Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-24

For Governor.

of few months ago in regard to
third candidate who might, perchance
have been more acceptable than either
that time has passed now. There i
no one else in the field. The lines ar,
now too sharply drawn and the lead
ing men of the party have pledged
themselves too far to leave any rea
sonablc expectation of the entrance Of
another aspirant.
Looking the situation in the face as
ii exists, what should loyal Republic
cans do? Manifestly only one thing
Examine carefully the qualifications OF
each of the announced candidates and
select the one best fitted in all respects
for the office. having first determined
that neither is unworthy of the trust.
To any who have the record and repu-
tation of both men before them this
latter can safely be assumed. Either
gentleman will, if nominated, and OF
course elected, discharge the duties of
the Office faithfully and well. How,
then, do they compare, one with the
otherP
On the opposite page we give com
prehensive sketches of the lives of Col.
Smith and Gen. Mccullough. They will
be read with much interest. Judging
from them and from what else we
know as to their capacity we think il a
proper estimate that their personal
qualifications balance each other. Gen.
McCullough's somewhat longer and
more varied experience is offset by
Col. Smiths longer connection with
affairs of public interest in the state.
Whatever may be claimed rs to the
personal strength of either, it cannot
be denied that the other would make
Just rs good II chief executive. Strik-
ing ont, then, their personalities as
equal factors possessed by both, what
have we remaining as elements useful
in determining our preference
In any canvass for Office the point of
locality is raised. OF two men equal
ly worthy the preference is given to
the one representing that section that
has been longest without the office in
question. How Il it, then, in this
case? Neither Franklin or Benning-
ton county has been honored with the
governorship for many years. II we
recollect correctly Franklin was last
represented. bya mere trifle in time,
but in looking up the record it is found
that Bennington has held the Office
considerably longer in the aggregate
than Franklin, SO that this test is I'M
satisfactory and we may strike out the
element of locality from the claims of
either.
Again, we usually hear much said rs
to the relative age of the candidates.
The one or the other should be favored
because. il is assumed. he represents
faction in the party that deserves rec
ognition. We have not heard this is
sue raised this year and it should not
be. Col Smith is old enough to be in
close touch with those wise in council
and Gen. Mccullough is young enough
to be in full sympathy with those ar
dent in war. There is nothing to be
gained by either in the discussion of
this matter
In the same way, both being bust
ness men who are engaged in similar
enterprises no comparison can be
made in this way to the advantage of
either as being a representative of a
larger and more worthy class of our
What now? We have taken up. one
by one, the factors that usually enter
into a controversy of this kind. We
have weighed the two men in the ordi-
nary balances. So far we have been
unable to detect any real difference be-
tween intill. ~ tdN w navy islliNM 10
show why either Is not equally worthy
with the other and why the matter can
not be settled to as general satisfaction
by the toss of a coin As by weeks spent
in fruitless discussion.
We have applied all the ordinary
tests, but one still remains, which, we
are aware. is unusual. and that because
he necessity for its application seldom
arises. This is the test Of bona fide
Now by this we do not
mean a question a. to the voting or
ax-paying residence Of man in the
tate, for these are mere technicalities
,asily arranged We mean long.
continued. uninterrupted residence in.