Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-04-30
TO THE VOTERS OF THE STATE OF
VERMONT.

Since the death of the lamented
Justin S. Morrill, the interest of the
voters of Vermont in the choice of
United States senator by the next
legislature, has been increasing. Here
vi tofore Vermont has exercised an in
Il fuence in the senate far in excess of
its relative wealth or population.
Much of the time, we believe, supe-
rior to that of any other state in the
Union, furnishing at the same time a
chairman for the judiciary and for the
finance committees in senators, Ed
munds and Morrill,. We are soon to
select a man to sustain or surrender
this proud position.
Are the voters ofVermont prepared
to admit that Vermont has ceased to
produce men of the character and
ability of her former senators? If not,
we must do our duty as citizens, re-
sgardless of personal friendship, and
see to it that the best man in the state
lis selected for this position. The
newspapers of Orleans county and
many friends of Gen. w. w. Grout are
claiming that his sixteen years of
service in congress has proven him to
be the man whom the voters ought to
select. OF course the results of his
sixteen years. service ought to an
swer these questions.
Has he become q leader Of the
House? Has he originated any legisla-
ton of Importance either to this state
or to the nation?
Ny intererest in these questions has
lied me to cause his record, as shown
|by the published proceedings Of con-
gress, to be examined for the purpose
of ascertaining what the facts are.
THAT examination has been carefully
made. If it contains errors, or if
omissions are made, they can be read
Ely pointed out. Here is the record
|Df the practical results of his sixteen
Years in congress-, previous to the
present session.
Only fifty-six bills introduced by
him have become laws. OF these, ff-
|ty two are private bills and only four
are of public character. OF the fif-
|ty two private bills, fifty are private
Ipension bills, each granting a pension
10 single individual; one (51st con-
Rress) granted relief to single per-
Bon, and one Oath congress) author
#ze6 the delivery of a condemned can
non to the Grand Army Post at st.
pohnsbury. OF the four public acts,
three were strictly local and relate to
HE District OF Columbia Call 51st con-
|Eress;l one was to regulate tax sales
ID the District; one to provide for the
|pRyment OF bonds of the District; one
io provide q free bathing beach in the
district; and the fourth (55th con-
Mess was TO erect public building
#t Newport.
II Does this record justify the claims /
MI his friends that he has been of /
Hreat benefit to the laboring men, es-
#ecialIy to the farmers, of Vermont? |
Which of these acts is of national i'm
0Drtance to the state of Vermont? |
Noes this record make it probable |
lat Gen. Grout can maintain the po-
tion heretofore held by this state in
e United States senate? 1t IS not
&fcessary to remind the voters of
Xermont that much of the most i'm
[prtant legislation ever enacted by
De United States congress, has be-
me law during the sixteen years he
s been there. You know this fact.
docs not careful study of Gen.
tDut's record lead to the inevitable
Inclusion, that the voters of Yer
ont can select man more likely to
stain the influence which Vermont
u heretofore exercised in the Unit
States senate? 1t is well recog-
ed fact that ability and long term
service combined, have hereto
III secured to Vermont the influence
has exercised in the United States
tie. Neither is sufficient without
bther.
p not good judgment and loyalty
the interests and traditions of this
te suggest the selection of young
of native ability, large intellect