Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-03-21
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
THE GOVERNOR QUESTION

Az Old soldiers Plea for LIeut-Gsv.
| Wsodbury, the One-Armed Veteran.
Mr.. Eiitor.-
The governor question has been launched
upon the people by the press in regular
and special editions, until they may be par
doned for expressing their views When
the Watchman sent out a carefully prepared
circular last fall for the ostensibe purpose
Of taking a concensus of opinion upon the
question Of promotion, il was suggested by
some astute politicians that il was a Page
skirmish line and now, when all at once,
at the sound Of the Boston Herald's bugle,
papers in various parts Of the state appear
in uniform editorials, marshalled by the
News and Citizen, little paper published
in Lamoille county, hardly heard of before,
1t is apparent TO all that our keen.eye
chairman Of the Republican state commit.
tee, who has found advertising in business
so good an investment, began early in the
campaign to commit such papers as he
could TO the advocacy of his cause
Editors may be able to select the candi-
date of their choice for governor before
the names Of possible candidates are brought
before the people, but for one | protest
against their attempting 20 voice public
opinion before it is formed When the
Herald article app, ared it is safe to say not
half the voters had thought of a candidate
for governor, and that not one in one hun
dred had decided upon a choice How
absurd, then, for little papers in country
towns to comment upon that article and
gushingly declare that Page was the choice
Of the people.
The same may be said in regard to the
promotion question. No one but the poll
tician has ever raised any such hue and
cry, and whenever raised it has been, not
in the Interest of any principle, but in the
interest Of some men TO defeat some other
man, just as il is raised at this time The
question has never been presented to any
convention in this state, and has never re
ceived approval or disapproval. The Re.
publican conventions have heretofore felt
competent TO make selection for governor,
and have not asked what official position be
had held OF was holding, but simply whether
he was fit for the position. venture the
assertion that in future the intelligent men
who will make our selections in state con
ventions will follow the same rule.
If there is any reason why a man who is
every way fitted for the position Of gov
ernor should be debarred from entering the
race, and the people should be debarred
from making their choice. simply because
he has presided over the senate and worn
the name Of lieutenant governor, have
failed to see it stated in any paper profess
ing to oppose promotion. Much might be
said in favor Of the experience and train
ing which a man, liable any day in the
event Of a vacancy to assume the duties of
governor, would naturally acquire, but no
one claims for a moment that the simple
fact that a man has been lieutenant-gov
ernor should entitle him TO promotion.
The papers advocating Mr.. Pages can
didacy admit that Mr.. Woodbury. is a man
Of integrity, of business experience, of all.
ministrative capacity, and fitted for the po-
sition Of governor Unable TO attack him,
or to successfully compete with him upon
his merits, they seek to make his official po-
sition initiate against him. | submit TO
candid men that such tactics have never
won in this state and never will
Let Mr.. Page and Mr.. Woodbury. stand
upon their merits let their history from
manhood to the present time be told in a
candid, straightforward way, and if they be
found equal in point Of integrity, ability
and capacity, remembering that he serves
his party best who serves his country best,
honor the man who, in the time of peril,
sacrificed his good right arm that this gov.
ernment Of the people, for the people, and
by the people, should not perish from the
earth, and make L. A. Woodbury. the next
governor Of our old Green Mountain state.
VETERAN.