Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-12-07
FACT AND FANCY

Ihe marked improvements in the stores
of Bellows Falls during the past five years
is matter for congratulation. There i,
hardly store in the village which has not
during the time been built anew, rebuilt,
remodelled, or in some way been made
more modern and convenient. The store,
Of Bellows Falls are now good stores. They
carry as large and varied line, of goods a,
the conditions of trade warrant. They are
conducted by live, aggressive, experienced
business men who have the common good
at heart. If the growth Of the village is to
keep abreast of business enterprise, the fu-
ture is indeed bright.
The st. Adams Messenger says :" Has
men in training That's the reason the
candidates are selected when they offer
themselves and their services. 1t is q JUS
ti6able ambition for any man to prepare
himself Tor public office with the expect
ancy' of it. 1t rests with the people wheth-
er they will choose him or not. But he
should prepare himself from the same mo-
tives OF honorable ambition of success aud
honest competition with his neighbors to
gain it that man should follow in any
other enterprise. That Brattleboro ap-
pears to have more men in training after
this fashion than other towns in Windham
county is whose faulp" Here is the sit
uation in nutshell Men count in politics
as everywhere else, trained men. Brains
and good judgment are always at premi-
UNI. If the ablest men OF community are
SO engrossed in commercial, professional
and business pursuits that they have Meth
er time nor inclination for politics, that
community has no good ground tor COM
plant if it does not take high rank in the
political life Of the county and state.
There has been considerable copjectur-
ing as to how much political significance
lies in the visit of Hon. w. P. Stafford to
Bellows Falls. We speak with confidence
when we say that there was no politics on
the part of the club under whose auspices
he came. The club is an organization for
the moral, social and intellectual uplifting
of its members. Whenever good thing
can be secured under its auspices it does
not take lorg to arrange the details. So
far as Mr.. Stafford was concerned the visit
was probably wholly political. He is a
candidate for congress and has no scruples
about saying so. He believes he is quail
fed for the office, but the people are not
going to give him their suffrage, until they
too are convinced that he is qualified. But
how are the people to become convinced f
they never see or hear himp In what way
could he better convince the people of Bel
lows Falls than by coming here, giving an
address on the foremost issues of the day
and meeting citizens in social wayp,
There is what might be called an eastern
and western way of campaigning. 1t
makes no difference where a man lives
if he wants office he must hustle for it. In
the west and the south the candidate
stumps bis district. He visits every village
and hamlet, has brass bands out, makes
hundreds of speeches, meets thousands Of
people face to face. Whoever is elected
feels personal interest in his constituency,
and bis constituents have personal inter-
est in him. The eastern way is entirely
different. The candidate has brother or
a fsther-in-law or a partner or several Of
them to whom he entrusts his campaign.
He supplies them with liberal allowance
OF cash for expenses ard sends them forth