Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-07-13
senator Ross Statement.

request a statement of my position in the
canvass which is now being made for the
| United States senatOrship. You say that
there appears to be disposition to over
look the fact that am in any sense can
didate. 1t very kind of you to make this
request, especially when you assert that The
Phoenix uureseryedly supports Ex-Governor
Dillingham;, and that you make the request
because it is the policy of the paper to
state fairly the claims Of the other candi-
dates, giving the people chance to form
their own judgment. l commend the
declared policy Of the paper and cheerfully
comply with the request.
/ am candidate for the remainder of
Mr.. Morrllrs term. | am not and shall
not be a candidate for the longer term.
make no claim to the senatorship. In my
judgment no person has any claim to it.
The office was created by the people to
serve the highest interests of the State and
Nation. 1t should be bestowed at their
pleasure upon the one who in their judg-
ment will best serve these interests.
The legislature makes the election. - For
this purpose the legislators are the servants
and representatives of the people. By the
State constitution they are assumed to be
"men most noted for wisdom and virtue
Therefore, it is to be presumed that they
will select wisely. Whether binding these
representatives by instructions given long
before the election to vote for particular
yryitb ha mir n ha
constitution, may be questioned. Do they
not imply that the representatives cannot
be trusted to act when the time for action
arrives, as, in their judgment, the highest
interests OF the State and Nation may re-
quire? May hot such instructions defeat
the election OF the person clearly shown
at that time to be most capable and suit
able?
The election to be held in October is for
the balance OF Mr.. Morrill's term and no
longer. That term expires March 3, 1908.
On the legislature TO be chosen in 1902
will devolye the duty of electing the Sena-
tor for the full term commencing March i,
1908. The legislature to be chosen in
September will fully discharge its duty if it
shall elect to serve, during the remainder
of the unexpired term, that person
whether now a candidate or not-who
from character, ability, experience and
knowledge of existing conditions will, in
their judgment, best serve the interests OF
the State and Nation. 1t is my desire that
this legislature elect the man who will best
81, afg IL INV
in regard to the pending canvass.
Holding these views | have not solic-
tied newspapers nor men, to advocate my
candidacy. Such action is distasteful and
opposed to my entire course of life. Be-
fore being appointed Senator | had been
in the service of the public the better part
of my life, and had never solicited news
papers nor men TO support me. During
these years my services were rendered be-
fore the people in all the counties of the
State. They ought to know the character
of the services which have rendered. and
am capable of rendering. They know also
the character and influence of my services
in the Senate.
and in that instance they failed to elect
elected the appointee of the governor to
fill out, at least, the unexpired term, and
thus ratified the act of the governor. This
would afford no sufficient reason for elect
ing an unfit or unsuitable person, but is
fact for consideration by the legislature.
My appointment to the Senate came I'M
sought and unsuggested by me. The gov
ernor inquired whether / would accept if
offered the appointment After little re-
Election | answered, "The people of Yer
mont have been so indulgent and kind to
me, that if you think l can serve them
better in the Senate than on the bench
shall not feel at liberty to decline" The
appointment Immediately followed and in
less than two days l was on my way to
Washington to enter upon the new SER
vice. l thus suddenly left a service in
which l had been engaged for over 2S
years, deeming it my duty to serve my ma
tive State wherever she required. The peo-
pie of the State must now know, or at least
ought to know, whether they desire my
services continued. Hence 1 have studi-
ously refraiued from making an active can
vass. This has doubtless led, as you as
sert, to disposition to overlook the fact
that am in any sense a candidate"
This is government "of the people, by
the people, and for the people," Being
such, it follows that it is the duty of the