davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
As To the District Canvass.

The district canvass draws to it's
close. 1t is proper to call to mind what
is the real issue involved in the opposi-
ton to the denomination of General
Grout, and what the reason for this OPP
position is not.
1t is not, primarily, that General
Grout declared, at the convention two
years ago that, if nominated without
opposition in open convention he would
not again be candidate for renomina-
ton, if "the district saw fit to make a
change, and had another candidate. !"
But that alone ought to settle the mat
ter, as the General himself comedies
The district, excepting possibly some
postmasters and other individuals, de-
sires change and has another candi-
date. "These we hold to be self-evi-
dent truths"
1t is not "because General Grout has
been in Congress long enough" as his
supporters are representing. Whether
Representative or Senator "has been
in Congress long enough" depends a
great deal on the man. This reason
would have no force and effect in the
case of Morrill,, Poland, Edmunds or any
one of their great compeers, the quality
of whose service in Congress is the
glory of Vermont. Think of opposition
to the nomination of any of these men,
of any man like them, at any stage of
his career, simply "because he had been
in Congress long enough" But six
teen years of Flooding along the tow
path of Congressional drudgery is long
enough for one man, and as a matter of
mercy and humanity he should be re-
lieved. In this view of the case the
present Representative of the second
district has been in service long enough.
1t is not pleasant to be compelled to
give the real reasons for desiring a
change at this time. General Grout
should have saved his friends and we'll
wishers in the district this ungracious
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

has been a diigent, faithful and en-
tirely competent official. He holds the
purse strings of the treasury at a time
when new and unusual bills are being
incurred by the State. Every business
man knows what he would do in respect
of retaining such an employe, under
existing circumstances. Mr.. Hale's
rival is Hon. o. M. Barber of Arlington L.
No one questions the latter's quali6ca-
tions for the office of auditor. The
only question is as to the wisdom, and
the fairness to Mr.. Hale, of making a
change in this office at this time. Peo-
pie opposed to a change now would I'M
doubleday find in Mr.. Barber an accep :
table successor to the present incum
bent when the times are ripe for shift.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

members of the district committee in
all essential particulars. Apparently
General Grout "doth protest too much"
in this matter.
But General Grout had a right to
change his mind. If "Finis" had not
been written against the important
matter of unfinished business" at the
end of two years more, and he had in
consequence determined to seek an
other election, statement of this fact
might have commanded respectful at
tention, if not assent. The matter is
interesting and important simply as il
Illustrating certain things. The issue in
this canvass is not at all the truth or
falsity of the pledge in question. That
is only an incident; but, all about the
convention, there was the understand
ing that General Grout was to be given
send off, by reclamation, and the field
was to be thenceforth cleared for new
contestants.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
County Politics,

The candidates earliest and avowed-
ly in the field for the Office of Senator
are G. G. Putnam Jr., of Middlesex, w.
F. Morse of Barre and DIR. E. w. Stay
ton of Warren. All are good men and
true. No mistake would be made in
the nomination of any one of these
men.
DR.. Slayton is man of sound judg-
ment, good business ability and general
experience in affairs. The same is
true of Mr.. Putnam, who is we'll known
throughout the county as the success
full manager of large business interests,
and as the Representative of Middlesex
in the Legislature of 1886. Mr.. Morse
was nominated for Representative of
the city of Barre in the Legislature of
1896, by the Republican caucus, as the
man most likely to carry the election in
contest whose result was clouded
with doubt. He was triumphantly
elected, and served on the important
committees of ways and means and on
corporations. 1t has been represented
in communications to this paper, the
trustworthiness of which cannot be
doubted, that Barre city will ask to be
represented on the county ticket by Mr.
Morse, and that united delegation
will present to the convention the re-
request of the Granite City that he be
nominated to the senatorship. L. Bart
Cross of Montpelier is also, possible
candidate for Senator, He has been
urged by many of his fellow citizens to
enter the field, and, if this city indicates
desire to be represented in the Senate
of 1898, Mr. Cross will become an
active candidate. He is one of the
leading business men of Mont
pelier, has been foremost in party
work and support, and the fact is re-
called that the capital city has not been
represented in the upper branch of the
Legislature since 1892. These circum-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
More Medicine,

