The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-24
Settled Right,

WIN al uue Regard W Jne hDlllIleS,
the experience, the wisdom, the char
acter OF the eminent gentlemen who
were coutendiug for the senatorship in
the contest ended on Thursday, the
conviction al the moment OF victory for
the candidature Of William 2. Dining
ham that the question of the senatorial
succession had been settled right is
deepening with every passing hour. AS
the smoke of battle clears from the
field the considerations that were per-
sonal or artificial or sentimental are dis
appearing also. What is for the best
welfare of the State, present and fu-
ture, has been done, both in The choice
of the man and in the policy that de-
termined selection with reference TO
that reasonable degree of continuity
and permanency in the tenure of the
office dictated by wise regard to the
business aspect of the question present
ed in one Of the candidates..
Long before tn. question OF the
choice of successor TO Mr.. Morrill, be-
came acute, the candidates. of General
Grout and Governor Dillingham; had
taken deep root in the politics of the
State. The appointment of Judge Ross
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of Senator Morrill, till the Legislature
should act in the matter did not uproot
their candidates., or materially disturb
them. They remained, and their ex-
tent and strength began to develop.
The senatorial succession had been
practically predetermined in favor of
one or the other of these men. This
predetermination Was not unsettled or
materially disturbed BY the appoint
ment OF Judge Ross. Indeed the ap-
pointment was not designed 10 displace
the acknowledged candidates in the
pubic preference. Its purpose was to
give the public the opportunity TO make
its preference clear, unbiased by the
act Of the Chief Executive in naming
for the office either OF the acknowl-
edged espirants tor it's houors.
Judge Ross Subsequent career in the
Senate was The factor that made him a
senatorial possibility. His service
there was honorable and gained him
and the State new distinction. AS a
matter Of sentiment the proposition
to elect him to complete the term for
which Mr.. Morrill, had been chosen WAS
regarded With favor. Sentiment in this
case had the substantial foundation
Of emineut service rendered.
But there Was another view Of this
proposition. Mr.. Ross vas asking for
a tenure of the office for but two brief
years. His aye precluded the proba-
bilitv and The wisdom of reelection
| for The full senatorial term OF six years
beginning with March A, 1903. So that
the State would have this disturbing
struggle to go through again in 1902;
al the end of two years another Sena-
tor, new to the duties of the office,
would enter the Senate chamber from
Vermont; another period Of apprentice
ship would be passed; meantime the
great questions OF far reaching import
ance raised by the issue of the war with
Spain would be debated in Congress
and would be pressing for decision, and
Vermont would be biennially changing
half her representation in the upper
house OF that body. The proposition
to elect Mr.. Rose, with the time limit
OF two years necessarily attached to his
commission, under the circumstances