con-
sidered. A bill for the change had
never before been passed to its third
reading in the house. Josiah Grout
was the representative from Derby.
The bill had been made the special Or
der for Tuesday forenoon, the last day
of the session. OF the course of events
pertaining to this bill the chairman of
the house committee on education says:
"To the best OF my remembrance, Major
Grout did not develop into an avowed op-
ponent of the measure under consideration
until that Tuesday morning, when he
astounded every real friend OF the bill. To
go back little, you will recall the stubborn
contest on the floor Of the house, the Friday
afternoon previous. The bill was then Or
dered to a third reading after several hours
debate, amendments, etc. The night before,
Major Grout met me in the lobby OF the
Pavilion, talked freely in favor Of the town
system, and gave me every reason to be-
lieve he would support the measure by vote
and speech. AS L remember, during the
discussion Friday afternoon, he maintained
a mastery silence, although / went to him
and urged him to say word in support OF
the committee. That night, he met me
again in the Pavilion, congratulated me
Nlae a,1 haI
cessfully led, and gave me to understand
that he would certainly lend his aid when
the bill came up on its passage. What fol-
lowed you know as we'll as 1. Circuit put in
his substitute, 1t was passed, and the whole
work OF the session, as to the town system,
was knocked in the head by one who pro-
Jessed to be friend.
What part did the doughty Major play2
The friend who honestly disagrees with
you face to face and maintains his position,
you respect. The avowed friend, with pro-
fessions OF support, sympathy and agree.
ment, who stabsiyou in the back, is-what2
Did Major Circuit profess to be friend?
Yes. Did he sacrifice his friends? Yes.
For what, or why?"
Major CIRCUITS course with reference
to school reform in 1884 has been Sc
verely criticised. His substitute meas
ure was the direct cause of the chaos in
school matters into which the state was
subsequently plunged, aud which led to
the necessity for legislation by the su-
preme court, in 1891, to straighten out
the tangle in the school law. The
adoption of the town system was set
back eight years. The disturbance and
expense to the state were deplorable.
School administration did not settle
down into condition of quiet and regu-
larity till after the legislation of 1892.
1t was Major CIRCUITS right TO be OPP
posed to the town system in 1884, or to
the five per cent school tax, or the free
textbook bill in 1892, if his judgment
and his conscience condemned either or
all of those measures. 1t might not
inure to his credit for good judgment
and good sense to be opposed to any of
these measures, but it was incumbent
on him as good citizen, as a man of
honor, to oppose them openly, in good
faith and with reason. His opposition
was covert and insidious. 1t was not
frank and above board. 1t is not now
question of school systems, of the
wisdom or justice of state school tax,
or of providing text books at the public
expense; it is question whether Yer
mont shall choose for governor a man
with legislative record such as Josiah
Grout has on these matters, and every
other real reform that has been before
the legislature for the last ten or twelve
years. The WATCHMAN's objection to
his candidacy is on these public
grounds, and on the methods he has
employed, and his friends are employ.
ing in his behalf, to make his calling
and election sure.