St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-04-27
Convention Echoes.

Convention Echoes.
Before the convention but one question
was asked "Who will be governor ?"
After the convention all political discus
sion was forgotten and everybody was
praising Senator Foraker's great speech.
His political opponents used to call him
"Fire-eating Foraker" Nothing in his
manner or speech would indicate that
such a phrase ever fitted him. His
address was an eloquent, logical and
forceful presentation of the republican
party's achievements in the last four
years. And the subtle wit, the easy
manner and the personality of the man
added to its effectiveness in no small
degree. The Ohio Senator has struck
the keynote for the coming campaign in
Vermont and it was pitched high and
clear.
The friends of Hon. Charles J. Bell of
Walden were pleased at his political pros
poets and no mistake will be made if the
state convention places him in nomina-
ton. Besides the united support of
Caledonia county he is assured Of strong
support in the largest counties in the
state, and in all sections of the state his
friends have assured him that his can
vass is looking well. Mr.. Bell needs no
eulogy from the CALIFORNIAN and in pub
lie life as state senator, member of the rail-
road commission and later of the board of
agriculture he has been brought in close
touch with the varied interests of the
state. In the next two months we look
for quite capitalization of political
sentiment for the Walden candidate.
It was amusing to see how Mr.. Glenn
emit kept the politicians guessing and
although they won't admit it they are
still at sea- No one knows but Mr..
Clement whether or not he will be can
didate for governor-and he won't tell.
Whether you agree with his past and
present political issues or not, you must
admit that he is a powerful factor in
Vermont politics at the present time.
Indeed. one of the republican leaders
said privately at Burlington that Mr..
Clement had forced the machine into the
background at the last convention and
love feast instead of bear dance was
the result. Mr.. Clement and his faction
were defeated at the Rutland caucus by
a small majority after a sharp contest,
but this did not seem to upset him though
it caused him some anxiety and spoiled
some nicely laid plans.
Lieut.-Gov. Stanton has the laudable
ambition to be governor, and his friends
think this is the time. The Washington
county papers have said some very NICE
things about him, all of which are true,
and he is sure of support in all parts of
the state. But there is a cloud in his
county just now the size of a mans hand,
and if that should spread over the
heavens it would bury the lieutenant
governor and perhaps everybody else.
OF course we refer to the persistent
rumors that Mr.. DeBoer will be drafted
as a candidate. Some of Mr.. DeBoer's
best friends continually deny that this
will happen, and a stampeded conven-
q
while the politicians are watching Mr..
Clement the candidates are anxiously
keeping an eye out towards the National
Life building in Montpelier, and they do
not forget that the convention will be
held in Mr.. DeBoer's city. What a no wi
would have gone up ii the state COM
mittee had located the convention at
Rutland. But they didn't.
DR.. ]. A. Mead of Rutland, Charles H.
Stearns of Johnson and Henry Ballard o
Burlington want to be lieutenant-gov
ernor and two or three others are also
scoring. Mr.. Stearns is the best known
in this section and seemed to have ths
most support among those who at
tended the Burlington convention. A
correspondent writes in another column
an endorsement of Mr.. Ballard, WHOSE
services to the party have been poorly
recognized in the past. In the next two
months we shall undoubtedly see soms
hard work put in by the friends OF the
various aspirants, any one of whom
would make good lieutenant-governor
That august body known as the state
as the place for the state convention anC
named Thursday, June 80, as the day
Elk Congressman Stewart will presid,
and it. promises to be full of interest
Hon. Horace W. Bailey has resigned a:
the Orange county member, owing to hi:
federal appointment, and is succeeded by
Hon. Curtis S. Emory of Chelsea, one o
the brightest republicans in that section
OF the state.