The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-05-12
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The st. Johnsbury Caledonian says:
This spontaneous newspaper boom
for Mr.. DeBoer, who Las previously
declined to be n candidate for Govern
or, need not disturb the friends of
Candidate Bell. They know it is
merely case of You press the but
ton; we do the rest. "
without regard to the political IN
terests OF Mr.. Bell, Mr.. Stanton, Mr1
Clement, or any other man, the Mes
senger ventures to say that the Gale
DOMAIN, to put it mildly, is mistaken.
Indeed, unless this paper misjudges
the situation altogether. the contem-
porary has merely scribbled off one of
those old time editorial paragraphs that
were once supposed to be convincing"
because they discredited every body but
ones own candidate People are no
longer deceived by that kind of thing,
and, when we sometimes wonder why
it is that newspaper editorial does
not command the respect or WELD the
persuasive power it was once sup.
posed to. the answer is to be found In
the very practice of which this is
fair illustration, the tendency to put
forth such tissues of misrepresenta-
ton under the mistaken notion that
partisan loyalty demands it. People
have read these things for years and
have then gone out among their
! q. o,Iu 30 nj
that they were not SO. Now, wheth-
er Mr. DeBoer will eventually become
a candidate or not, is quite another
thing, but that he has any political
organization now that it is working
in his interest and that is pressing
the button for newspaper booms, the
Messenger sincerely believes 1t may
truthfully deny. In the opinion of
this paper, If there ever was spon-
famous movement of the State press,
it is that recent agreement among
great part of the newspapers OF YER
mont, arrived at absolutely without
collision, that Mr.. DeBoer can have
the nomination If he will take it.
This sentiment, or expressions akin
to it or leading to that conclusion,
was printed by several daily and
weekly newspapers Immediately after
the recent Republican State conven-
ton 1t was put forth as the delib-
crate opinion of experienced news
paper men who had canvassed the SEN
timents of the delegates and other
prominent party men assembled at
that convention. 1t was printed by
each separately as an independent and
original conclusion, and the remark
able agreement in the main idea
smong all these newspapers, instead
of showing that somebody is press
ing the button,'' showed how plain
the fact was to anyone that was will
ing to see it. The Messenger was
among the newspapers that shared in
this opinion.
Thus far the canvass for the nomi-
nation for Governor has progressed in
good spirit and without charges OF
ring" and slate" and other sting
ing reproaches about any OF the
worthy gentlemen interested as candi-
dates. At the same time there is ap-
parent persistent public sentiment
of no small proportions fayoring the
nomination of an eligible man who is
not an avowed candidate. This is
something of departure from estab-
lished practice, to be sure, and the
Caldeonian must not judge of all
methods of gaining political prefer
ment by the only one it ever happened
to see employed itself.
So then, here we are, with two or
three honorable men making canvass
for the nomination in an honorable
way and without one solitary re.
proach on the part of the press or
public as to the IL ethods they employ,
and also with very respectable ele-
ment of the press and public earnestly
desiring the candidacy OF man who
may or may not consent to enter the
field. This is refreshing, any way
we look at it. 1t is hopeful sign.
an encouraging epoch in Vermont
politics. II the Caledonian is wise
it Will not begin at this hour to i'm
pugn the honesty or disinterested mo-
tives of its contemporaries who are
earnestly seeking to give publicity to
the varied interests reprinted in this
canvass in dignified and impartial
manner. If the Caledonian wants
that kind of fight, it appears to be
the only one that does.
1t will find itself hard put to it to
satisfy the public that every man or
newspaper that does not happen to en-
dorse the candidacy of Mr.. Bell is
the mere puppet of some political or
ganization to exploit Mr.. DeBoer. -
st. Adams Messenger