The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-07-21
In the First District.

Congressional matters in the second
district are in an embyro state. Pro
posed candidates are numerous enough
but the compass does not yet point
toward any particular section. In the
first district it is different. Congress
siOnal matters there are not very com
plicated. There may be several candi-
dates but the compass has found the
direction in which the tide is running
and points steadily that way.
All indications go to convince one
that eX. Gov G. S. Page of Hyde Park
will be ia the congressional race in the
first district and it seems easy to pre-
dict the result. A Vermonter through
and through, constantly working for
the best good of his state, knowing it
from one end to the other and from
one side to the other and knowing its
needs and condition there is no man
better qualified or more able to repre-
sent his state in Congress than Gov.
Page. His business and political
record will bear the closest investiga-
ton. Both have been successful.
When state officer his duties were
performed with exceptional ability.
The nation is now expanding, assum
ing new duties and possibilities.
The ablest men are needed to grapple
with the new and perpleXing questions
constantly arising. Commerce
is increasing. Our business with for
eign countries was never so large as
now With questions concerning COM
merce and many other matters Gov.
Pages experience. ability and habit
of looking into a thing, obtaining a
thorough understanding of and then
acting upon it with good judgment
would enable him to give his nation
and state valuable service. He would
soon be in the front rank, among the
ablest men in Washington.
The time has evidently come for a
new congressman in the first district.
Gov. Page is the man. His name nat
urally comes to the front. 1t is fire.
quently mentioned for the position and
invariably with the prediction that he
can win.
Will Congressman Powers be Gov.
Pages strongest opponent? Has he
made record in Congress that gives
him right to hope for continued Pc
litical preferment from his district !?
One cannot say that !e has. 1t is even
intimated that since the defeat of his
Pacific Railroad bill he has practically
dropped out of sight in most congress,
sional matters. If this is so it is in
deed time for the first district to make
change. That district wants man
who can do it justice and Gov. Page is
the man.
Congressman Powers, when his pres
ent term is finished, will have been in
Congress ten years, longer than most
men who have represented the state.
He may think his record makes him
worthy of a still longer service. If so
he will probably present it to his con-
stituents for approval.
The following from the st. Johns
bury Republican speaks of the number
of terms those who have represented
Vermont in Washington have served:
Chief-Justice Taft, who is properly re-
garded as absolute authority on all mat
terS pertaining to Vermont history, has
discovered the fact that the eighty
seventh representative in congress credit
ed to this state from its organization up
to the terms of the present incumbents,
only four have served the state twelve
years in the lower house.
These are: Hon. Roland G. Mallory,
from 1919 to 1881; Hon. VIM. w. Slade,
from 1881 to 1913; Hon. Horace Everett,
from 1S29Ito 1913, fourteen years; and Hon.
Justin s. Morrill,, from 1865 to 1867. 1t
will be observed that Hon. VIM Slade
and Hon. Horace Everett served contem-
pOraneOusly. Both had been honOred
with the higher state offices before serv-
ing their constituents in the national
halls of legislation, and in their long
terms of national service took positions
in the front ranks of tile nations states
men, even in that trying and critical pc,
riod of its history The same is well said
of Hon. Roland c. Mallory, one of the
conspicuous early fathers of the tariff,
and vigorously identified with the mis-
souri, compromise" 1t is unnecessary to
speak of Hon Justin S. Morrill,, or the
reasons which kept him in the service of
v Vermont.
congress, only three beside the above
ever attained ten years service. These
were Cows. Chittenden and Hall, and Hon.
Luke +. Poland, all pre-eminently diStin- |
gulshed in state and national affairs. In
considering the above names, the ques-
ton fairly arises, Is Congressman Pow |
ers to be a candidate for denomination
next June, and If so. what is the record !
on which he will go before the people of |
the first district? Is he any more entitled |
to continuation of his term beyond ten |
years than were Chittenden, Hall and |
Poland?
Is he as much entitled to it as were
mallory, Slaue, Everett and morrill,?
This is not an argument ;'Only ques-
ton OF Judge Powers and his friends to |
answer
Congressman Powers claim must be
based on his record. In what is that rec
ord pre-eminent? Does it surpass or even
equal in merit those named above? Will !
he present it to the Judgment of his con-
stituents?
Felchville's New Library.
A snlnndid new lihrarN hnilhinm thn