The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-11-27

uOlpu, Wlso tOI COuh-el huu JuuiSiouo III
administration, has experience that
would touch and gild every department
of state affairs. With him in the chief
magistrates chair the state would suf-
fer no detriment, but all its best inter.
ests would be conserved. He, too, is
of full executive stature.
Washington is the despair OF the
chronicler. Every other man would
make good governor. The pen halts
before the large array of executive
possibilities, every mothers son of
whom is TOO modest to think of the
governorship for himself, or is waiting,
without lantern out, for the Office to
seek the man. Here at tn g capital is
one of the best all.round business men,
one of the ablest fnanciers and most
competent and versatile of executives,
astute and far-seeing, who can shut up
more in one hour than the average gov
ernor can communicate during his bien-
NAL term, or in both an inaugural and
valedictory message. He is Fred E.
Smith, president of the Vermont Mu-
tual Fire Insurance Company, every
inch governor in mental equipment,
in varied experience and in physical
presence. Here, also, is Hiram A. Huse,
with a physiognomy--and brain,
too-that reminds one of the great
Seward. He can put more gumption,
sound sense and real live meaning into
plain United States than any other
man in Vermont. We are say
ing nothing about Dillingham;, who
has been governor, or score or more
of fine possibilities whom time and
space will not suffice to enumerate.
Down in old Windsor the woods are
full of executive timber. A stately
tree, straight as line and sound to the
heart, is johnson of Woodstock. The
blood of Colamer runs in his veins and
Collamer's brains are in his head.
Fletcher of Cavendish, descended from
the men who made Vermont, and son
of the states first republican governor,
in public Office and private affairs has
proved his title to executive honors.
Field of Springfield, diligent in mind
ing his own business, has been in pub
lie life enough to show his capacity for
affairs of state. Messer of Rochester,
many years the active head of that or
ganization of intelligent farmers, the
Grange, and now lecturer of the Ma
tional Grange, has done enough for the
best interests, moral and material, of
his fellowfa farmers, and in doing this
has shown enough of ability, resolution
and patriotism to entitle him to political
honors in grateful recognition of his
services. " 1t is hereby enacted by the
general assembly of the state of Yer
mont"-for half generation the law
makers of the state have heard this
| formula intoned from the clerks desk
in the house of representatives. And
this high priest of legislation is yet
young. More recently he has piloted
Il
untutored Solons through the mazes of
legal enactment, pronouncing the burial
service over hope blighted at the third
reading, or waiting along to the haven
Of the redeemed the measures that
have threaded their way among rocks,
through shoals and quicksands, to the
executive chamber. The candidacy of
Speaker Stickney seems to be entering
upon its initial stages.
We draw the line at Windham. The
laws of the Modes and Persians change
not. Her sons care many and are
men," but in this year of grace she is
not in it. 1t is clear that the republic
cans of Vermont, in choosing candi-
date for governor, need not be limited
to a single man, by any dearth of men.
There is wide field for selection.
There are governors galore. 1t is a
free-to-all race. You can bet your
money on the bob.tailed nag, or you
can bet it on the bay.