The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-17
What Gen. Grout Said.

There has been a good deal said one
way and the other about Gen. CIRCUITS
promise made at the last convention
of the second congressional district
not to run again if there was strong
evidence that the district wanted a
change and if a candidate was brought
forward with any degree of unanimity.
Gen. Circuit and his supporters deny
that he made any remark that could
be construed to mean as above stated
and the supporters of Judge Read are
equally certain that he did. AS a
matter of fact such a remark was
without doubt made by Gen. circuit
and two members of the district COM
mittee present at the time plainly re-
membered it, However, it has slipped
from the memory of the present repre-
sentative from the second district and
he says the statement is made up out
of whole cloth, as he endeavors to
show in the following letter published
in the Waterman:
Editor Of Wdtchnndn:-In your paper
of the eighth inst. is a statement to the
effect that two years ago said IN the
district committee rOOm at Montpelier,
that | should not be a candidate again If
/ could then have a unanimous nomlna-
ton. This statement involves my per-
sonal knowledge. | know whether or
not | made it, and | most emphatically
say that | did not. 1t is a pure fabrica-
ton. There was no conversation OF the
kind described, and the falsehood is out
of whole cloth. 1t was well known by
everyone at the last convention that a
large majority of the delegates were in
my favor, and what inducement was
there for the alleged statement? | felt
or +iuna that | NVo11ld Oucb Orpfnr to
have ballot, that the real weakness of
the opposition could have been exactly
revealed. | know what | think of a man
who does not keep his word in politics as
well as everything else, and | feel that
the demands of truth, and justice to my
self, as we'll as the public, all call for this
denial, unpleasant as it is to feel the nee
esslty for making it.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM W. CIRCUIT.
That Gen. CIRCUITS memory is at
fault is shown by the following letter
published in the same issue of the
Waterman:
MONTPELIER, VT, June 10, 1898.
Editor Of WGtchnd1l-In his denial of
the conversation in the district commit
tee room two years ago, General Circuit is
undoubtedly sincere, but his memory ap-
pears to be at fault The circumstances and
the conversation, as we remember them,
were these: Two years ago, at the dis
trict convention, General Circuit came
into the district committee room at
Montpelier, and one of the members said
to him, "Well, General, the thing looks
favorable for you" He remarked that
he guessed it would be all right, that
there was some unfinished business he
would like to go back to Congress and
complete. That would round up his SIX
teen years of service, and, if at the end of
two years the district saw fit to make
change, and had another candidate, he
was perfectly willing to step down and
out"
l.. BART CROSS, Members of
Il. II. ALLBEE, ! Dist. Com.
This statement is as many promi- |
nent citizens in the State understand |
it. In addition to this there is further |
proof in the fact that one committee
man is said to have whispered to an
other near him at the time that he
was afraid the General might forget
his willingness to withdraw when the
time drew near for another conven-
ton. 1t appears that the committee
mans fears were based on a good
The General has COM
pletely forgotten the incident and is
now mailing it as falsehOOd made out
of whole cloth. The question is not
one of truth but of memory. The
evidence that this remark was made is
sufficient to convince any fair minded
person. 1t was generally understood
in the convention that Gen. Grout
should that time be elected by accla-
nation and that the field should hence
forth be clear for new candidates.
There is considerable evidence Just
now that the district wants a change
and it has another candidate. but the
General shows no signs of withdraw
ing. Quite the contrary, he is putting
up the fight of his life and, Judging
from the signs, he has need to. The
business of two years ago is
evidently not finished yet. 1t may
have to remain unfinished.
Recent statistics show that the Eng
ish citizens heaviest bill after food,
'ent, clothing and drink is his gas bill
England pays 500, 600. 900 year to
he gas companies, and it is calculated
hat the gas companies realize profit
a zoe Oo0 onn d. i