The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-02-26
Mortgaging the 6overnorshIp.

To the Ludlow Tribune. "the cavalier
way in which the Free Press brushes
off the stage all rivals of Major Grout,
real or imaginary, is highly amusing"
The Tribune makes a strong, and what
should be an effective, protest against
the thoroughly unrepublican and de-
grading school of politics of which the
Free Press is the prophet. The Tribune
says:
We are told by the Free Press that
reports from all parts OF the state en-
courage the expectation that no other
name is likely TO be presented to the
convention, which means that the in
formation that has reached the Free
Press office is very meager and mislead-
ing, or that the contemporary is talking
for political effect. Among those whom
it seems to have in uind principally are
w. W. Stickney of this place, and that
splendid specimen of a Vermonter,
Henry A. Fletcher of Cavendish.
The Free Press, however, is not with
out fears that these rivals may prove
refractory, and proceeds to apply little
persuasion by assuring them that if they
will only be good boys this time and
keep out of the way it will support them
when their "turn" comes as heartily as
it now supports Major Grout. They
are urged not to be discouraged or to
call it that they have been turned down
by present failure, but to wait patiently
for the day of promotion. At first glance
this treatment OF rivals is 80 consider
ate, 80 tender and 30 touching as to
command admiration and disarm crit
icism.
A closer inspection, however, brings
clearly to view cool proposition to
mortgage the governorship of the state (;
and, what is still worse, it reveals an
established mental habit of regarding
the governorship as piece of property
on which perpetually rests series OF
mortgages, one of which is to be lifted
every two years. 1t is not an office
which is free to seek the man best quail
which can be claimed by the holder Of
the first mortgage; in other words, the
man whose turn" has come.
Now, Mr.. Stickney-nor, for that
matter, other supposed rivals whose
names are suggested-is not dealer in
this class of mortgages, and his candi-
dacy is not supported because his
"turn" has come, but because he is, all
things considered, the man best quail
| fed to fill the office. He has been for
quarter of century and is now care.
ful student of state legislation, and his
position during all these years has been
such as to offer the best possible facil.
tiles for such study. His position az
speaker of the house during the last two
sessions of the legislature has brought
him into the closest touch with present
day legislation and legislative matters
now under discussion. His intelligence,
his practical judgment, his interest in
and aptitude for public affairs, his de-
votion to the welfare of the state are
not open to suspicion. He knows the
people no,o on the stage of action AND
is known by them. 1t is not question
as to whether or not Mr.. Stickney will
be equally we'll qualified four yeart
hence; the important consideration i,
that he is the best man available at the
present time. His selection would be {
visible demonstration that a man be
comes governor, not by waiting his
"turn," but by reason of thorough
training for the discharge of the dutieI
of the office, and that the state carel
nothing about turns" but everything
about superior fitness.