St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-11-25
Who Would Be Governor?
Am Unauthorized Interview With Citi.
zen Dunnen of st. bloomsbury.

zen Dunmen of st. j 0hnsbury
Surprise has been repeatedly expressed
that Lawyer Alexander Dunnett of St.
Johnsbury should refuse to allow the use
OF his name as a candidate for the repub-
lican nomination for the governorship
the coming year. One has only to listen
to Mr.. Dunnett's eloquent discourse on
the multitudinous thorns concealed about
the gubernatorial rose, however, to
wonder how any man can possibly be
induced to make the sacrifices necessary
to become successful aspirant for the
governorship. With sweep OF his hand
he asks how many citizens OF Vermont
tit to be governor have added cubit to
their stature, or words to that effect
looking at the question from any point
OF view that may be chosen, by, securing
an election to the executive chair. and
alter he has cited examples. the audience
is forced to reluctantly admit that most
OF our governors are no taller after
taking than before.
1t is only after Mr.. Dunnett has
handled without gauntlets and polished
OFT the problem what to do with our ex-
governors, that one begins to fully
realize there is method in his guberna-
tor1al madness. At the conclusion of his
vivid word picture OF the deplorable con.
dition in which gubernatoriaI rainbow
chasing leaves victims OF the governor.
ship germ, one cannot help actually pity
ing this unfortunate class. Sad to saw.
however, there are apparently some men
IN Vermont to whom LAWYER Dunnett
mas not talked on this subject. At least
II he has talked with them they are still
unconverted. At least still further. if
they have been converted to Mr.. Dun.
nets way OF thinking, they have not
made public profession of their faith.
AS matter OF fact LAWYER Dunnett
seems TO occupy position on this sub. |
Ject which must at times superinduce a |
somewhat lonesome feeling, not unlike
that OF Church spires mid village cots y
Gladstone chose to decline a repeatedlv
onei cd title, preierring to remain the
great commoner OF Great Britain; and
while LAWYER Dunnett may not have
recently initiated his British prototype
by shoulderlng his axe and cutting down
MS tree, there - no reason why he should
not remain Vermonts popular common
er and go down in our state annals hand
IN nand with another lonely citizen of
distinction who once upon time knew
who was going to be governor but
would not tell.
Lawyer Dunnett has some excellent
IDEAS on otflce-holding in general in our
state, aid In discussing them it NAV he
well in order to relieve him of anv posi-
oie embarrassment to explain that this
$ not an authorized interview" He
aolds that the great majority of our pro.
essional citizens who accept what are
known as salaried public positions do so
IL the expense OF their procession as well
IS OF financial sacrifice. AS an ilustra-
ion ne shows that Vermont has had few
Judges on her supreme bench who could
lot have realized more lucrative returns
rom private practice. In cases where
men have taken office re.
lulring most OF their time, aud have
alter returned to private life he empha-
ized thefact that many have found their
practice gone and their business van
she'd.
We can understand how, looking at
he QUESTION from this point of view. the
nen best qualified to hold office cannot
'fford to enjoy political preferment; and
hat tor them elevation to public posi-.
ion is sacrifice.
This does not apply to the governor
hip OF Vermont, of course; for the frac
ion OF time devoted to executive duties
outside OF the legislative session is not
arge; and the financial sacrifice is NOT
xcessive, at least after the official plum
las been safely basketed. IT the time
yer comes, however when an election
IS Chief executive OF our commonwealth
means patriotic sacrifice, then we venture
he assertion that Citizen Dunnett of st.
ohnsbury will not refuse to put aside
lis halo OF gubernatoral renunciation.-l
Burlington Free Press.