Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-05
A Very Lively Contest De-
veloped Over Successor
to Senator Morrill,.
The POPULAR CANDIDATE
Seems to be Ex-Gov. DiIIipgii am -Prouty
Grout, Fifield and Judge Ide the
vision of Territory Among tho
Different Claimants.


Morrill,, word of praise for the very sat
isfactory way in which Montpelier people
had arranged for the funeral services and
then came the question "Who is going to
be Senator Morril's successor" Every
body was asking this question and with
view of learning something further of the
sentiment as it exists; the writer also
asked the question very freely. 1t should
also be stated the results as expressed
here reflect fully and impartially the
claims of the several candidates and are
not at all tlnctured by the writer's choice
of candidates.
But one new possibility was mentioned
to-day and the full list of candidates men
toned is: Ex-Gov. Dillingham;, Congress-
man W. w. Grout, Interstate Commerce
Commissioner G. A. Prouty, Hon. II. G.
lde of st. Johnsbury, Il. F. Fined OF
Montpelier, w. b. G. Stckney of Bethel,
and Judge II. H. Wheeler of the United
states Circuit and District Courts, There
are no west side candidates and although
many very complimentary remarks were
heard about Congressman II. II. Powers
OF Morrisvlle and ex-Gov c. S. Page of
! Hyde Park and also a desire that they
1 might be honored at this time. it can be-
stated that neither of them would accept
the office at this time. 1.-The mountain
rule Is still in force and both of these
men as well as other west side possibil-
ties realize that it would be political sui
living on the east side are the only ones
who are to be considered in anyway cam
didateS. The real active candidates may
be reduced to Dillingham;, Grout Prouty
lde and Fffeld. To predict what the re-
suit Will be is not safe it is not known
on what considerations the governor will
make the choice. IF the governor wants
to reflect the popular choice he must APP
point eX-Gov Dillingham;" was the re-
! marx most frequently made in reply to
queries. Yet 1t was quite generally con-
| coded that owing to the close personal re-
lations between the governor and Mr.. FL
Held that the latter might be a formidabl
opponent to all popular candidates.
! The situation as regards the different
candidates can be summed up as follows:
W. Il. G. Stickney was mentioned by ono
Windham county town who hoped that
he might be given considerable support in
that county.
IL. f. Fiheld's strength was mentioned
above. several other men considering him
q person of marked ability.
Judge II. G. 1do has some very firm
friends In St. Johnsbury and they say
that Caledonia county will be solid for
him. This seemed to be the general sem
timent among large majority Of the men
interviewed.
Several men were in the city to-day who
said they personally" were for Grout but
they We're not working for him. But the
majority of them said that the three north
east counties, Orleans, Essex and Gale
donia, would be solid for him and that
he would be found strong in several other
counties. 1t was generally conceded that
his strength Is among some of the farm
ing communities on the east side, but af-
ter giving the strength claimed by Mr..
Prouty's friends it will be seen that there
is much disputed ground in what is claim
cd as exclusively as Grout territory.
a advocating h,. pl I'm
of Mr.. Prouty is authority for the state
ment that with the exception Of the
towns Of Barton and Derby. Orleans coun-
ty is solid for Prouty. We know this for
canvass has been made" This same
gentleman said Prouty was the second
choice Of Caledonia county people.
one amusing incident was brought
out in conversation about Mr..
Prouty's canvass. Two men OF Or
leans county We're passing the residence
of late executive whose home IS in Der
by one day last week and it became
known to the honoied gentleman that
they were out making canvass Of the
county in Mr., Prouty's interests The UNI
fitness OF such an early canvass before
the remains of our much bestowed senator
were laid to rest was very wildly pOr-
trayed by his eX-eXCellcncy who was
shocked beyond measure at such unhal-
lowed work. However the two gcntcm, n
drove on to ncighboring town and the
first man they approached on the sub
ject of a successor to Senator Morrill,
quietly Informed them that the eX-SoV-
crnor mentioned above h1d telephonod
him the preceding day asking his support
for the con grcssman who for a week past
has been confined to the house with the
grip" II is evident that Mr, Prouty
also has considerable strength with the
railroad magnates in Rutland and by peo-
pie along that lire of road who would be
influenced by this fact
Ex-Gov. w. =. Dillingham; arrived in tho
city this morning fr>~n Texas and by con-
versation with friends has been learning
where his strength is situated. One espec-
tally pleasing incident to the ex-governor
Is the presentation of a largely signed peti-
tor by the residents of STAFFORD, the late
Senator Morrills home, to the governor
asking that Mr.. Dillingham; be appointed
as Senator Morril's successor. Washing
ton county solid. Lamolle. Orange. Ben
nlngton. Chittenden, Franklin, Windhdm.
large portions OF Windsor Rutland. Addi-
son and probably the whole of Grand Isle
county is the territory which Mr.. Dilling-
ham has been led to believe will support
him. one feature of this claim is that
there is very little conflict against it by
the supporters of other candidates The
friends Of Mr.. Prouty claim that he will
draw some support from Orange county.
and the friends of Mr. Grout expect some
scattering support in some of the Western
counties but it is generally conceded that
this territory is practically Mr. DillnS-
hams In addition to this Mr.. Dillingham;
has been promised some support in Gale
dona county and also in Essex county.
This presents the feeling as it was found
and cannot fail to explain the frequency
of the expression that eff the governor is
to bcsinhuenCcd by the popular choice he
will appoint Dillingham;"
| In regard to the governors position it
seems safe to say that he has been true
to his declaration that he should not give
the matter of a successor any considerl-
tion until after he had shown due respect
TO the memory of the late Senator Morrill,
and that he will make no choice until he
) has fully mastered the situation. If II is
made plain to him that the preponderance
of popular sentiment is in favor of one
man, his fidelity to the popular will In the
past gives rise to a confidence that he
} will respond to it this time,
), JUDGE READ ON THE LOOKOUT.
Bellows Falls, Jan. 1.-The choice of n
successor to I'll Senator Morril'S seat in
the Senate is attracting much interest
here as in the event of Congressman
CIRCUITS promotion. the friends Of Judge
Lcvant NJ. Read Will make a strong EFFORT
10 send him TO tho lower house. For this
treason prominent republicans here are
Ichary about expressing themselves for or
against Gen. Grout. Though he undoubt-
Iedly has very strong following through
Tout tho county the talk is generally in his
flavor but there is n strong under current
in favor of Gov. Dillinghams selection
1.... lNf