The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-30
POLITICAL SENSATIONS.

The sensation of the week has been
the "mare's nestn discovered by B. b.
Smalley in which he alleges that neither
the Republican nor Democratic candi-
dates in Vermont for Governor and
Lieut.. Governor were eligible, the whole
four being directors in National Banks,
etc. This reminds us of the electorship
hurrah of 1876, when Amos Aldrich
thought of contesting the right of Re-
publican elector who was postmaster
when he was nominated. The one ended
the same as the other.
Col. Fuller said Monday, in response
to the despatch: The alleged statement
of b. B. Smaley of the National Demo-
cratic committee that | hold an Office in
National Bank and am therefore in
eligible to the governorship is without
foundation, as | do not now, nor have
ever held any Office created by an act of
Congress. Section 26th of the Constitu-
tio2 of Vermont reads: Nor shall any
person holding any Office of profit or
trust, under the authority of Congress,
be eligible to any appointment in the
Legislature, or of holding any executive
or judicial Office under the State" In
1883 the Constitution was amended by
a vote of the people, and this section
was added: "The words Office of profit
or trust under the authority of Congress
shall be construed to mean any Office
created directly or indirectly by Congress
and for which emolument is provided
from the treasury of the United States.
Col. Smalley has lost his grip" on
Vermont news as well as politics. The
Free Press, the home organ, speaks of
this event as one of the humors of the
campaign, which we give explanatory of
our comments, as follows: That the
exacting duties at the National Demo
cratic headquarters in New York city do
not monopolize all of Col. B. B. Smalley' S
time is evident from the following
Associated Press despatch sent out from
the metropolis on Sunday evening:
Bradley b. Smalley, member of the
Democratic National committee and late
a candidate for Governor of Vermont, is
reported as saying tonight that he had
made discovery which if the election
were contested might give to Allen, the
Prohibitionist candidate, the Office OF
Governor of Vermont. The Constitution
of Vermont, it is said, provides that nc
man who holds position of trust OF
profit under any of the acts of Congress,
shall be elegible for State Office. Gov
elect Fuller, Lieut.. Governor Stranahan
and the Democratic candidates foI
Governor and ut.-Governor all hold
positions as directors or other officials of
National Banks. Mr.. Smalley is also a
Worlds Fair commissioner. Under a
strict Interpretation of the Vermont
Constitution it is maintained by some
that none of those gentlemen would be
entitled to the governorship. Many
members of the Vermont Legislature are
also said to be directors of National
Banks"
This despatch will pass for one of the
humors of the campaign. The repre-
sentative of the Associated Press in New
York was evidently not well acquainted
with the witty Secretary of the Demo
cratic National campaign committee, ol
this statement would not have takeI
seriously. There is basis for Col
Smalleys statements, however, as thu
following extract from the Constitution
of Vermont will show:
Section 26. No person in this Stat,
shall be capable of holding or exercising
more than one of the following offices a
the same time, viz: Governor, Lieut..
Governor, Judge of the Supreme Court
Treasurer of the State, member of tn,
Council, member Of the General Assem-
bly,, Surveyor General, or Sheriff. No
shall any person holding any Office o