St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-08-21
r1R. BATES IN THE FIELD.
His Friends Nominate Him for Town Represent
ative by Certificate. Reasons Why
He Should be Elected.


Hon. Henry c. Bates has been NOM
mated for town representative by certih-
cate and his friends propose.to send him
to Montpelier this iall. Mr.. Bates is so
well-known to the voters OF this town
that no extended sketch of his life is
essential at this time, yet il is fitting
that brief mention be made of his long
public service.
Mr.. Bates came to st. Johnsbury from
Guildhal in 1873 and since he became
resident OF this town he has been actively
engaged in public life, Under the old
school law he was town superintendent
for several years. From 1880 to 1884
he was states attorney, filling this
important office with ability and fidelity.
He was county senator for two terms,
| from 1886 to 1890, and besides holding
positions on important committees, was
further honored by being made president
pro tempore OF the senate each session.
His legislative career was a noble one
and "a credit to the town and county
which he represented. At the last state
convention he was chosen a presidential
elector and will be one ofthe four Vermont
men to cast their vote for Mckinley
and Hobart in the electoral college.
Mr.. Bates has also been candidate for
lieutenant-governor, and had many
warm supporters throughout the state
when his name was mentioned for this
high office. He is veteran of the civil
war, having enlisted in the Fourth Mass
achusetts Heavy Artillery. Since 1868
he has practiced his profession as
lawyer and has risen in bis profession
until he is now one ofthe leading lawyers
in Vermont. AS a debater he has few
equals and as close student ollaw and
lawmaking he has no superiors.
1t is eminently fitting that such man
should be sent to Montpelier this fall.
| The town needs such a representation
and the state needs such leader equally
as much. We want representative this
year that will be recognized throughout
the whole state as the leader Of the
house. In all probability Montpelier
will be represented by w. A. Lord,
Burlington by {. P. Smith, st. Albans
by Col, George T. Childs, Brattleboro by
Col. Kittredge~ ~Easkinsi Barton by F.
w. Baldwin, Peacham by Prof. Charles
A. Bunker and Morristown by George
M. Powers. Each one Of these gentlemen
has been placed in nomination and each
is leader in his own town. The person.
mel OF the next house will be one Of the
strongest ever known. st. Johnsbury
wants to keep up with the procession
and the only way to do this is to elect
Mr.. Bates on the first day of September
and have a representative man from one
OF the largest towns in the state.
Mr.. Bates has gone to Iowa on
western trip and is taking no part in
the campaign. Indeed he had made no
arrangements to have hisname presented
in the caucus and knew nothing of the
action Of his friends until the caucus was
over. Soon after the caucus some
expressed their doubts as to Mr.. Bates
record on the temperance question and
declared that they believed he would
favor high license. To satisfy ourselves
on this matter the editor of the GALE
DOMAIN wired Mr.. Bates asking him to
state his position on the temperance
question. Here is his reply:
SMITHLAND, Iowa, Aug. II, 1896.
Arthur F. Stone, st. Johnsbury, VT.
II am not for license, but say uphold and
enforce the law as it is"
HENRY c. BATES.
This places Mr.. Bates just where his
friends expected to find him, as sup
porter Of our prohibitory law. And this
telegram answers very effectively the
only argument which has yet been pro-
duced why he should not be supported
at the polls. If other objections to his
election are raised we have no doubt they
can be as easily disposed Of
A lively contest is anticipated for the
speakership, and while Mr., Bates is not
candidate for this position he is quail
fed to be one should he decide to contest
the laurels with Mr.. Lord of Montpelier
or George M. Powers of Morrisville. A
number Of matters are also coming
before the next legislature OF especial
interest to this town, and st. Johnsbury
citizens may rest assured that in Mr.
Bates hands these matters will be
rightly handled. In case our town asks
for a city charter, no better man can be
found to present such a bill than the one
the citizens have placed in nomination
Rarely have our voters had the oppor
tunity to send to Montpelier such q
distinguished leader as Mr.. Bates. We
believe that they will embrace this
opportunity and elect him by hand
some majority.
Republican Rally.-The Mckinley
and Hobart club have arranged fo
another rally in Music Hall this evenin,
Il. l.. II