The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-04-28
THE DRIFT OF PUBLIC PREF.
ERENOE.

Ohoh - ''e cON
to this office. Waterman, what Of
the goyernorship?" The inquiry has
been accompanied by the expression
of a desire for an inspiring leader
ship in this year of a national cleo
tion, and further, one which would
reunite the Republican ranks, riven
by the discussions of the last State
Hon. Joseph A. DeBoer Of
Montpelier invariably was the first
choice of the inquirers, who were
from the sturdy citizenship of Yer.
mont, Unbiased by friendships, or
affiliations that would lead Judgment
astray from the single standard which
should dictate preferences.
Since the inquiry it's editor adj
dressed to Mr.. DeBoer in January.
the Waterman and Journal has OBJ
served with interest the development
OF public opinion in the matter of the
governorship. 1t has held a reecp-
tive attitude-as have the Republi-
cans of this city in general-and has
regarded with satisfaction the 6evel-
opment of hat somewhat mythical
thing in politics, the office of Cover
searching for the man. Week by
week, as the State and national cam
paigns have been opening up, the call
fol a leader of Mr.. DeBoer's ability
and quality has become more and more
urgent, even under the repressive
influence of his imperative refusal to
be a candidate. or by word or deed to
encourage the idea that under pressure
he would become a candidate for the
Office of Governor. This sentiment,
dispersed throughout the State, was
punched at the State and district con-
ventions recently held Tor choosing
delegates to the Republican national
convention Contact stimulated en-.
thusiasm, and what had been an
isolated longing became a fixed and
united purpose to make Mr.. DeBoer
the leader in the coming canvass for
the State and national elections. The
sentiment at the State convention was
thus summarized by the Waterman
and Journal representative. and en-
bodied in the report OF the develop
ments at that a~ssemblage:
In the matter of the eovernorship,
the feeling of the delegates, and 9TH
ers in attendance on the convention,
in q larna tnuinrifU &c 6oni6aH1v for
the strongest candidate that can be
nominated, and the current of prefer
ence sets so strong toward Hon. Joseph
A. DeBoer Of Montpelier, that he
seems to be the man, willing or un-
willing, whom the convention in June
will nominate. In this connection.
and in view of statements to the effect
that Mr.. DeBoer would not under any
circumstances accept a nomination If
it were rendered him, the Journal
representative feels constrained to re-
port hat the real situation unQueI-
"tionably is this MI. DeBoer has not
been, and is not now, seeking the
office of Governor; he is not "candi-
dating" for the office; neither he nor
any friend, nor any one in his inter-
est, is creating or seeking to create,
public sentiment in his favor. 1t is,
however, undeniable that the Office is
seeking Mr.. DeBoer, very diligently,
and evidently intends to find him, and
the diligence of the search, as is evil
dent everywhere about this conven
tion, representing all parts of the
State, is daily increasing in intensity.
The dispersion throughout the
State of the delegates and other
citizens in attendance on the conven-
tion has been followed by very en-
phatic pronouncements, editorial and
individual, in favor of Mr.. DeBoer's
nomination for Governor by the June
convention. 1t was made clear at the
State convention, in repeated and en-
phatic manifestations-and has since
been made clesrer-that Mr., DeBoer's
selection for leadership in the coming
campaign would be a token of the
closing of a schism in the party at a
time when division is without reason,
justified neither by conditions nor
principles, a measure of party union
demanded by considerations of dutiful
citizenship and true patriotism.
If the Republicans of Vermont want
for their leader this mar who so we'll
fills the requirements of leadership,
whose demonstrated fitness for the
office of Governor marks him 80 con-
s%picuously, il is highly incumbent on
them to go ahead and nominate him.
To do this is their plain duty as good
citizens; and equally it would be the
duty of a man with Mr.. DeBoer's
high ideas of the duty of a good oiti-
zen, ven at some personal sacrifice,
to accept a call so spontaneously
given, and coming 30 directly from
the clear fountain sources of a govern.
ment by the people.