Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-18
SECRETARY OF STATE.


Secretary of state Frederick r..
Fleetwood of Morrsville has Informed
some Of those whose names have been
mentioned in connection with the office
he holds that he will not be candi-
date for reelection next year, and he
has thus conferred a favor on aspirants
for the position of secretary of state
by giving fair and ample notice of his
intention to retire at the end of his
term and afording them every oppor-
tunity to prepare for their respective
campaigns.
When Mr.. Fleetwood retires he will
have held the Office of secretary OF
State for six years, which Is not far
from the average term. Since the es-
tablishing of Vermont's independent
government, or in a period of $50
years ending with Mr. Fleetwoods re-
tirement from office, Vermont has had
twenty-three secretaries OF State. so
that the average term is very nearly
six years. The FIST secretary Of State
chosen when Nermonts government
was formed in 1873 was Thomas Chan
being succeeded by Joseph Fay who
held the office for three years. The
third secretary OF state was Micah
Townshend, and he was succeeded af-
ter a term Of seven years by Roswell
Hopkins, who held the office when Yer
mont was admitted into the Union as
a State in 1871. and whose term cover
ed fourteen years, the longest with one
exception Following the close of this
term in 1902 David King, Jr. was sec
rotary Of State for four years, Thomas
Leverett seven years, Josiah Durham
two years, william Slade. Jr., and Nor
man williams eight years respective
ly, Timothy Merrill and Chauncey j.
Knapp each five years, Alvah Sabin
one year. James Mem. shafter seven
years Farrand F. Merrill four years.
Daniel p Thompson and Charles w.
Willard each two years. Benjamin w
Dean and George W. Bailey. Jr each
four years, the latter having served
while the Civil War was in progress.
The longest term as secretary Of
State in Vermont is that of DIR. George
Nichols Of Mortified, who held the
Office for nineteen years, from S65 to
1884. His successors in order were
Charles W. Porter. who held the Office
six years; Chauncey w. Brownell,
eight years; Fred A, Rowland, four
years; and the present incumbent, who
was elected in 1902,
1t can be seen from this summary
that since the present order Of things
in Vermont began as regards terms OF
Office the average is exactly six years,
and this fact may have entered some
what into the considerations leading to
Mr.. Fleetwood's decision not to seek
a reelection. Mr.. Fleetwood has made
an excellent secretary OF State, and he
has every reason to be satisfied with
the conditions under which he will
close his public service.
The candidates for the republican
nomination for secretary OF state are
understood to be Guy w. Bailey. who
has represented Dssex In the Vermont
House of Representatives two terms;
Walter X. Farnsworth. formerly sec
| rotary of the Vermont Senate. and at
present Judge of Rutland's municipal
| court: and r. w. McCuen, editor of tho
Vergennos Enterprise and Vermonter
1t is evident there will be no lack of
| good material for a new secretary Of
| State when the time comes to select
a candidate. and the lists are by no
| means closed