Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-19


similar methods that he would employ
in lettering his business station.
With this view we have no partieu-
lar quarrel. II represents the modern
idea, the notion Of push and hustle.
BY it nine-tenths, and probably more,
men attain public ONCE. Good men,
too. Some of them adopt it from
taste. but more from necessity. Hav-
ing announced their candidates., :"
having staked their chances. they feel
obliged to leave no step untaken that
will bring victory over equally ener-
getic rivals. So there follows a con-
test in which, many times, ability to
serve the people is quite overcome by
talent for political wire-pulling and
effective campaign work. Plenty Of
instances have there been OF this right
here in Vermont within easy memory.
He who wins the prize is not 50 much
the one who deserves il by capacity to
perform we'll its duties as be who puts
in the longest days in pursuit OF il.
Too often has il been found that the
skill and acumen shown by the aspi-
rant in pushing himself to the front
quite forsakes him when it comes to
the discharge OF duties altogether be-
yond his grasp. The candidate mill
tant becomes the officer dormant.
Then this method is responsible for
giving us all the rascals that attain
to office. 1t is not primarily the fault
OF the method, but of the people, who.
through apathy or under solicitation,
show poor discrimination. But the re-
suit sometimes is that "A man OF well
known unfitness, even OF poor repute,
succeeds because he puts dash and
hustle into his canvass. Left 70 select
for themselves, the people would sell
dom be misled In this way, There has
scarcely been an instance when the Of
fee sought the man but what 1t found
good man, worthy Of Its bestowal.
Besides this idea of personal cam
paigning by the candidate in his own
behalf, which may or may not be OBJ
iectionable, depending on the man
himself or the methods be employs,
another notion prevails in certain
minds-a notion that, having expressed
his willingness TO accept a nomina-
ton if freely rendered, man has done
enough to justify and attract support,
in case he is deemed worthy OF it, In
other words, ii a citizens tastes do not
incline him to adopt the candidating
attitude. be is no less candidate, If
the people choose to so regard him.
To be a candidate requires Cd popular
support and (2) the candidates will
ingness to accept; that's all
1t is all right to refer to the move
ment for DeBoer as a draft, we sup
pose. Mr.. DeBoer certainly isn't of
the stripe of candidates who 'volun-
teer' their services so Justify rs 10
make themselves offensive. He never
has pushed himself to the front, in
either public-or business lite. He has
modestly done his best wherever his
lot was cast and let his record speak
for itself. That this principle OF his
life has not been Qulxotic, his rapid
advancement shows. lie has never
sought office and probably never will.
If the party calls him this year, moved
by its desire to secure the best man to
lead in campaign that has a national
Importance, there is not the slightest
doubt he will accept. The fact that he
takes a modest and wholly unseltsh
position will not make him less the Ia |
yorite of many voters.