The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-09-14

Unquestionably greater honors than
the speakership conferred await him on
he floor of the house, and apparently
there is his place of greatest public
usefulness. If there were no other
member-elect competent to discharge
the duties of the speakers office, the
public good would demand that Mr..
Martin be again given the gavel of the
house presiding officer. We do not
understand that he is in any sense a
candidate for the office, but that he is
in good faith and in honor bright hold
ing himself in loyal subsection to that
knightly legend, "Ich dien, p" L
serve"
Among the epresentatives-elec there
is another who in point of ability, ex-
perience and demonstrated fitness is
recognized as the logical candidate for
the office of speaker. We refer to w.
w. Stickney of Ludlow. He was as
sistant clerk of the house in 1878 and
1880, and has been clerk from 1882 to
1890, inclusive. His thorough efficiency
has been the despair of rivals, and no
competitor has ever contested his sue
cessive elections to the clerkship. Dur
ing his long experience as the record
ing officer of the house, he has acquired
an expert knowledge of the rules and
practice of parliamentary procedure,
and he has often been the "right
bower" of the later occupants of the
speakers chair. We believe that he
possesses all the qualities for the proper
performance of the duties of the
speakership, and that the representa-
tives will best consult the public well
fare by promoting him to that office.
He has a wide acquaintance with the
men of Vermont, he is familiar by OBJ
servation and by contact with Ver-
mont's vital needs, he is lawyer of
high standing, he is deeply imbued with
love for Vermont, and ardently devoted
to her interests; he is wisely independ-
ent and fearless in the performance of
duty, and we believe, in the discharge
of that highest and most important act
of the office of speaker, the construc-
ton of the committees, that he would
be true to the people of Vermont and
loyal to their interests-and has the
ability, experience and backbone to
give fidelity and loyalty practical effect.
The election of w. w. Stickney as
town representative from Ludlow will
in any event leave an open field to as
pirants for the clerkship of the house.
This is an office which, from the char
actor of the duties required, must nee
essarily be filled by some person familiar
with the routine and technical functions
of the office. The man best meeting
these requirements is, in our judgment,
j. H. Merrifield of Newfane. Mr..
Merrifeld has been a representative
from his own town, and for several ses-
sions has been assistant clerk, so that
he is entirely familiar with the details
of the clerkship. If there is any virtue
in the theory or practice of civil service
principles, Mr.. Mortified will be pro-
noted to the office of clerk by the unan-
imous vote of the representatives With
Mr.. Stickney in the speakers chair and
his old assistant at the clerks desk, the
legislative machinery should start with
out hitch and run without friction.
For the office of secretary of the SEN
ate, George M. Powers can have no
rival. AS assistant clerk of the house
for three sessions and as secretary of
the senate of 1890, he has demonstrated
his capacity for the office of recorder of
legislative proceedings, and there is no
default in his record. If he is a candi-
date for e-election-and we understand
that he is-the senate of 1892 will be
able to settle speedily the matter of
choice of its chief clerical officer.