The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-15
W, p. Dillingham; and the SenatOrshlp.

Vermont has gained not only national
but worldwide celebrity also In the
evolution of constitutional govern.
ment, in the founding of its industrial
and commercial prosperity and estab-
fishing its financial soundness, for half
a century Vermont has furnished the
men who have led in this great work,
whose names are written into the legis-
lative history of the government above
those of all other statesmen of the
times.
Full of honors, at the end of long
period of very distinguished service,
Senator of Vermont was recently laid
to rest. The task of choosing his sue
cessor will soon devolve upon the peo-
pie of the State. Does Vermont desire
to perpetuate her glory and influence in
the national Senate? The question an
swers itself. State pride, from the time
when Vermont was a wilderness, has
been fed on strong meat. With up
lifted hand and commanding mien it
appeals to the descendants of the
Green Mountain Boys from the portico
OF the Capitol, in the marble figure of
the States traditional hero. All to the
borders Vermonters came down but
recently to welcome with impressive
demonstrations the naval hero who is
the latest object of their patriotic pride.
1t is not now the time when the
people of Vermont will be Indifferent
in the matter of maintaining their pres
tige on any field wherein the State has
achieved distinction, least of all on the
floor of the United States Senate.
Has the timber up among these
Green Mountains for statesmen of i'm
peral stature become exhausted2 Men
of this generation who have known
William P. Dillingham; from the time
when he began his public career under
the tutelage of that high priest of the
law so competent to be "guide, philos-
opher and friend" to a bright youth,
Governor Asahel Peck, as his secretary
of civil and military affairs, along the
course of his official life till the secre-
tery himself became Governor, who
have known him further in every ca
pacity in private as well as public life,
recognize in him the man most fit to
take up in the United States Senate
the duties and responsibilities that
were borne by the venerable and rev.
cred Morrill,, the man whose native
abilities, training, character, and gen.
eral equipment for the work most sure
ly promise that Vermont's fame and
prestige in the Senate shall suffer no
abatement.
Mr.. Dillingham; qualifications for
the office of Senator are not merely
matter of rhetorical statement. They
do not exist chiefly in the proposes
sions of bis friends and admirers.
They were born in him, have been de-
veloped and matured in public life and
private pursuits and experiences. His
ad ninistration of the office of States
attorney for Washington county, in the
early years of his attorneyship, first
showed his quality. During his four
years. tenure of the Office the Devil
seemed to have taken it into his head to
find out what sort of stuff the young
lawyer was made of. He rendered the
office of prosecuting attorney no sine
cure. There were bank robberies,
murders and offences of minor grades.
The capture, prosecution, conviction
and punishment of Miles, the Barre
bank robber, one of the most eminent
criminals of his times, were carried on
with skill, resolution, vigor and pre-
cision in legal procedure that sent the
criminal to prison and advanced the
young attorney to the front rank in the
bar of the State. He wove from
scanty materials web of fact and cir
cumstance so closely about the murderer
Magoon that there was no escape from
The hand of justice. He prosecuted
all violators of the law with vigor and
effect, without fear or favor, but for his
fidelity to duty, manliness and SINGER
ity OF purpose, won the respect and
good will even of those whom be
chastened.
As the Representative of his town
in the House, of his county in the SEN
ate, he added to his reputation as a
lawyer and advocate distinction as a
man skilled and practical in varied af-
fairs. Appointed tax commissioner in
1882 by Governor Barstow, to put in
force the corporation tax law of that
year, measure that was 80 great an
innovation as TO be almost revolution
airy, he reconciled opposition, dsarmed
hostility, averted contest before the
courts, collected the full revenue the