Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-04-15
a FEW PLAIN WORDS.

Gov. Page has never shown a clearer
perception of the needs of his State than
in the proclamation for the fast today,
IN which he advises that the people ask
for blessings upon the "political, edu-
cational, moral and religious interests"
of the commonwealth and nation. He
very properly puts the political inter
ests first in the enumeration, thinking,
and rightly, that they demand special
attention.
The campaign for the governorship
has reached Il critical point. Very soon
it will be at an I'd to all intents ANA
purposes, for; somebody will be master
of the situation before the convention
meets, and whoever is nominated will be
elected. The candidate at the top of
the heap just now seems to be Col.
Levi X. Fuller of Brattleboro. He is
generally conceded, even by his most en-
thusiastlc supporters, to be a man of no
commanding abilities or especially at
tractiye qualities. His early alliance
with the Estey family-Mrs. Fuller Is
a daughter of the late Deacon Estey-
gave him exceptional business opportu
mites, which he has improved. He has
made wise and unselfsh use of some
of his wealth, particularly in the better
ment of the Vermont academy at Sax
tons River, which is one of the deserved
ly popular institutions of the State.
But still, admitting that he is capable
business man and thai he makes good
use of the money which his business
tact brings him, he is not one whom the
people of their own motion would have
been likely ever to call to take the place
to which Che is anxious to have them
elect him.
But the eastern half of the State Is
not lacking in men who would be cred
it to the commonwealth if any one of
them were elected governor. There is,
for instance, the present lieutenant gov
ernor, Hon. Henry A. Fletcher of Caven-
dish, modest, sensible man. In legis-
lative experience he is the superior of
Col. Fuller, having represented his town
III lhC llouSC llNC tiihCs. DCsiuCS plCsIuluS
over the Senate at the last session. He
was a soldier and good one. He is a
farmer by occupation, and he makes
farming pay. He is a brOad-gauge man
in all respects and would fairly and suit
ably.represent the inhabitants of Ver-
mont at Chicago or anywhere else. Then
over at Woodstock is Lawyer w. f.
johnson, "a leader in his profession, clean,
honest, well-intormed and of fine pres
ence and cultivated mind, the peer of al
most any of the eminent men who have
brought honor TO the State in the past
and are doing it now. Fortunately for
him, but unfortunately for the public
service of the State, he inherited some
wealth, married more and has made still
more, so that private affairs have taken
his attention; nor is he ambitious for
office. At Newport is another lawyer,
Charles a. Prouty, younger than either
of the others named, but even now not
far from the best of his profession in the
State. lie is a gentleman, IA scholar of
wide and varied attainments, an incisive
speaker and IA brilliant man, than whom
none within our borders more is likely
to become famous in public life. These
are some or the men whom over-the-
mountain brethren might bring to the
front, but they are not all.
Two things demand the consideration
both of the people and of the politicians
just at this crisis. One is that Col Full /
Ter is not the only possible choice for
head of the ticket, as seems to be assumed
because his friends make all the noise
that is heard; and, second, what will be |
the effect of allowing Col. Fuller to get |
himself nominated. 1t may not be seen
by the active managers of State politics,
but it is IA fact that the plain folk are fast |
becoming disgusted with their opera