The subjoined communication, on
the foregoing subject, is clipped from
the st. Johnsbury Republican, Grout
paper, from the issue of last week,
of which it is credibly reported that
Gen. Grout bought and circulated 5000
copies in this district:
Editor of Repubican:-The st. Johnsbury
Cdledontan of last week publishes on its edi-
torial page a portrait with this note UNDER
meath, "There is hardly citizen Of this
State that does not recognize in the like
ness above the efficient and active Con-
gresham from the second Vermont district.
General W. w. Grout."
Yes, the picture has familiar look The
people of Vermont have seen it many times
and in many places. We can readily recall
the different situations, the different publ
cations in which it has appeared. We have
gotten up in the morning and found under
our front door pamphlet, prominent in
which is this we'll known portrait, accom-
panied with the advice that we follow the
example OF its original and restore our
health, as he has his. We take up our local
newspaper and, side by side with the
"births and Deaths" these features remind
US, as do the declarations surrounding it,
that even grim death may be warded off +,
for time at least, if we will invest one
dollar, as Is there advised. With fear and
trepidstion we read the startling head lines
in the city daily, but we are soothed and
Gained, as in the parallel column we again
see this well known face and are there
told that all the ills to which our flesh is
heir can be so easily cured. We ride along
the railways OF Vermont and in large, prom-
nent letters on the backside of some barn
or shed, or on some fence, we are reminded
again that simple vegetable compound"
will cure us as it has cured him. We keep
our cash account upon little handy cash
book given us by the Wells & Richardson
Company, and opposite the page where ia
the list Of our June liabilities we see again
this face and there are told that we may be
made well, as he has been. Indeed, we
recognize the picture. So often and in such
divers places do we see it, we can hardly
help an affection for it. "Seen too Oft ia.
milar with its face, we first endure, then
pity, then embrace" CONSTANT READER.
st. Johnsbury, June 6.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
As to Reason, Consistency, Etc,

The Wdtchndn takes us to task for al
legged inconsistency in supporting Gen.
Grout for denomination and at the same
time favoring change in State officers.
We see reason enough for making the latter
changes, but not the former. 1t seems to
US that no harm, but rather much good,
will result from new board Of State Off.
cials, while no good but rather much harm,
would come from supplanting Gen. Grout
with Judge Read But speaking of incon-
sistency, are we more open to criticism
than the WatchmanP The contemporary
vigorously demands new man in CIRCUITS
place, but recently put forth ridiculous
argument to the effect that State officers
ought to hold Office continuously like those
Of bank or corporation. 1t even refuses
a kindly word in favor of home aspirant
for State office, but is devoting columns to
booming Judge Read for Congress. In our
opinion, the reasons that exist in favor of
change in the office Of congressional repre-
sentative are outweighed by the counter rea-
sons. In the matter of State officers, we have
plenty Of good men who can take up the
work with not the slightest risk to the well
fare Of the State.-Herald and Ne,Os, Ran
dolph.
The foregoing is important chiefly
for its pettiness, and as an illustra-
ton of the poverty of the resources
in the way of sense and reason-of
the supporters of Gen. Grout in the
pending canvass. "Reason enough"
is seen "for favoring change in State
officers" who have been from six to
eight years in offices that are purely ad-
ministrative, who are exceptionally
we'll qualified for their duties, who are
in the prime of their years and capa-
city to serve the State efficiently, who
have not been-and cannot reason
ably be-criticised for the slightest
dereliction of official duty or personal
conduct,-"reason enough" is seen "for
favoring change" in these officers.
On the other hand, here is another
Office holder, one who has been holding
Office all his life, who has been in Con-
gress sixteen years in an Office whose
duties are creative, whose business is
law-making and the determination of
National policies, but who has not, in
half generation of abundant oppor-
tunity, won even the minor honors or
achieved the lesser distinctions of
craftsmanship in body in which his
predecessors of our own times, Morrill,
and Poland, in half that period, had
written their names, sin letters of
living light" all over the statutes,
the policies, the proceedings of their
period of service. This man must
be continued in office because "much
harm would come from supplant-
ing him" in the branch of Congress
of which he is but one of 1926 men,
bers, among whom are many of the
wisest and best of the land. But as
for these State officers, in whom no
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
to be mandatory,

to be mandatory.
1t is considerations like these that
are moving the people Of the second
district for a change in their represen-
tation at Washington. They recall
the days of their former fame, they
look at the mighty needs of an immedi-
ate future, and they seek for a strong
man to bring back and maintain her
old-time standing. In Judge Read they
believe they have such man and they
are summoning him to the front. Let
the delegates to the coming district
convention heed that summons.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

