The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-02
Letters from the People.
WHY NOT JAMES M. TyLER2

Poland again to be o candidate for congress
imposes upon the republicans Of this congress
sional district responsible duties that ought to
engage sober attention. That we cannot I'LL
Judge Poland's place, all will admit; but we
can, and ought to, apply the rule THE WATCH
MAN 80 strenuously insisted on In the late state
canvass, and be satisfied only with I" the best"
We should nominate no man simply because
he wants to go to congress, or because he has
the cheek to beg and the skill to pack caucuses
in his own behalf. These are qualities of a
lower order, and do not make good member
OF congress- Indeed, they are seldom found
In combination with those safe, solid and re-
liable talents and requirements that are indis-
pensabe In good legislator. Four self-named
aspirants for Judge Poands place have already
put in an appearance-Grout, Farnham, French
and Hooker-and there is no reason why one
or two hundred more OF the same sort may not
yet enter for the race-whch, indeed, seems
free-for-al." None of these men, nor all of
them put together, can begin to fill out the old
blue coat with its historic brass buttons
though combined, they quite likely might fur
nish the brass for the buttons. Young Diling-
ham, whom you very properly suggest-bright,
accomplished and clean-is unquestonably a
decided improvement on any OF the men named,
and, with time to acquire experience, would,
beyond question, make very useful and ac-
ceptable congressman, like his venerable and
honored father before him. But cannot we do
even better than this? In this Quadranguar
fight what more natural and sensible thing
could be done than to drop all self-seekers and
fall back on modest, conservative honest James
M. Tyler, our old member, whom we have tried
and not found wantingP In industry and solid
ability for the work he excels them all; and a
truer man in all relations Of life, public and
private, never lived. His four years Of active
experience also adds greatly to his ability to
do good service. Both he and Dillingham;
have the further advantage-and it is no mean
one, to my mind-of not being self. seeking
candidates. They wait for the people to call
T.. A. l.. It
sentatives as Collamer, Tracy, Morrill, and Po-
land ought now to have sense and pride enough
| to select only "the best available man.
Shall we do 1t? 1t is good year to send
caucus-packers to the rear WHITE RIVER.
AFTER THE CONVENTIONS.
| Mr.. Editor:-Now that the national and
| state conventions have done their work and ad-
| journed, the conscientious voter who believes
that it is his duty to scrutnize carefully all
recommendations made both of principles and
candidates, will naturally press his enquiries.
| The state and nation are more than party. The
citizen is more than partisan. Neither the
constitution nor the conviction of the people
| permit all discussion to end with the work OF
nominating convention. We are bound by all
| the considerations that have been freely set
| forth by many contributors, as we'll as edi-
torialy, in THE WAToHMAN and other indie
| pendent journals to go over the ground and
| carry on the discussion before the people be-
l
to promote political health. To take up state
matters: What was our aim and how much
did we secure at the hands Of the convention?
These may be named as leading objects: Q)
| The entering OF the state upon the broader
work of constructive craftsmanship such as
shall put it upon the road to an increased
| prosperity. AS means to this we demanded (2)
men of larger capacity and broader views than
we have had it being recognized that the state
| is suffering from officials of mediocre talents
| And III Ky that the Qllianpn Of puhlip
| office with the machine element in politics
stood in our way, and that the principles of
civil-service reform should be Immediately ard
effectively applied in our state to its own Off
| GERS. Now what have we? Take the candi-
dates. The representative man of the ma
chine, the embodiment Of the closest alliance
between public office, party politics and pow
erful corporation was first beaten in his effort
to grasp the highest Office and then in the at
| tempt to hold his present position. This is a
great gain for clean politics and sound prnci-
pies. So far, 80 good. But what of the nom-
nee for governor and the principles he repre-
sents? Is there anything in what he has said
or done to give US reasonable assurance that he
Is above the recent governor either in ability
or aims? What have we gained in these re-
spects? 1t looks as if in respect to this part of
our aim we have been left without much that
promises " constructive craftsmanship" What
of the other candidates? Will they do any
thing to help us up? Is Mr. Ormsbee repre-
sentative OF anything beyond the politician?
What of Mr. Powell? Is it not true, as those
who ought to know affirm, that Mr. Dubois is
machine politician and one of the railroad
ring whose whole political career has been
hand-in. glove with Dr. Nichols and his set?
Where is the consistency in pouring out our
indignation on the head of the secretary Of
state, while we are silent concerning candi-
date who is as essentially man of the ma
chine as any, but who has been little less
prominent? Has not the doctor some right to
say that he has been unfairly used when be
has been selected out from the others? 1t
looks good deal as if the opposition to him
had, after all, been one of partisan politics and
not of principles, which is to be applied
without unjust discrimination. And now a
word on the first and third points What have
we in the action of the convention, either in its
platform or nominee, to give US hope of
broad work and civil-servce reform in YER
, mont? There is an approval OF recent legisla-
ton that has reduced expenses and re-
adjusted taxes, with general declaration that il
shall be continued There is an article favor
ing such legislation as shall promote morality
and happiness Of the people" with a particular
: reference to our public schools and congrat-
. uatory clause on " the harmony which has
prevailed" and "the wisdom of its choice of
candidates This is all. Scarcely anything
definite. Not word on civil-service reform in
the state. Other states have taken up and car
ried into effect the principles of sound civil
service within their own bodies. We commend
the republican party in the national convention
for its support of civil-service. Yet four years
ago the state officers of Vermont were paying
political assessments in one form or another,
and we're, for aught know, two years ago.
Does the republican party in Vermont propose
: to keep up the practice this year? When an
ex-governor in open convention argues the re-
nomination Of an officer on the very ground
Z that he has been, and can be, useful in carry
, ing elections, it is time for us to enquire into
the meaning of our professions Why was
: there no mention of these things in the plat
! form? Is the party rotten on this matter of as.
sessments? Before can vote for the nominees
of this convention want some light on these
points. How many of these candidates accept
, retainers in any form or passes from certain
l corporations? What definite plans will they or
the party give us for state improvement?
have little space left for national questions. Il
3 seems important that we should not be misled
into taking the voice of the politicians OF the
party and their immediate satellites for the real
3 | voice of the great body of men who usually
vote for its nominees. The conventions an
misleading in this respect. They represent the
Q politicians far more than they do the people
The office-holding and office-seeking class were
1 no small part of our state convention. 1t is
' probably true that, with little good leadership
the independent movement in Vermont would
o have surpassed relatively even that in Massa'
r chusetts, or Connecticut or New York. YER
mont cannot affort to be counted out in reform
!. atory movements. What shall be done? is q
grave question. One thing is certain, that II We
would compel nominating conventions to bt
II Al - - Ia