Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-12-13
THE eoVERNoRsHIP.
[Burlington News. Dc. 81

We print today an article from the
Brattleboro Phoenix on the governor
question. We are surprised and greved
that so good a paper as The Phoenix
should try to build a state fence around
the state offices. The drawing of a state
line as to birth and ownership of property
is unworthy of paper edited with the
breadth of view, ability and fairness
which usually characterize The Phoenix.
vermont for Vermonters" may be a
good rallying cry for the clans in the back
woods, but it will not appeal to the vast
majority of Vermonters. We hope there
fore that the newspapers of the state will
drop this argument. In fact 1T is not an
argument 1t is an appeal to narrow
prejudice and an encouragement to pro-
vincialism.
Let us discuss men, not birthplaces.
What matters it where a man was born?
What matter if he were born in Kala
mazoo or Timbuctoo2 Is he now a citi-
zen of Vermont, worthy man, a good
citizen? What matters it he own prop
erty in New York or San Francisco or
London? Is he a citizen of Vermont with
interests in Vermont sufficient to induce
him to take part in state affairs? What
matters it if he have no property in Yer
mont? Is he worthy of the honor he
seeks? Any citizen of our state, with or
without property, has right to aspire
to any of it's offices. Neither our consti-
tuition nor our laws discriminate between
the citizen who was born here and the
citizen who became such by his own
choice.
If there is to be discrimina tion in favor
of either class 1t should be in favor of the
man who at mature age chooses to come
and settle in Vermont of all other states
in the union. 1t cannot be accounted
virtue in the Vermont man that he was
born in Vermont. He had nothing to say
about it. But it can be accounted vir-
tue. II we admire our own citizenship al
all, that a good man of mature age
should become a citizen Of Vermont-in
Just as legitimate a way as the man
whose birthrght entities him to it-and
help us to make the state a prosperous
and happy community. If he is to be
an Ishmael among us all his life-if he
is to be cut off from the offices-we had
better put a barbed wire fence about the
state, with notices on 1t, None but Yer
monters wanted here" A mighty fine
time we'll have in reclaiming our aban-
doned farms and building up our indus
tries If this is to be our policy.
How would citizens of Vermont who
| leave the state and take citizenship in
other states fare if such a test were
| placed upon them? There would have
been no Governor Shaw of Iowa; and
many another distinguished man of YER
mont birth would have remained in OBJ
| scurity. Give us any real objection there
| is, dear Phoenix. to the candidacy of
these men. but don't encourage the silly
and suicidal cry of Vermont for Yer
| monters."
Who said Vermont for Vermont
ers?" The Phoenix did not, and it
has no objection to Gen. Mccullough
or Col. w. Seward Webb for governor,
If either is the nominee of the Re-
publican state convention. McCul-
Tough is more identified with Yer
mont interests than Webb, and would
bring to the Office more of the quail
tiles ones like to see in chief ex
ecutive than the gentleman from
Shelburne. The Phoenix did say that
many Vermonters are not entirely sat
isfied with either of the leading can
didates. The News will find this
statement true if it will sound the
sentiment in different parts of the
state. Mccullough is a legal resident
of Bennington and Webb is a legal
resident of Shelburne, and each
spends some time at his residence in
the state. But the business interests
of each are largely in New York, and
each maintains a magnificent home
in the metropolis. Being quasi Yer
monters these men will be handi
capped in the race if they contest
against a man of strong qualifications
who lives and works in the state al
the year around. If the race is lef
to these two the odds are on McCul
Tough.