task. He was given the opportunity,
two years ago, and it is a matter of sim
cere regret that he did not embrace it.
If, now, the course if General CIRCUITS
friends has driven the men of his dis
trict to employ great candor in dis
cussing the matter of his proposed re-
nomination, after sixteen years of trial,
the responsibility must be on him and
them, not on others who are doing a
public duty, as they see and understand
that duty.
The "Men of Vermont" has become
recognized authority in the matter of
the material facts of the life and activ-
tiles of the great body of the States
men of prominence. Take down the
book and read the story of the men who
have represented the State in Congress
from the beginning. Read the record
of Mallory, Slade, Hall, Morrill,, Poland,
among others, who were in Congress
long enough to gain experience in ma
tional legislation. Observe the achieve
ments placed to their credit. Take
note of the rank they acquired as the
originators of legislation, the opponents
of public policies, the induction of sys-
tenn and order into the affairs of gov
eminent Among those of our own
times, mention the name of Morrill,,
and throughout this land, and over the
seas, the agricultural and industrial COL
leges instituted by his efforts, the Nor
rill tariff-the cause of the country's
marvellous economic development and
rosperity--counsels and acts of wis
dom that have given strength and
soundness to the national finances, are
brought at once to the recollection.
The name OF Poland suggests the grave
head of the House judiciary committee,
chosen in the early years of his service,
by reason of his eminence and acumen
as lawyer, to bring order and system
and intelligence out of the tangled
mass OF Federal statutes that had been
accommodating since the foundation of
the Republic-a task of immense labor
and highest responsibility, and accept
ed when the work was done by the
House and Senate as it came from his
hands; name that suggests the man
whose astuteness marked him for the
leader in the Ku-Klux, the Credit Mo-
bilier, the Arkansas Investigations,
matters of gravest moment in their day.
Recall these men and their public SER
vices, and their claims 10 distinction do
not demand search light for their dis
covery and development from the mass
of common place and trivial reputa-
tions that cucumber the National ar
chives.
Vermont has but two representatives
in the lower House of Congress.
Hence the necessity and wisdom of
choosing the best men in each district to
bear her commission in that body. If
the State had the larger representation
of some of her sisters of the Union
this requirement might be less impera-
tive. In the case of Vermont it ought
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
A Question Of Memory.

Editor Of Watchman;-In your paper OF
the. eighth inst is a statement to the effect
that two years ago I said in the district
committee room, at Montpelier, that
should not be a candidate again If could
then have unanimous nomination. This
statement involves my personal knowledge.
I know whether or not 1 made it, and 1
most emphstically say that did not. 1t
is pure fabrication. There was no CONVEX
sation Of the kind described and the false
hood is out Of whole cloth. 1t was well
known by every one at the last convention
that large majority Of the delegates were
in my favor, and what inducement was
there for the alleged statement? 1 felt at
the time that would much prefer to have
ballot, that the real weakness of the OPP
position could have been exactly revealed.
I know what think of man who does
not keep his word in politics as we'll as
every thing else, and I feel that the de-
mands of truth, and justice to myself, as
we'll as the public, all call for this denial,
unpleasant as it is to feel the necessity for
making it.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM W. CIRCUIT.
June IL, 1898.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

PEOPLE of the second district, how
do you like the looks of your next Rep
resentative in Congress, whose portrait
appears on this page? His picture has
not been seen 80 often in the public
prints as that of his opponent, or in the
same connection. He has not been
the heir to that sort of fame. So his
lineaments may not be 80 publicly
known. Some persons and papers who
are of course entirely disinterested, are
very solictous for Judge Reads physi-
cal and political welfare. They pro-
fess to have fears that he will not be
able to endure the strain of the life of
a Representative at the National CAPT
tai, because, during the session of the
Legislature of 1894, he was for a short
time i'll from overwork. Well, the
medicines whose virtues General
CIRCUITS pen and picture have been ad-
vertising so freely, which have sustain
ed him under the herculean loads of
garden seeds he has been toting, will
be accessible to Judge Read, also, if
the business of real craftsmanship
overtasks his powers. Possibly, how
ever, no 80 great task may confront
him at Washington as was crowded in
to the few weeks of a Vermont legis-
lative session when, to the laborious
duties of leader in general legislation,
was added the onerous and responsible
task of revising the entire body of the
State laws, of which, as chairman Of
the committee to which that work was
assigned, he had the supervision, and
of which he performed a large part of
the labor. By the way, had Grout, al
30, been a member Of the Legislature
of 1894, what would have been the
chances of his assignment to the re-
ponsible duty that devolved on Judge
Read? About one in one thousand.
And this suggests fair estimate of the
relative rank of the two men as law
ers.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

SOLID for General Grout, claimed
the Randolph contemporary last week.
But Read delegates were chosen at the
caucus in that town on Saturday night
by majority of 48. Burke, Gin the
enemy's country" over in Caledonia
county chooses two Read delegates.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
WEDNESDAY, JUNE Is, 1898.
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.

