The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-15
The States Att0rneyship.

The States attorneyship for Wash
ington county has at no time been
sinecure. 1t is an office which exacts
work from it's incumbent. Its duties re-
quire of the man, chosen by the people,
ability, experience and an impartial
and courageous temperament. For the
States attorney is, in large sense, an
executive officer, to whom the voters
commit the enforcement of State laws
for crime and misdemeanor in their
county. He is called upon to work
with the Grand Jury. He has discre-
ton in the matter of arrests. He con-
ducts the case for the State, when it
reaches court. He has business
judgment to exercise in the matter of
what the trial of a cause shall cost the
State. At every point this office touches
the pockets of the people and the ad-
ministration of law and justice within
their county.
In our last issue we nominated for
the Office of States attorney F. L. Laird
of Montpelier, because we consider him
admirably fitted by reason of his charac-
ter, experience and ability to discharge
the duties of this important trust.
Mr.. Laird was born in Marshfield,
VT, and raised within its borders. He
was educated in the public schools and
graduated in 1880 from the Vermont
Methodist Seminary at Montpelier.
During the next four years he laid the
foundations for o secure knowledge of
his profession at Dartmouth College.
After graduating in 1884, Mr.. Laird
took up his residence in Montpelier.
This step, as is the case with every
thing he does, was the result of de.
liberate choice. He at once engaged
in the study of law, being admitted to
the bar of Washington county in 1887.
For eleven years, now, he has devoted
his entire time to the practice of his
profession in it's courts and in those of
the State. He has been eminently sue
cessful in his causes. The court records
will disclose how often and with what
frequent success his issues have been
brought.
There is one fact to which attention
deserves to be called, namely the
honorable record made by MIR. Laird
when he was a grand juror for this
town. He entered upon the office as
upon trust which required its holder
to perform specific duties, defined by
law. From start to finish he did what
was required, fearlessly but conserva-
lively and with no regard to any con-
sideration save the discharge of his
duty. The recollection and the effect
of his strong administration of this
Office at that time, exists yet. 1t argues
forcefully in behalf of his present nomi.
nation to the States attorneyship.
Mr.. Laird's whole record, as an attor-
ney, or as citizen, marks him a man
of strong common sense, quick to see
the main point of every question and
skillful in maintaining that point in de-
bate. Having always been interested
in public matters, there are probably
few men, and certainly none of his age,
who have larger county acquaintance
ship than Mr.. Laird. This is both be-
cause his whole life has been passed
here, and then, also, because his bust
ness has brought him into constant
contact with its people.
We believe that the States attorney
ship will be wisely and economically
administered by Mr.. Laird, if the peo-
pie of Washington county commit it to
his charge. He is in every way strong
man and good man for that office.
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