Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-04-24
The GOVernOrship.
A Presentation of the Grounds on which
Speaker w. w. stickney's Nomination
Is Asked for.

|
copy an item which has been going the
rounds of the state press, to the effect that
Orleans county has never had a governor,
while Windsor county has had four. This
is an error, for history shows that in the
three years 1928, 1929 and 1880, Samuel
Crafts of Craftsbury was governor of this
| state. 1t is also fact of interest in this
connection that in proportion to their re-
spective average populations, each county
named has furnished the state almost ex-
actly the same term of service as governor,
so that in the contest now pending neither
of the candidates has the advantage over the
other as regards locality, Gov. Crafts was
also United States senator, congressman,
lieutenant governor and judge, a man greatly
noted in the states early history as pos
sessing all the virtues of the fathers, and it
seems a sad reflection on our pride of an
cestry that the statement that he never had
an existence should go floating about the
state for several months unchallenged,- -
by the press of Orleans county.
You grant Speaker Stickney perfectly
fair treatment in speaking of him as a man
of good record, well versed in the affairs of
state, who would fill the governors chair
competently and creditably. | regret that
you cannot support him, but as you prefer
Major Grout for reasons named, | ask you
to let me say something in The Phoenix
about the Windsor county man, prompted
by the memories of long and intimate ac-
quaintanceshp.
William W. Stickney was born in the
town of Plymouth, 43 years ago, a farmers
boy. Working on the farm and perform
ing other manual labor until 20 years of
age, he then made up his mind to obtain a
liberal education. Paying his way, un-
aided, through four years course at Phil
lips Exeter academy, he graduated with
honors and settled down at Ludlow to
study law. In due time he began the prac-
tice of his profession, and his progress has
been such that his standing in the courts
of Windsor and Rutland counties is of the
best, and his services are often called into
use as referee in the trial of important
suits. In business matters he has also
been successful. His only Inheritance was
his mental endowment, strong body, and
a determination to merit success, but early
succeeding in the management of his own
finances he soon had similar work to do
for others, oftentimes to an extent involv
ing large responsibilities. When the Lud-
low savings bank and trust company was
organized three years ago his was the
name selected for its executive head, po-
stion which he now holds.
But it is in his twenty years experience in
legislative matters that Mr. Stickney has
become best known. For three terms as
sstant clerk of the house. he became clerk
IN 1882, a position which he held for 10
years. In every town in the state are eX-
representatives and others who are ever
ready to accord him high praise for the
work of those years. A fine reader, thor
oughly posted in every kink of parliament
L. L.. s.fNl ha..t. aid 10
the presiding officer, always an important
factor in the rapid discharge of business.
His assistants can bear witness to the thor
ough system and dispatch which were the
governing rules of his office work. No
matter how high the work piled on the
desks at night it was always left in shape
to tell its story in black and white before
the light went out. In 1892, when the
town of Ludlow sent him to Montpelier as
her representative, although there were a
dozen men in the house who would have
graced the speakers chair, his was the one
name mentioned for the place. How well
he filled the Office during that and the sue
ceeding session is a matter too fresh in all
our minds to need mention here.
This, in brief, is Mr.. Stickney's record.
Some express preference for the other
candidate because he is an older man, who,
it is claimed, has broader, all-around eX-
perience. Now, don't know at just what
age a mans intelligence is the keenest, and
at what time in life his judgment is the
best poised, but l think we have ample
evidence that 43 years is fairly matured
age. We read that Oliver P. Morton was
Indiana's great war governor at 81 years.
William E. Russell was much under 40
, years when he gave to Massachusetts such
efficient and popular administration that
the strong Republicanism of that state was
unable to move him till he got ready to
step out. Seven of our Vermont govern
ers of the past have been only 43 years old
and under when holding their office. A
good many more of them have been from
only two to three years older.
AS regards all-around capacity, that of
course is good, but it sometimes happens
that one or two speciaties are good stock
in trade. For instance, l can think of two
equipments for the office of governor along
special lines that would seem to me desira-
Bile. l refer, first, to his duties as part of
the law-making power. We all know that
! a good many of our laws are turned out in
5 crude shape. They are found not to har-
monize and fit together as they should,
and oftentimes much confusion and an
; noyance arises, and supreme court inter.
e to tide over matters till the legislature
meets again to make the necessary cor.
rections. Now would it not be desirable tC
have in the governors chair a man whose
twenty years experience with our law
r making machinery has made him an eX
y pert in every detail of the business? Gould
= not such man be of very good service by
g watching closely the legislature in its diff
ferent stages, and bringing his wide ex
perience to bear in discovering and sug
costing, before it is too late, the needed
n changes? The other duty has reference Il
the financial affairs of the state. No con
8 cern would call man to the management
of a business involving the expenditure o.
three-quarteTs of a million dollars a yea
Il without being satisfied that he had haC
ample training and successful experiences
along the special line in which his powers
It would be called into play. Our state ex
. penditures, to be sure, are hemmed abOu
If and largely regulated by law, but there il
:. still ample room for the play of the bes
}. talent that can be obtained in the manage
e ment of the state finances.
The friends of Mr.. Stickney present hi
name as a candidate for governor with tn
firm belief that he is peculiarly fitted Il
meet the special requirements of the office
as well as fully equipped for its genera
duties. While they cannot say that he
a farmer, he spent his first twenty year
on farm and in manual labor, and The
believe that he is none the less in sympa