SPEAKER Kittredge Haskins will be
Bratteboro's representative in the
Legislature of 1898, and will again be a
candidate for the speskership.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
MONTPELIER, VT, June 10, 1898.

MONTPELIER, VT, June 10, 1898.
Editor of Wotchman:-In his denial Of the
conversation in the district committee room,
two years ago, General Grout is undoubted-
ly sincere, but his memory appears to be at
fault. The circumstances and the CONVEX
sation, as we remember them, were these:
Two years ago, at the district convention,
General Grout came into the district COM
mittee room at Montpelier, and one of the
members said to him, "Well, General, the
thing looks favorable for you" He re-
marked that he guessed it would be all
right, that there was some unfinished bust
ness he would like to 20 back to Congress to
complete. That would round up his sixteen
years of service, and, II at the end of two
years the district saw fit to make change,
and had another candidate, he was perfect
ly willing to step down and out"
L. BART Gross, Members of
u. ii. ALLBEE, Dist. Com.
In personal letter to the editor of
the WATCHMAN General Grout further
characteristics as absolutely false" the
statement that he would not again be
candidate for reelection to Congress,
under the circumstances set forth in
the foregoing,-"and, believing that,
though you favor the nomination of
Mr. Read, you wish to use only fair
means in bringing it about" requests
the publication of his denial. This we
have cheerfuly done, and in vindication
of our purpose "to use only fair means"
in this canvass, publish also the state
ment of the members of the district
committee, who were our authority for
the publication in question.
General Grout has evidently forgotten
the incident in the committee room at
Montpelier In further confirmation of
the recollection of Messrs. Cross and
Allbee it may be noted that member Of
the district committee, in a whispered
comment to another member sitting
beside him on this occasion, expressed
his apprehension that General Grout
might forget his expressions of willing
ness to leave the field to others before
the time for another convention should
come round. Prominent citizens of
the State confirm the statement of the
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

WHEN a somewhat precocious kid of
the Granite City has graduated from
the kindergarten, and entered upon
the acquisition of the "three Rs" in the
primary school of politics and journal
ism, and can read at sight common
words of three letters, he may hope to
begin to claim recognition. Meantime,
sonny, remember that "Little boys
should be seen and not heard" Prac-
tice this precept, and you will cease to
make yourself ridiculous and to mortify
your parental community.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

THE st. Johnsbury Republican, a
supporter of General Grout, in the
generals own town, says of Judge
Reads war record and the men who
have tried to impeach it:
The Republican has never questioned
Judge Reads intellectual ability, profess
sional standing and true patriotism. few
peanut politicians have been attempting to
belittle his candidacy, and themselves, by
making capital of the fact that he was
drafted into service in the dark days OF the
rebellion, back in the sixties. We have no
sympathy with this kind Of campaigning.
The Republican is in favor of the renomina-
ton Of General William W. Grout, not be-
cause we find flaw in Judge Reads mill
tary record, or for moment question his
ability or ardent patriotism, but because we
believe it unnecessary and unwise to make
any change in our Representative in Con-
gress at the present time.
The Republican states the real facts of
Judge Reads war record as they have
been published in the WATCHMAN and
other papers. The contemporaries
manliness is commended to the imita-
ton Of certain Grout scribes in this
part of the district who first started out
to calumniate Judge Read but have not
yet had the decency to make reparation.
That they will is quite too much to ex-
pect of "peanut politicians" They are
not built that way.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15

ALL over the contested parts of the
district the postmasters are displaying
"pernicious activity" in General
CIRCUITS behalf, and the General is
writing his federal henchmen urging
them to take hold and help pull him
through. Trustworthy reports are to
the effect that he is flooding the dis
trict with letters importuning people
to help him retain his seat in Congress.
In his letters of denial, now running
through the press, he is placing his
candidacy on very "high ground"
1t is only 1.-THE free and unbiased will
of the people which should CONTROL"
But to bring out this "free and unbi-
assed will" the man who evokes it,
himself and all his family, are working
for dear life, and he is swapping his
whip over the heads of his federal Of
ficeholders. This unbiased will'
seems to have some of the obstinacy of
the mules.