The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-14

supinely submitted to spoliation of her
population to build up other communities
which have turned and tainted her with
her lack of enterprise. The past twenty
years in particular have been marked
with wonderful efforts on the part of the
Nation, the states and municipalities to
develop their resources and increase their
prosperity. Men of practical and COM
prehensive craftsmanship have been plac-
ed at the head of affairs. They have been
men with a capacity for constructive
craftsmanship rather than for that mega
tive kind of statecraft which spends its
energies in political chicanery or which,
in cabinets and executive chambers, dis
ports itself in regulation frock coat and
frilled shirt front. The state is not I'M
like great corporation. The governor
should be the head of its business man.
agement. He should have knowledge,
experience and capacity that should in
spire confidence and should enable him
to shape the policy of the state, 80 that
every industry, so that education and all
things that conduce to the moral and ma
terial prosperity of the state should be
undertaken with deliberation and good
judgment, and pursued with energy and
persistence. Political usage in Vermont
has been all against any such conception
of the qualifications or the functions of
chief magistrate. The Office appears to
be regarded rather as the toy of poll
ticians, sort of gilded bauble to be
passed round among the elect. The gov.
ernor is figure head where he should be
living reality, the vigilsnt guardian of
the body polite, sworn and commissioned
by all legal and constitutional means to ad.
vance its highest interests.
The states injurious political customs
have unquestionably interfered with her
prosperity, and the inequality in the divi.
sion of her political parties has been with
equal certainty the opportunity of medi-
OGRE men. 1t is time these enervating
political customs were changed. The
preponderance of political power can
hardly be helped, but the party in power
can reform its hurtful customs. The
question of successor to Gov. Barstow
has been raised in the public prints. If
the discussion which the early broaching
of this subject creates takes the direction
of an honest and unbiased inquiry after the
man who shall best supply the need ver-
mont has of live governor, great good
may come to the state; but if the
forcing of the question is simply to fore
stall public opinion in favor of some self
constituted candidate or the candidate of
some ring, the people should step in and
institute new departure. In this con.
nection 1t may not be out of place to look
the field over little and see what mate
rial the state has for governors. Rotation,
when the governor chances to be a good
one, has been destructive to Vermont's
prosperity. 1t is the curse of the legisla.
ture, and it is filling the state with ex.
governors in the prime of life. Governor
Barstow is having term at school in the
chief executive Office. He has observed
and learned much that should increase
his efficiency for another term. The cor
rect thing would be to re-elect him. But
if the senseless geographical rule is to be
enforced, it behooves the people of the
whole state to cast about for a good mar
to succeed him to weigh the qualifca
tions of citizens who have given evidence
of such craftsmanship as the emergency
demands, and, actuated by single desire
to secure the best attainabls government
to summon him to the position with ar
inspiring unanimity and fervor. Fore
most among the capable men on the eas
side is Frederick Billings of Woodstock
His name is entirely worthy of very seri
GUS consideration. Experience, success
capacity, energy, resources, liberality
broad and generous views of things ant
shining talents are his. "E. & o. E.
| tu0 mybtlC CudrbCtoIb WHICH human In
trinity sometimes places at the foot O
commercial invoices, would not be needed
on his bill of qualifications. If, however
the state cannot be induced to do 30 gra
cious thing as to make Mr.. Billings gov
: ernor, there is j. M. Tyler, or B. d. Har
ris of Brattleboro, either of whom has
reputation for abilities such as the stat
might advantageously call to its service
In many but diverse ways each has ably
discharged important trusts or managed
business enterprises successfully. Each
is a man of high intelligence and liberia
education, both such as the schools i'm
part and such as is acquired in the broade
university of the world. Hon. Geo. Nchol
of Mortified has had large experienc
in the affairs of the state. He has bee
popularity credited with having held al
option on the governorship for the las
: ten years or longer. However this ma
!. be, an ambition to round out in the exec
i utive chamber long and honorabl