Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-09
The County Convention.

In n recent issue of the Vermont
Waterman, it was stated that it was con.
cedcd that Montpelier was entitled to
the office of States Attorney this year,
and for this reason that esteemed paper
placed in nomination for the position OF
States Attorney Fred l.. Laird of Mont
pelier. Now will our friends in the
smaller city at our north kindly state
who comedies that Montpelier is entitl-
ed to the office of States Attorney? Ger
tainly there has been no vote of the
county on the subject? Has not the larg-
est city in the county anything to say
in regard to the next States Attorney?
Will our Montpelier friends please
show by what method they discover that
Fred L. Laird has suddenly gained such
ability as to force him on the Republic
cans of Washington county as the next
States Attorney. When did Laird ever
do anything for the Republican party
that gives him a mortgage on the posi-
ton. Just turn back in the political
history of the Vermont Democracy and
see what u short time ago Fred l.. Laird
was in the ranks of the "unterrificd
Democracy Laird left the Democratic
party of Vermont because he could with
out any change of heart we are told and
because he did not relish Democratic
Bosses. But what has Fred Laird done
for the Republican party since his re-
tircment from the Democratic ranks?
Tho TELEGRAM has no personal axe to
grind, but there are several lawyers in
this city who are amply qualified to
to perform the duties of the Office of
States Attorney, and if we have any
rights in the county certainly Barre has
as much and more claim to this office in
addition to that of Senator as any county
place.
Barre lawyers have records for vic
tory in county court in both civil and
criminal business that are not surpassed
by the legal lights from our city of Of
flee holders Laird had better wait I'M
til he learns the Republican creed be-
fore he seeks to ask for the best office
within the Gift of Washington county
Republicans. Now there are at least
six or seven Republican lawyers in
Barre any one of whom is as well
qualified for the position of states at
torncy as is Fred l.. Laird. Also they
are not recently annexed candidates but
have always toiled for the success of
the Republican party and have given
time and money to the cause. What has
Fred Laird done for the Republican
party? Now our friends at Montpelier
say that Barre must not have two offices
and if we are to ask for states Attor-
ncyship we must not ask for Senator
ship. This year Barre will ask for
whatever she pleases without the invi-
tation or request of Montpelier. Our
neighbors have right to take all the
offices they see fit or can secure and so
has Barre. Keep the attorneyship at
the capital for the next two years and
there might be a few Barre lawyers as
signed to assist the states attorney as
there has been in the past. When To-
cal lawyers have commenced the prose-
cution of criminals that have afterwards
been tried in County court they had
right to expect assignment in that coun-
ty but it had to be given to some other
man with more political pull. BY all
means Barre Republicans will present
candidate for the states attorneyship be-
fore they will vote for any recent turn
coat to their ranks like Fred l.. Laird.