The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-04-06

the subjoined letter to the editor of the
Free Press:
Hall Farm, North Bennington, Vt,
April a. 1898.
To the Editor Of the Free Press:
My Dear Sir-My name has been men,
toned frequently during the past few
months as candidate at the coming con-
vention for the republican nomination for
the high Office Of governor Of Vermont;
and L have received many assurances Of
support from leading republicans in all
parts Of the State, such as would justify me
in expecting the nomination. My position
from the first has been that if it should
come to me with reasonable approach to
unanimity in the convention and with gen.
eral approval among the people, should
esteem it high honor and should CRATE
fully accept it.
But am not willing to engage in an I'M
seemly contest, such as appears now to be
probable. do not think that struggle of
that sort, as it might come to be conducted,
would be creditable to the State or benefi-
cial to the republican party; more especial
ly in the present year, when the country is
confronted by some OF the gravest and most
perplexing problems in its history, and
when it is most important that the party
should be strongly united in support of the
present administration and it's measures.
To these it will be the privilege of the re-
publicans of Vermont to give their first en-
phatic approval in the fall elections, there
by inspiring other States to the full per-
formance of their duty, as the ringing voice
from the Vermont hills has so often done in
the past, when voters elsewhere have
seemed to falter upon national issues of vi
tai Importance to the republic.
must therefore decline to be regarded
as a candidate, or to throw any obstacle in
the way Of entire harmony in the party.
In taking this course 1 wish to assure my
friends throughout the State that 1 am in
no sense ungrateful to them for their con-
fidenoe and proffered support, which has
placed me under obligations can never
forget, but 1 believe that with me they will
recognize as paramount the Importance OF
avoiding at this time every semblance of
party dissension. I am,
Yours very truly,
]. G. MCCULLOUGH.
Col. Smith, in native ability, in
large experience in handling affairs of
great moment, in his pride of Vermont
and aspirations for her prosperity and
the perpetuation of her good fame, pos
sesses a splendid equipment for the
chief executive Office of this State.
On this foundation alone his candidacy
was sure to prevail in the Republican
nominating convention. But there is
another consideration, which, if it had
been needed, alone would have made
him invincible before the great major
ity OF the freemen of Vermont. Col.
Smiths candidacy at this time appeals
strongly to State pride. He is the rep
resentative of an important Vermont
interest which has a vital connection
with Vermonts prosperity, and Yer
mont people desire that that interest
shall abide in the hands of Vermont
ers. Col. Smiths successful nomination
would be an expression of the popular
desire and good will in this respect,
and he was sure to receive that ex-
preston, generously and spontaneously
rendered. The personal interests of Yer
mont people and their State pride
would be wounded by the transfer of
the controlling power of the Central
Vermont railway to foreign corpora
ton. If General Mccullough had
stood in Col. Smiths shoes as the rep
resentative of this feeling and the
champion of Vermonps pride and in