The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-06-09
THE GOVERNORSHIP SGTUA-
TION,

have formally expressed their prefer
enoe in the matter OF candidate
for the office of Governor. They
have indicated, also, the Journal has
abundant reason to believe, the desire
of the great body of the inhabitants
of this city that Mr.. DeBoer shall be
the Republican leader in the pending
campaign. The Journal further be-
lieves that the Republican caucus, in
the resolution it adopted with practi.
cal unanimity, voiced the wish of the
Republicans of the State in respect of
the man who should be the Republi-
can standard bearer in Vermont in
the canvass which will follow the
Republican conventions. The Repub-
licans of Montpelier, in their caucus
action, have given the Republicans of
the State conclusive reply to the
query: IF nominated, will Mr.. De-
Boer accept, and will he actively lead
his party in the coming campaign?
The Republicans at the Capital stand
sponsors for an affirmative answer to
this question, SO often and so solic-
itously raised in the recent weeks.
They pledge themselves that in coun-
Gil and on the stump Mr.. DsBoer
will lead, and at a pace that w II re-
quire all the Vermonter's ira. DUAL
celebrity of movement in o1-or to
keep the ranks we'll closed up"
Mr.. DeBoers grasp on public ques-
tions, his innate horse sense, his zap
acity to peer into the depths Of a
milestone, the quickness Of his mind,
the versatility of his powers, his abil.
titles as very clear, forceful and in
cisive speaker, promise high for a
campaign that, in a lively manner,
shall stir things up among the hills
and along the valleys of the Green
Mountain State, that on election day
in September shall evoke from them
the notes of good cheer that have so
often carried encouragement to the
States waiting for Vermont to sound
the prelude to November victory.
The candidates who have been
making campaign for the nomina-
tion to the. governorship profess to
be confident of success before the con-
vention of June 30. If Mr.. Stanton's
and Mr.. Bells followers are right in
their expressed understanding of the
situation, there may not be six Rich
monds in the field when the test of
political strength comes. the last of
this month, but there must inevitably
be two. What is impossible in
physics, two bodies occupying the
same space at the same time, in poll
tics will be demonstrated to be pos
sible, on June 80, if the confidence of
the partisans of these candidates is
not misplaced. Each will be nomi
mated; there will be-not a bolt-but
sort of composite candidacy present.
ing the personal characteristics of the
man from Roxbury and him from
Walden. How these would mix and
mingle in the unified candidacy must
be left to the agency and development
of the political camera.
But speculation on this subject is
interesting, or curious, rather than
important, by reason of the possible
presence OF the elemnet of self delu-
sion in the calculations of the candi-
dates-and the very probable selec-
tion of Mr.. DeBoer by the convention.
Nevertheless, the candidates keep up
bold front. No surrender appears
to be the watchword. Of Mr.. Bell
it is declared that he would rather,
Like Hector, on the plain to lie,
Than perfumed Paris, turn and fly, ="
This is the true grit that appeals
to popular applause. Divinity hates
gutter, it was somewhat tragically
declared, in the course of political
events not extremely remote; con
versely, Divinity loves slayer. He
who, disdaining to fly, goes down in
defeat, is thrice a hero, even when
the element of discretion may be
wanting. To the unclouded vision of
the impartial observer, this high
heroic distinction awaits candidate
Bell. Backed by wisdom, dominated
by real independence. imbued with
true eagerness for the peoples vel
fare, the pluck of the great Trojan
would be highly desirable in the
Chief Executive office. This Hectori.
an spirit, crossed by the intelligent
courage of Ulysses, his practical
wisdom and resourCefulness in al
emergencies, Joseph A. DeBoer would
put into the discharge of the duties o.
the governorship.