Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-22

ranks of the Republican party and his
honorable career throughout a long. active
and eventful life; third, he being as un-
derstand 1t, the unanimous choice of the
republicans of Bennington county, which
county has claim upon the governorship
which I think ought to be recognized, far
more than Rutland county to say the least;
fourth, his age. although carrying his
years well, he Is getting well advanced In
life and IL he Is ever to be honored by the
governorship 1t seems to me 1t should be
at this time. Other reasons could be given
but to my mind these are sufficient and
were enough to make me a Mccullough
man from the start when he and Webb
were the aspirants for that high office, and
/ see no good reason for changing my mind
now that Webb has been withdrawn and
Proctor placed in the field l am willing
to conccde Proctor's ability. do not think
it necessary for me to try to belittlc Proc
tor In order to advocate Mccullough. We
have plenty of men of ability in this State,
more than a hundred in my opinion who
could fill the chair of chief executive with
honor, to themselves and credit to the
State, but they cannot all have the Of
flee at the same time.
I see nothing alarming or in fact out
of the way In General McCuloughs state
ment as to what he should consider his
duty to be were he elected governor, In
confirming or approving the acts of the gen
eral assembly If it Is the will of the ma
jority of the voters, expressed by their rep
resentatives in the general assembly, that
matters of public policy should be changed
what reason could a governor give for
vetoing or thwarting that will whatever II
may be? Why his position can be called
a "straddle" is more than l can see for
he certainly answers the questions 10
what he would do 1 am as much opposed
to high license or to local option as any
one, and should deplore its adoption in any
form and firmly believe as General Nc
Cullough says that the majority of the
people in this State are of the same mind
and will sustain the present prohibltory
law, but should 1t prove otherwise | should
expect the majority to rule, for that Is
the foundation of our most excellent gov
ernmental system.
H. d. CHAMBERLAIN.
Jay, VT
Timely and Interest Statement Regard
lag the Veto Power.
T'rom the Ludlow Tribune.)
| A general misunderstanding exists
among Nermontcrs as to the power of the
governor to hinder legislation to which he
is unfavorable. The fact is that bare
ma jority of the legislature can pass bill
In spite of the governors veto. The Uni
tod States Congress must have two
thirds vote to pass a bill over the presi
dents veto but the Vermont legislature
can annul the governors disapproval by
a ma iority of one. This is made perfectly
rlain in the amendment to the constitution
of Vermont, Article II page Al, Vermont
Statutes) which reads as follows: Articl,
II. Every bill which shall have passed
the Senate and House of Representatives
shall. before it becomes a law, be present
cd to the Governor: If he approve, he shall
sign it; IL not, he shall return it. with hi
objections in writing, to the House, II
which it shall have originated; which shall
proceed to reconsider it. If, upon such re
consideration. a majority of the Hous'
shall pass the bill, it shall. together will
the objections. be sent to the other House
by which it shall, likewise, he reconsider
ed. and, if approved by majority of tina
| House, it shall become a law"
In the light of the foregoing clause of tn
| constitution. does any voter In the Stat
of Vermont think that Fletcher d. Procto
as governor can help the prohibitory law
or that Percival W. Clement as governo
can hurt the prohibitory law. except b.
precept or influence? What other cours
is possible except to approve such legisla
ton as the Legislature may see fit to pass
That is what Gen. Mccullough has plain
| ly agreed to do.