Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-07-26
The REAL Mr.. PROCTOR.

canvass or campaign the personalit.
of the several candidates should ente
as a distinct and important factor
This is especially true Of the candi
dates for governor. The people arr
interested to know what kind of mar
seeks their suffrages for the LEADING
Office of the state. And it is emlnently
proper that they should know.
In order to estimate a man fairly j
is necessary to study him without pre-
conceived notions, either favorable Of
unfayorable to him. II is essential tC
sweep the mind clear of all prejudice
to obtain all the information available
and form an opinion based on thai
wholly.
Very unfortunately Tor Fletcher ID
Proctor, Republican candidate for gov
ernor. he enters this campaign handi.
capped by something for which he j:
not the least to blame-his birthright
As the son OF Redfeld Proctor, who
has long been honored by Vermont as
United States senator, and who. hold
ing that office, has so highly honored
Vermont in the councils of the nation
that the people of this state have been
pleased to retain him term after term
Las his son, Fletcher ID. Proctor
comes before the voters with the "bur-
den of proof upon him to ''show
cause why he, the son, should ask for
high Office.
OF course, under our theory of gov
eminent, the question, ''What are the
candidates family antecedents Pr
should not come in for consideration
at all; the query shonld be turned
wholly to the man himself, what he
has done, what he is, what service he
can render the state. But in fact other
considerations do enter, if they should
not, and in this particular canvass is
being asked, us Proctor the younger
being pushed for this office because he
is the son OF Proctor the elder Pr elias
he real merit that fits him for this Of
flee, or is It merely his illustrious par
entage that has brought him to the
front Pr .Is he such a man as would
have been selected, or is il
largely as the scion OF ruling house
that he seeks the Office p
If there is anything detestaole to the
Iiberty-loving American it is the claw
Of descent in government. In our an
.ipathy toward the monarchical idea
we have flown quite to the other ex-
RENE. We are prone to regard all
sons OF notable men as degenerate
sons of noble sires.n Much OF this
prejudice is undoubtedly well based
Cases are rather more seldom than
frequent where the offspring of great
men have "made good.n Perhaps
conditions beyond control were re-
sponsible for this, but it is true.
So Fletcher ID. Proctor approaches
This contest under something OF a shad-
Ow-his parentage and it is necessary
for his supporters to show how, Judged
by the common standard, he is fitted
Tor the governorship. To those who
know him well and closely there is
not the slightest doubt of his eminent
for this office. He possesses
some OF the very best qualities, and
there is in bis makeup no element OF
If be lacks in anything, it
Is in a modesty and natural difiidence
hat, while it endears him to his
friends, keeps his virtues from shining
before his fellow men as do those of
more assertive individuals.
To begin with, though born to a
position of wealth and prominence,
Fletcher d. Proctor is a democrat /,
IN the best sense. As he meets andl
greets people day by day in business
DR. social life, there is not a trace Of
he aristocrat about him. He is not |
4 snob or silk-stocking. Place him
among dozen men and be required |
% pick from the number the son of a |
senator and he would |
probably be among the last to be
trawn, Judged by anything in his |
manner to indicate his family ante
eedents. His home life is simple. |
He lives and moves without ostenta-
ion. He is just a plain. common,
ordinary, everyday Vermonter in
appearance and action. And he is
50 because it is natural for him to be
50, and because he loves that kind OF
a life.
So much tor his manner and style. |
A for Mr.. Proctor's personal charae-
Ter it is of the cleanest type. His
anlifipaf anapnfas ho,-a aesafl.l hf.,