The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-31
From the Mlddlebury Register Of Dec. SOL
our Next Governor.

Editor Of the Register 1T may appear
to many early to thus agitate the question
who shall be our next governor. To me it
seems best to agitate the question and bring
to the surface the best one qualified to fiji
the position to the satisfaction of the peo-
pie Of Vermont. We have formerly select
ed. to great extent, from the professions
and not from the people.
The farmers and mechanics constitute
three-fourths of our voting population and
pay three-fourths of the taxes. They are
the rank and file Of the republican party of
our Green Mountain state hence equality,
equity and justice demand that thew
should at least occasionally, present
man for the consideration of the
fieemen of Vermont. In doing so we
should represent as large majority as pos
| sible of their interests keeping in sight
ability and political honesty in our seec-
ton, as it is possible to find in any one
man.
In presenting the name of the Hon. Ma
thai r. Sprague, Jr of Brandon. feel that
| do not present the name of n stranger to
! you. Mr. Sprague has always refused po-
| litcal honOrs until he was nominated for
Senator for Rutland county in 1872 lie
was elected and served US faithfully in the
| Senate. His vote was ever recorded for
the right, and not Senator left better rec
ord at the close of the session.
Mr., Sprague is widely known as bust
ness man of sterling integrity. For sew
cral years past he has taken rank with the
| first business men in our state, and among
hundreds with whom he has had deal, not
only in Vermont but in several of the adj
| jacent states, there is not person who can
recall to mind a transaction beneath that of
| uprightncss and integrity, and indomitable
! energy and perseverance, are prominent
traits in his character Mr.. Sprague is a
very intelligent man. His general infor
nation is extensive, lie is well posted
in relation to our state and ma
tional affairs and the political aspects Of
our country, and he has an even, well ial-
anced mind, a sound, discriminating judy
ment. and seems to possess almost an intu-
tive knowledge of men and things in gen
eral. lie Is easy in his manners. gentle
manly in appearance. and his social quail
ilics render him the life and animation of
the circle of acquaintance in which he
| moves.
Mr.. Sprague i. president of the First ma
tional bank in Brandon, is president of the
Brandon manufacturing company, employ
ng about three hundred men. manufac-
turing the well known Howe scales. the
largest and most cnterprisng manufac-
turing enterprise in western Vermont. He
is also president of the Farmers and Me-
chanics' club of Brandon, one of the oldest
and strongest organizations of its kind in
New England. The members meet week
ly, and their interesting and able dis
cuSsions are sure indication that they
have fine, well selected library con
necied with the organization. Mr.. Spraguc
is farmer He has two or three farms adj
jacent to Brandon village, where he spends
his leisure hours in bringing worn out and
waste flats of land back to their virgin con-
dition. Ills farm house, the arrangements
of his out-buldings. his fine stock of cattle,
horses and sheep, and his extensive
and highly cultivated fields waving
with a rich harvest, all bespeal;
the enterprise, the corrcctor taste,
skill and judgment Of their proprietor.
Under his supervision every branch of
business appears to prosper, moves forward
with the order and regularity of clock
work.
Mr.. Spragur resides in a modest, retiring
community. Brandon is one of the largest
and weathcst towns in the State, and yet
from the first organization of our govern
ment down to the present time she has
never asked or received any political hon
ora. while they have been conferred upon
other larre towns without stint. Middle
bury has had two Governors and one
Lieutenant Governor. Rutland has
had three Governors and one Lieutenant
Governor, and the old saying is - Ben
ninrton is the town for governors" as she
has had -four governors and one lieutenant
governor. Also various other towns in
Western Vermont have been honored with
governor, members of congress, judges of
the Supreme court, &c.
Mr.. Spraguc is in the prime of life in
the vigor of his intellectual faculties in
the midst of his usefulness, friend to the
laboring man, friend to all lie never was
connected with the railroad interests of the
state, but would be free to carry out the
wishes of the people as expressed by
their representatives, and could
not he unduly influenced by cor
porations contrary to the right. He
is. in fact, heart and soul one of the peo-
pie, and takes pride in being so considered.
His nomination for governor of our state
at our next state convention would be an
honor to our state and a credit to the class
from which he sprung.
Excuse the plain language ! have used
in expressing my opinion. and remember
that not much is expected from an