The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-02-26

not Sat1Sf1ed with the Adjudication
of that question by the existing Legis-
lature, after the somewhat arduous
canvass of 1900 The fabric of Dill
lingham's candidature for the Senate
is founded on the rock, the structure
has been firmly cemented by the ao-
tion of the General Assembly, and in
every day of his service at Washing
ton it is being given granite solidity
by the master workman himself. We
believe that General Grout thinks too
much of his caput to disfigure the
member by bucking it against the solid
wall of Dillingham; strength and pop
ularity. He may be able to devote it to
if he does not spoil its classic proper
tions and spill it's gray matter by us
ing it, or suffering his partisans-we
cannot say his friends-to use it as
battering ram to topple over a state of
things political as fixed as the foun-
dations of the Green Mountains.
There need be no such concern for
Senator Dillingham; future as the
somewhat hysterical manifestations of
certain newspapers might imply.
Many strong men, men of influence
and high character, who steadfastly
maintained the candidacy Of General
Circuit for the Senate two years ago,
accept as final the settlement of the
question of the senatorial succession
made in October 1900. They are for
Dillingham; in 1909, and have so in
formed their former chief to whom
they were bound by honorable consid-
erations, their fidelity to which was
entirely creditable. If General Grout
could not win with all the advantages
of position and following he possessed
in 1900, what can his chances be in
1902? He probably understands the
reply to this proposition rather better
than any one else. In answer to the
quixotic call of a newspaper "to de-
fine his proposition, with entire pro-
priety he writes, among other things :
No, I am not candidate for the
Senate or any other office. But 1 am
citizen of the State, with the same
rights as other citizens; the right to
be treated as well, if l behave as well (;
and the right to support for Governor
the man who l think, on my respon-
sibility as a citizen, is the best man
for the place and the man who will
best serve the interests of Vermont.
In respect of the future, General
Grout also says to his newspaper cate
chist:
You are evidently troubled to know
if l am candidate for the Senate and
/ answer, l am not. / say this to you
as have said it to every one who has
written or spoken to me on the sub
ject, because have no present pur-
pose or expectation of becoming a can
didate. But 1 want you to distinctly
understand that l do not say l will
not be a candidate l shall make no
promises for the future, but shall hold
myself free to take whatever course
may seem best; and if / should be-
come candidate, the people shall
have fair notice. There will be no
underground business about it, as you
seem to be looking for. If your insin-
uation of a trade with DR.. Webb is
entitled to any reply whatever, 1 will
say that it exists only in your imagin-
alton. Not word has passed between
DR.. Webb and myself, directly or in
directly, on the subject, and this
whole problem can be best disposed of
by the old Morse maxim, Evil to
him who evil thinks"
Unless General CIRCUITS eyes have
become dimmed and his mental force
abated-of which there seems, to be
no evidence-the people of Vermont
are not likely to receive the "fair no.
tice" of the Generals candidacy for
the senatorship. If, however, the
notice is served, the answer of 1900
will be repeated with much more Of
thunder in its tones. Meantime, as he
writes his inquisitor, he is a citizen
Of the State, with the same rights as
other citizens, having the right to be
treated as we'll if he behaves as we'll.
All of which the Waterman and Jour
nal concedes-and this paper can hard
ly be ranked among the General par
tisans
Dillingham; supporters have not a
shadow of anxiety for his future, not
even one so large as mans hand |;
but if a cloud should appear on the
distant horizon in the shape of Gen
eral CIRCUITS "fair notice." his sun
can suffer no eclipse. On the second
Tuesday of October next, if he lives,
under clear skies he will receive Yer
mont's commission to represent this
people in the Senate of the United
States, for the full term of six years
from March A, 1903-and all the peo-
pie shall say, Amen