Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-21
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY
(From tn Randolph fIerald.l

(F'rom tn Randolph Heraid)
Returning to State politics. The league
outing Is generally the curtain raiser for
the ensuing Vermont campaign. True,
there is some setting Of scenery, some
making up" some stage carpenterlns
done In advance, but the lights are turned
on. the orchestra strikes up and the cur.
tain rises, disclosing the actors, with this
league outing. SO they are always plenty
of politicians on hand and plenty Of poll
tics in evidence at these gatherings.
1t has been taoitly understood for some
time that the Hon. Fletcher d. Proctor
would be candidate for the republican
Subernatorial nomination next year. This
has seemed agreeable to a large number
OF republicans who have assured him of
their support. 1t has not been agreeable
to others, representing various elements,
who have been casting about for somo
other candidate in opposition to Mr.. Proc.
tor. But this effort has proved unsuccess.
full, none of those approached consenting.
The condition, as such. went to pieces In
despair.
Finally. the chief political enemy Of Mr..
Proctor. rather than see the nomination
go TO his rival by default SHE'D his own
castor into the arena. On the very morn
ing of the league meeting, the Hon. y.
w. Clement of Rutland announced him.
SELF candidate, the announcement of
course being timed for the event. So the
contest will be between Proctor and Glenn
cnt. with little prospect of other candi-
dates entering.
Naturally. Mr.. Clements manifesto
came IN for much comment. The effect
| IL would produce was freely canvassed
MT. Proctor was present with the party
ana his friends were very numerous and
active. TO Judge from the almost gem
cral expression Of these 500 vermonters
from all parts of the State. Mr.. Clement
Will not figure very heavily when the re-
turns come in. The sentiment was UNI
mistakahly for Proctor. Whether this is
uhreprescntative of the body of voters
VINO stayed at home and whether later
developments will alter the situation time
VIII disclose. Certainly, the first showing
of strength was very gratifying to the
| friends of Mr.. Proctor
Some little interest was shown in the
second place on the ticket. George f.
Leland of Springfield met many who
seemed pleased with him, and his boom
made progress. 1t was stated that George
ii. Prouty of Newport who had been
mentioned. would not be a candidate for
the acknowledgements Leighton p.
Slack of st. Johnsbury. IA member of tho
last Senate, was suggested as possible
candidate.
A CASE IN POINT.
| (From the st. Adams Mensengcr)
Repeated efforts in the office Of the
secretary of state haye failed to
cure from the town of Alburgh a
| statement OF its grand list which the
law provides shall he forwarded to
| the secretary of State on or before
July !, Of each year. Last year the
| town of jay was not heard from for
| over two months after the time limit
had expired. 1t was later found that
| the delay was caused by the death
of town official. No explanation or
anything else has come from Alburg.''
darlington Free Press.
few days ago The Messenger dwelt
upon this very same subject of the neg
| lect of public officials and pointed out
| that tlird of the health officers in the
State had not attended the annual school
for health officers in Burlington although
| attendance is compulsory by law. Among
the improvements in the methods of do
ing public business that are now such
popular topics for discussion in Vermont
may well he suggested some means
whereby public servants of all kinds all
over the State charged with various du-
ties in their relations to the State govern
mcnt can be made to perform that duty
as the law requires.
| No successful business institution
on the face of the earth would tolerate
from its employees the negligence and
downright dsobedicnce that the State
of Vermont puts up with from minor
public officials.
NOT GUILTY OF MALICE.
Trom the Bennington Bannor)
The suit of ]. II. Cross against the
Brandon Union for alleged libel, which
has been on trial in Rutland county court
for several days, ended Tuesday with n
verdict for the newspaper Cross was
mixed up with woman under circum-
stances that many people deemed sus-
picious. and the Union printed n letter
from the wOman's husband giving his side
of the case. Though the paper had al
ready printed Crosss side he was angry
when the other side came out, and sued
the Union for libel.
| The result is all the more pleasing from
the newspaper standpoint because the
Vermont law gives the hard end of n
case OF the kind to the newspaper by pre-
supposing malice in cases where it would
be easy to show that no malice existed.
| AS Il matter of fact newspapers are
practically never guilty of malice in pub
fishing news. Newspapers gather news
hurriedly. sometimes carelessly, and often
incomplctcly. They make an effort to
print the facts and let the public draw its
own conclusions. When the inference in
wrong it is almost always for one of three
reasons somebody supposedly trust
worthy has given wrong information:
careless writing makes the printed state
ment carry something not intended: or
the paper has not gone deeply enough
into the affair to give an impartial re-
port.
1t Is not through malice that news
papers print disagreeable things. Its tho
. hat I,,,,t