The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-04
EVE OF BATTLE.

BURLINGTON, June q. - Babel-Hades-
Chaos-these are the elements OF the situa-
ton at the Van Ness tonight. There js
confusion Of tongues rivaling the ancient
incident of scriptursl history, the weather
and the politicians are hotter than the old
orthodoxy pictured the place Of punish
mept provided for the wicked, and the con-
dition of things political is mixed beyond
the power of intelligence to unravel. The
hotels are packed "ten Deep az Manager
Clark OF the Van Ness answered to the in
qury of delegate for a room. No State
convention was ever Sin it" for the masses.
confusion, metaphysical and partisan OF
this mill in the first district. District COM
mittee, newspaper men, and all who are
laboring, in their attire are approximating
primitive costumes.
Above this condition OF elemental and po-
litical disturbance Ex-Governor Page smiles
serenely and calmly gives out the figures
the ballots will disclose on the morrow,
with the assurance Of an astronomer fore
telling an eclipse or proclaiming the facts
of any other of the occult and mysterious
things Of the skies. No one else pretends
to know what will happen tomorrow. Fos-
ter men can see his nomination rising from
the mists of the situation, but their faith is
born of their desires not OF an understand
ing Of any OF the facts Of the complex situa-
ton.
Powers is declared to be entirely out of
the fight, dead cock in the pit, and is rep
resented as much cast down by the IN
promising outlook after his face to face"
communing with his constituents.
Baker and Batchelder, the busy BIS Of
the canvass, have stored up the honey OF a
complimentary vote, but they are buzzing
only in desultory kind of way, and little
is heard of them in the resounding hum OF
the rival swarms Of this throngng hive.
Hall of St. Adams is the Lone Fisherman"
OF these troubled waters, and Col. Frank L..
Green OF the Messenger is batting his hook
and attending to his lines.
An element Of uncertainty that is pos
sible where only uncertainty is certain--is
added to the calculations by the fact that
many delegates will not arrive till on the
morrow. The assembling OF the convention
is ordered at two o'clock tomorrow, and
delegates and spectators must stew in their
own grease" all the mortal hours OF the best
part OF the day, during which the work of
the convention might be done, the victory
celebrated, the dead buried and the
wounded ministered unto.
A chairman of the convention has not yet
been found. Two have been named but
have declined. The Office is deemed extra
hazardous, life insurance rates have been
quadrupled during its tenure, and accident
companies are declining to take risks.
Even chaplain has not been found to pray
for the convention,
Mr.. Page will be nominated by r. w.
Hulburd of Hyde Park; Foster, by Henry
Ballard of Burlington; Baker, by George
Lawrence of Rutland; Batchelder, by O. H.
Darling of Bennington; Powers, by George
w. Doty of Morrisvillei Hail. by +. s.
Stranahan of st. Adams. The contesting
Leicester delegation withdrew its claims,
and the regular delegation is therefore
seated. A report was in circulation late
this evening that Powers would withdraw
and seek to hand his following over to Eos
ter.
BURLINGTON, June 28.-The Rutland
county delegation held conference last
night and the only result was to widen and
emphasize the split They stand for Baker
and Page. Rutland, Bennington and Frank
lin counties are practically out OF the fight.
The contest is narrowing down to Page and
Foster. Page men see victory coming their
way and Foster men express confidence,
but reliance is generally placed on the Page
claims and on his better organization and
generalship.
The nominating oratory over, balloting
was begun with the following result:
FIRST BALLOT.
Whole number OF votes cast 800
Necessary to choice 40
O. s. Page l05
ID. j. Foster 6g
I. q. Raker 60
j. X. Bachelor on
II. III. Powers ~
A. A. Hall ~
This ballot contained two ballots more
than the full roll Of the convention.
SECOND BALLOT.
Whole number Of votes cast 1856
Necessary to choice 1874