The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-07-19
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor.
Vermont In Congress. Radical Read
justment Of the states Represen-
tatiOn,


The choice of United States Sena-
tor to succeed the late Justin S. Nor
rill, certain change in the second con-
gressional district in the Office of Rep
and probable contest Of
an interesting nature in the first dis
trict, constitute bunch of events that
will greatly enliven politics in Yer
mont and render exceptionally impor-
tsnt the canvass preceding the election
of 1900. The interest in the canvass
and election is not entirely matter Of
the future. 1t is of the present, and
week BY week is waxing warmer. The
local political situation seems to de-
serve precedence for moment of the
somewhat overweight contention be-
tween "imperialism" and it's pestiferous
antonym.
The Importance of these congression-
al elections ought not to need enforce
ment. They are of very serious i'm
port, and in the clash OF personal am
billions and the opportunities of con-
tending psrtisans this fact ought to be
kept steadily uppermost in the public
mind. The duty of choosing man for
Senator, and men for Representatives,
with sole reference to their best ability
to execute Vermont's commission in
the law-making branch of the general
government ought to be, with the peo-
pie, supreme,-personal or partisan con-
siderations entirely subordinate. Yer
mont's delegation in Congress is small
numerically. The State must compen-
safe for numerical weakness by mental
and moral strength.
In the matter of the senatorship, hav-
ing this sole regard for the highest pub
lie welfare, it is clearly the part of wis
dom to choose for Senator the man
who shall not only fill out Mr.. MorrilPs
unexpired term, but who shall, in the
course of events, be chosen to continue
in the senatorial office, in pursuance of
the wise policy that in the past has
brought distinction to the State and in
signal manner contributed to the well
fare of the Nation. In this view of the
case, the State ought to choose for SEN
ator man in the prime of his powers.
New questions of national policy of the
oh
ators with capacity for constructive
craftsmanship are needed. 1t is not
the part of wisdom to be shifting IN
necessarily the men who are to hear
and settle these questions. Whom
Vermont shall elect Senator in 1900
ought to have the quality of wise states
manship, and in his hour-glass an am
Pile store of the sands of time for sue
cessive terms of service.
W. P. Dillingham; has for many years
been regarded not merely as senate
rial possibility, but probability of a
very certain character. The qualities
that have long marked Mr.. Dillingham;
for the senatorship are well known and
understood throughout all the regions
of Vermont. They are not matter of
rhetoric or imagination. There is
nothing mythical about them. Mr..
Dillingham; is candidate for tie SEN
atorship, and, in view of certain sug-
gestions or presentations that appear
to be current in certain quarters, it is
proper that the people should be told
that he is not candidate for the Office
of Representative from the second dis
trict, that he has no purpose of becom-
ing candidate, and could not accept a
nomination to that flee should one be
rendered.
Left to their own unbiased selection,
without reasonable doubt the people
of Vermont, through their represent
atives, would choose Mr.. Dillingham; a
Senator of the United States; and it is
not in the nature Of things that, in the
coming canvass, a twist shall be given
Vermont public opinion that shall de-
feat this natural and proper solution of
the pending senatorial issue.
In the first congressional district it is
certain that Judge Powers, if he shall
be candidate for nomination, will en-
counter determined opposition. Va
rious candidates. have been suggested
but there is one that overtops them all,
that of Carroll S. Page of Hyde Park.
Mr.. Pages name has vigorous sug-
gestion of business in a political cam
paign as well as in the haunts of trade,
and carries with it the prestige of sue
cess. The situation in the district ap-
pears to be this Judge Powers has
held the office of Representative on five
successive elections-a period of ten
years, at the end of the existing Con-
gress-a longer tenure than was &C
corded to SteWar Joyce. or. with a