The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-08
Fair Play.

The Ne,us and Citizen of Hyde Park
has an "unalienable right" to it's in
dividual preference of candidates for
office, and to express and enforce its
preference by such arguments and con-
siderations as persuade its judgment.
1t has right to make any proper use
of facts that may influence public opin-
ion, but it is bound by every precept of
fair play to be reasonably sure of its
facts and not to distort or twist the
truth to adapt it to the sinuosities of its
own prejudices or prepossessions. Its
own experience in political campaign
ing should teach the contemporary this
lesson and impress its morality upon
its treatment of the men it opposes.
The Ne,os and Citizens reference, in
its issue of last week, to Fred A. How
land of Montpelier, in connection with
his candidacy for the Office of secretary
of State, was hit below the belt. The
contemporary seems to have been
studying that interesting repository of
personal history, the Legislative Di-
rectory, and, piously declaring that it
"has not single unkind word to utter
respecting him, processes to find that
Mr.. Rowland was "imported from New
Hampshire in 1887 for the express pur-
pose of stepping into Vermont Office
in 1885," Itfollows this fling with the
query, "Hasn't our New Hampshire
friend been well used, and isn't it best
that we give the preference to native
son of Vermont, one who has devoted
the best years of his life to the welfare
of his native State?"
The material facts of Mr.. Howland's
residence and office holding in Vermont,
it is but just to him to say, are these:
The early years of his life were spent
at Coventry in this State, though he
was born in New Hampshire. Mem
bers Of his family have lived and still
reside in that State, but during half of
all the years Of his life he has been in
Vermont. He received part of his
primary and academic education in
Vermont schools, and, like the great
majority of Vermont boys on the east
side who 60 to college, took his COL
legiate course at Dartmouth. After
graduating he began the study of law
in the Office of Vermont lawyer, W.
p. Dillingham; of Waterbury, and has
always voted in Vermont. He was adj
mitted to the bar of the Vermont
courts, county and supreme, and, with
uncomfortable exceptions, since the
days of his majority has resided con-
tinuously in the State, practicing his
profession and participating actively
in the affairs of town, county and
State. Now, if these facts of Mr..
Howland's life, residence and career
do not make him good Vermonter, or
place him on level with Vermont boys
"to the manner born" will the Ne,Ds
and Citizen prescribe the formula for
this superlative brand of citizenship,
30 that it shall be known what con-
stituent elements are needed to rescue
a man from the taunt of being an
''importation from New Hampshire"
or any other State to which he may
be conveniently consigned when his
candidacy for public office may chance
to become unwelcome to rival aspir-
ants?
Mr.. Howland's Office holdings have
not been of an enormously i'm
portant or lucrative nature, but such
as they have been, they have come to
him entirely ,oithout his solicitation. 1t