Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-03-08
onE HONEST MAN IN PUBLIC
OFFICE ANYHOW.

To the political magazlnlsts ana
other pessimists tor the proht anu NJ
toriety we suggest the Hon. Johh =.
MerriIield. speaker OF the Vermont
House OF Representatives, as an an.i,
dote. A study Of the lie ana puolio
services of "Honest JONI" might Ie
store their faith in American lnstllu-
tions and rehabilitate American human
nature in their eyes. = -,
ontside of Vermont John IL. Merrl-
field Is not widely known, Dat IN Tue
Green Mountain state even the Deulo-
crafts admire him. When Vermont
democrat esteems a Republican ne
must be almost too good TO lNe' anu
ne reason is that Democrat up theie
has ii thrown in his face IRON his Dlfth
that he isn't tit TO live himself. Hon.
est John" was born IN the sequesteieu
VILLAGE Of Newfane, and in this city ne
wotld be regarded for that reason as a
nroper subject for the barnyaTd drama
that is to say, as ''hayseed.' After
pablic school education be opened Il
ronntry store in Williamsville, llttie
bigger and more important thah Ne".
fame. but not much Of municipality at
thar. Astime went on his neighbors
be0an 10 find John Merriield out.
They sent him to the House and the
senate. elected him clerk OF Windham
county. and put him in various posi-
lions of trust. Aud yet he never
sought office or advertised himself IN
the WAYS now so prevalent. Il IS SAID
al John Merriliel1, although it is hard
/ 10 believe, that ne never told an IN
truth. But that is a reputation ne
would be first 10 protes against, being a
modest man and knowing the legend
I Of greater man and bis Ratchet But
1 that John Merrideld is the most kind
/ ly. helpful aud tolerant man who has
sat in the Vermont legislature IN TINS
generation is common knowledge. AS
| 10 his personal honesty there Is this
well-atlested story In the early 90s he
was President OF the Western Loan
Company Of Grand Forks, \, D., and
[ learning that il was not sound be adj
yised his friends and neighbOrs not 10
invest any more money in H. lie re-
signed himself, az a loss, and belleY-
I Ing that many people IN Brattleboro
land NeWiane had bought shares IN the
loan company because he was connect
cd with il, John Merriheld paid their
losses out Of his own pocket.
The Spcakership sought Honest
John, greatly to his surprise, Tor he Is
one Of the most unassuming of men,
always mistrusting his ability and use
iulDess. Now the observation-disclosures
ofship is amer him Il would consider
titan honor, says plain John Merrifeld,
"but will not solicit tie nomination.
II my friends want me and il an elee-
ton can be secured without a contest
would be only too happy 70 serve the
people in that capacity, They are
now fixing things III Vermont 10 make
it unanimous tor "lIonest john He
has been model speaker, aud every
body, including the cOrpOrals guard OF
/ Democrats. says he is 1.-THE best man
that ever presided In the House III
running for Office "llonest John" has d
unique record he has never asked toI
q vote OF made promise % get one
4 A picture Of Mr Mcrudeld lies before
us. III it were any other man We
should say that no man could be az
honest as John II Merrideld looks.
AZ long Us here ulr such men in pnb-
lie life wu shallu0i despair u he Re-
public, IN spite Of the pessimisis