Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-10-25

the Dillingham; men where it served
their interests. In spite Of the latter's
energetic work, the results Of the
Freemen's meetings were somewhat
more favorable to Grout than the
county conventions had indicated
would be the case. just how favorable
was the question. The Dillingham;
side claimed a considerable lead over
Grout, and asserted that when the
Democrats favorable to their candidate
came to him he would surely win.
They gave tables to support their con
tention. Grout just as earnestly
claimed enough votes to elect him
when this time arrived but when his
tables were studied and verified by
facts easily ascertainable it was found
that he was building his hopes on the
sand. He didn't have the votes to
lead Dillingham; at any stage of the
game. The Prouty and Ross support
ers encouraged the idea that lit
would be close" and that their man
would finally draw from the leaders
sufficiently to win.
Such was the situation when the
assembly met. So repeated and vo-
ciferous We're the Grout claims and
such was his reputation tor winning
out in straits like these that though
the Dillingham; side could not in any
way figure out defeat they were
anxious. They feared a deal OF
some kind, or some combination or
arrangement that would send them
home with heads down. They didn't
exactly know their strength, either,
and were halt afraid that when votes
were counted they would find that IN
some way Grout had got control of
enough men elected TO oppose him to
win out.
At this stage, it was proposed to
hold caucuses OF the counties where
the Dillinghamites were strongest and
if possible, find out where they were
at" 1t was a risky thing to do and
the Grout side dared not try it at all.
Any demonstration of weakness in
these caucuses would have been fatal.
But the results made the Dillingham;
adherents happy. Not only did Wind
ham, Windsor and Bennington coun-
ties show all the votes that had been
claimed, but in some instances more.
This got noised about and what was
termed the "Grout bluff" was pune
tured at once. 1t appeared that his
strength in these three counties was
practically nothing compared to his
claim and if so then the supposition
was fair that a like condition existed
in other counties and that the Grout
figures were fictitious. Dillingham;
gained from that hour
1t was generally agreed before the
first ballot that Dillingham; would lead
on it, but Grout confidently forecast
ed margin in his favor. Here again
he lost caste, for Dillingham; not only
led, but led by p votes All hope of
oyertaking him then must have been
at an end, especially when he entrench-
ed his position next day The only
thing that could possibly defeat him
was complete union of the other
forces, including the Democrats. But
this was impossible. because many of
the Democrats were elected as DilHn0-
ham men and were already anxious to
break away and further, because Grout
was not the second choice of either the
Prouty or Ross supporters. So it re-
solved itself into merely a question of
time. The effort was made by leading
Democrats, both within and without
the assembly, to cement the Democrats
together and thus hold up the situation
until they could secure a judge, but it
Jailed completely. There were MANY
Democrats in the House who were
more interested in the senatorship
than they were in landing a judgeship