Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-11

switched the other eye from "Phin
Annis, who sat little in front Of him, at
the head of the Lotus delegation, to other
points Of interest, as they developed. It
was Jed's first appearance in such q ca
pacity. (''What would Edna think il
she could see me nowf")
The chairman next presented the tenn
porary chairman, who raised his voice
and waved his arms in a too lengthy
speech eulogizing the grand past of the
old party and ridiculing the opposition.
An. uneasy shutting OF feet cut him of
and he took up the order of business.
The other preliminaries being com
pleted, the chairman announced,
"Gentlemen, the chair awaits the pre-
sentation OF names for the governor
ship"
Jed had just a moment to speculate on
what the chair cared about it, when that
convenient piece OF furniture received the
! form of the recumbent officer and stir
I in the Lotus delegation attracted his at
teDtion back to "Phi' Annis. A tall
man, dressed in frock coat, pushed his
way past "Phr' and strobe down the
aisle amid volley Of applause from the
red badges. He turned ~ he reached the
foot of the stage and faced the throng
calmly. Then he began to speak.
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Convention:
SIN naming a standard-bearer for 4
party that has never known defeat; q
party that has controlled the destinies OF
this grand old state for half a century, we
seek a man." and he went on to build up
strong and noble character, full of vir-
tue and accomplishment.
4 NtGneh q ma ma hau tr,v
ing him need not recount the great part
he has taken in the upbuilding OF our
state, nor his answering record as q Re-
publican, ever ready with bis means to
extend the hand of generosity to the
needy"
A shout and yell cut the speaker short
4 1t rang through and through the haIl-a
shout Of laughter, yell Of derision. The
application of the intended compliment
/ proved too much for the gravity OF men
who knew full well the part money had
played in the canvass of this same man.
The uproar, subsiding and breaking out
anew, lasted fully five minutes. "Phr'
Annis scowled like q demon, as though
he would like to bite the speaker for
making such a break.
Finally, quiet being restored, the ora
tor went on in a puzzled and subdued
way, quite unconscious Of what it was all
about He ended his hsrangue,
"And now / name the man; the nom
inee of this conveption; the next govern
or Of Vermont-the Hon. Prentiss Grang-
er of Lotus"
An outburst of cheers and hand clap
ping followed from the wearers Of the red
badges that lasted several minutes.
Now came another stir, this time from
the Westmont delegation.
''Hi, yii' yelled the Spencer enthusi-
ssts, as a clean-cut young stranger
walked confidently to the front and faced
about. The blue badges had their open
ing nov, and they responded with such
energy that the speaker delayed a mo-
ment and let his glance stray above to
the gallery where a bevy of ladies were
waving handkerchiefs. He even bowed
and smiled a greeting to one of the party.
and the delegates, following the glance,
recognized in its object Miss Hazel spen-
Ger, blushing deeply, and renewed their
manifestation.
Raymond Gray, tall and handsome, his
face flushed with the excitement of the
moment, and burning to impart to others
/ the intense feeling be had in behalf of
bis old friend and college mate, threw his
whole spirit into q fve-miDute speech
| that yet lives in the memory OF all who
/ heard it.
His well modulated voice took but a
tinge Of sharpness as he described the
conditions prevailing in the state and the
earnest call for reform. Then he drew
his audience up to a stirring climax as
he presented for the nomination ''one
who is too good and true to stoop to the
infamous depths of crafty political tricks
in order to win an Office that he seeks
only to serve his state; the first man in q
generation to present 3 real issue to Yer
monters; a man Of ideas, OF strength, OF
honor, of constancy-I trust, the next
governor, Hon. Rollin Spencer Of West
mont"
Such cheer as went up denoted that
the Spencerites lacked nothing in enthu-
siasm. Compared with the Granger cut
break, it was much the more pronounced.
There followed seconding speeches for
each nominee from nearly every county
some crisp and well received; others
tame and tiresome. One from q militant
reverend caught the crowd by its very
patness and vulgarity. He said
"a balloon sailing over Beaumont re-
Gently was fred at by a rifieman. The
shooter was hailed to court and among the
i witnesses was little girl. The lawyer
asked her IL when the balloon settled
any of those aboard said anything.
eyes she said, AS it came down
there came q voice from above saying,
What in hell is going on down there2 7"
"And tell you," continued the minis
ter, his voice rising above the laughter
that greeted his story, "If there is not &
change in Vermont politics soon another
voice from above will be heard asking
the same question in no uncertain way"
Finally the ballot was ordered and tel
lers named. To insure q perfectly fair
count, the chairman directed that the
delegates should come forward by coun-
ties and cast their votes by towns, each
delegate being checked on as he passed
his ballot to the chairman on the stage.
The counties and towns were called in
alphabetical order.
A quick witted reporter, anxious to Sc
cure the result at the earliest possible mo-
ment, saw here an opportunity to poll the
vote ahead OF the count. He took his
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