The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-10

Office established 1878.
Before Mr.. Field there have been
IA incumbents, holding the office in the
aggregate 112 years, or s years on the
average just the length of time Mr..
Field has had it, and only two treasur
ers Benjamin Swan, 1900 to 1888 and
John A. Page 1866 to 1882 have held
the office more than years.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Office established ITS.
Before Mr.. Brownel there have
been 10 secretaries of State holding the
offices IN the aggregate 112 years, or a
little less than 6 years on the average.
Mr. Brownel has held the office s
years. Only two Roswell Hopkins
1888 to 1902, and George Nichols,
1865 to 1884, have held it more than
s years Mr.. Brownell has held office
in the Vermont Senate so that his total
office holding service covers period Of
at least twenty years in the aggregate.
AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS.
Office established 1897.
Before Mr.. Hale there has been 16
incumbents, holding the office in the
aggregate 95 years, or little less than
6 years on the average. Mr.. Hale
has held the Office 6 years. Alexan.
der Hutchinson held this office contin.
uously years, Daniel Pierce q years,
William M. Pingry 7 years, and E.
Henry Powell IA years; no other state
auditor has held the office more than
6years.
AIhese facts seem worthy of considera
ton for voters when called upon, az
they now are to either retain the pres
emf incumbents, who have served more
than the allotted or average time, faith
fully, no doubt but no more so thar
many others are capable of doing.
We do not understand that any of oul
minor state officers are men endowed
with superior ability or with marked
capacity above hundreds of their fel
lows to be found in all parts of oul
state In fact, we believe, this is no
claimed, but great stress is laid upor
their experience
The fishmonger, when protested a
gainst for SHINING eels alive, replied
claw bless you, they don't mind it
they've got used to it, I've been skin
ming them this way for 20 years"
Our state officers have been skinnins
eels for 10! these many years and doubt
less they, the officers, have got used t,
it but how is it with the eels? They
may prefer other methods, or at leas
would be glad to try other hands, fol-
surely their condition could be made
no worse.
One serious objection to this expert
ence racket, that is now being so assid
uously worked, from Congressmer
down, Is its everlasting staying quail
ties. II it is good now it will be Jus
as good two years hence and again il
two years, in short it could never ceas,
to be operative. 1t would not lik,
grandfather's clock "stop, never to g,
again" If this experience bushes
should become established like tn
mountain rule, all good men shoul,
play that the lives of our state officer
might be greatly prolonged, for onl
think if one Of them should pass in hi
checks what could we do? Take
man without experience! Heaven fo1
bid!
In plain truth this cry is the veries
rot. 1t i. without sense or reason
There are plenty Of men in the stat
thoroughly equipped with legal an,
other knowledge that renders them a
bundantly capable Of performing til
duties devolving upon these officers
and by all that is fair they should hav
chance. Office holding is not
birthright nor an endowment, but 70
the people TO bestow as they see fit, an
the signs Of the the times just no
point to clean sweep. So let it be.
Tho Enolicb ,auepo,,n, oorra...o -,