Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-06
The Second District Convention.
Ex-GOv. GrOut Explains and Defends
the Action OF the Orleans County
Delegates.

DERBY, VI, July 8, 1900.
Editor Of The Pboenir:
In your paper of the goth, ult you say
in substance, that the action of the " Dale
Grout- Stafford " contingent was the IN
pleasant surprise of the Second district
convention and that in violation " OF
definite and repeated pre-convention prom
ises," they failed to furnish the votes nee
essary to secure Col. Haskins's nomination
| have nothing to say about the Dale-Staf
| ford features of the contingent you mention
but | want you and your readers to know
that the Grout feature OF that contingent,
consisting of at least IS delegates from Or.
leans county, voted faithfully for Col. Has.
kins. Judge Chamberlain, from this
county, seconded his nomination and, with
eight others in all, voted for him on the
first ballot; twenty more, after giving Col.
Dale complimentary vote, placed them
selves in the Haskins column and all there
remained till he was nominated.
Col. Haskins began with $40, gaining
steadily until he reached 1859. where he
stood when the break came that complet-
ed his nomination. In the 149 he had
eight of the Grout contingent and in the
gain he afterward made he had the other
twenty. l say Grout contingent, because
they were chosen, six from Barton, Gen.
CIRCUITS home town, from my own town
and the balance from towns more or less
contiguous to these towns and known, all,
to be for Haskins after complimenting Col.
Dale; and some of this number took the
short cut and voted for Haskins in the
hrst instance. Had they not done so he
would not have been the leader, and had
the balance not gone to his column, when
through with Col. Dale, he would not have
been the growing leader he was; and had
he not been put in the lead and kept there
he would not have been the winner
The towns sending these delegates were
canvassed and recanvassed for Plumley
and Stafford, and only by effort and watch
fitness were they kept for Col. Haskns.
OF all this know because / took Fart in
1t, and an active interest in getting the
right delegates and seeing they were at the
convention, and at Col. Haskins's request
was one of the delegates. The balance
of this county was divided between Plum
ley and Stafford. do not know the pref.
erence of Essex and Caledonia had they
quit their candidates, but was told MANY
of the delegates of these counties would
have gone to Haskins. / told Col Has
kins as best l knew what he might expect
from this county and this expectation was
realized almost to a delegate.
When then unpleasant surprises and
broken promises are insinuated and in sub
stance charged against Gen. Grout and his
friends l want you to publish the facts.
That you should be so sure that Dilling-
hams candidacy in Windham county will
be strengthened by Plumley's course in the
convention is to say the least significant.
We had no trade with Col. Haskins or his
friends and they are under no obligations
to Gen. Grout or his friends beyond what
the nature of the case as here stated sug-
gests. | have always been Haskins man
and supported him from choice.
If people of Windham county desire to
assist in the senatorial contest, as you urge
them to do, accordingly as Grout or Dill |
bingham assisted in nominating Col. Has
kins, should they not consider themselves |
under as much obligation to the influence |
hat gave and kept him in the lead as the |
influence that simply brought about the !,
result little earlier than it otherwise !
would have happened?
Sincerely, JOSIAH CIRCUIT.