The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-16
Letters from the People.
TOO MANY LAWYERS.

TOO MANY LAWYERS
Mr.. Editor AT this time, when so much is
written and said about rings in our state, we
confess that we do not see any Just reason for
accusing persons Of belonging to ring" 1t
Is true that the secretary Of state has been kept
in office for long time, elected by the legisla-
ture Of the state, and II there Is any wrong
committed 1t must rest with the several sue
cessive legislatures who have elected him.
The same may be said OF the state treasurer,
who until two years ago, had held the office
for term OF years. In our fight against an
imaginary ring" are we not committing a
greater mistake in filling our state offices and
legislature with lawyers? We have five
elective offices, four Of which are to be filled by
lawyers, while, from present indications, ma
jority Of the next senate will be lawyers, simply
because they can get up and talk the longest
and loudest on any subject, even II they know
but little about 1t. The very poorest law-mak-
ers are undoubtedly these same attorneys-at-
lawyers. They are not forming rings to get
possession Of the state offices and the legisla-
ture. The state would be as we'll governed IL
the state offices and legislature were filled by
ministers, or doctors, or mechanics, or farmers,
but not one whit better, Fill every state
farmers, and we will have just as good gov
eminent and just as good laws. The danger
in either case would be class legislation, which
should and would be avoided by letting merit
and worth, instead Of cheap talk, govern in
our nominating conventions. In government
like ours by the people and for the people, it
is honorable for any and every one to aspire to
any Office which he is qualified to fill and it
should not be the policy OF the people to fill
the offices with one class or profession, or to
continuously fill an office by electing the same
person, when there are others just as well
qualified By keeping one person in an office
you are depriving others, equally deserving, Of
the honor and distinction which is theirs of
right The rule should apply to offices filled
by the general government-marshals post
masters, route agents, etc. While civil-service
is no doubt best for the clerkships in gov
eminent offices in the large cities, it is not
adapted to Vermont. 1t is injustice to keep a
postmaster in office continuously, simply because
he has managed to get the office by hook or
crook, when in nearly every town in Vermont
the service would be improved by changing as
often as once in four years; and by SO doing
we should give several citizens, instead of one,
that laudable distinction and honor which is
their DUE K.
SECOND FOR MIR. SAWYER.
Mr.. Editor While thanking you for your
compliment in your article of last week on
County Politics." lest there should be some
Misunderstanding of the matter desire to say
that am not candidate for the office of as
sistant judge, and do not desire to be. Good
men are plenty who would do honor to the
place. Middlesex will hold up both hands in
support of Mr. Sawyer of Moretown-a boy of
her own raising, a plain, sensible farmer, OF
stalwart body and of independent mind ON his
mothers side descendant of that noble family
that furnished this county its first judge, nearly
century ago lin 1857 in the person of the Hon.
Seth Putnam of Middlesex. A few towns-like
Moretown, Middlesex, Berlin, Worcester and
others--have been neglected in the distribution
of county offices. As fast as their claims are
presented let them be "audited and allowed"
WILLIAM CHAPLIN.