Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-04-13

personal reasons, decided Mr.. Plumley |
to decline to enter the canvass in 1906. |
Mr.. Haskins was handsomely renomi-
mated for what was generally under
stood to be his last term in Congress.
With the completion Of his present
term Col. Haskins will have been
longer in Congress than most Of the
representatives sent from Vermont in
the past. and no one will claim that
his services have been more than of
average character.
''Mr. Plumley, with laudable ambi-
ton to serve his state in Congress, has
waited to announce his candidacy until
he was assured from every section of
the district that there is hearty and
enthusiastic support for him. Mr.
Plumley needs no newspaper introduce
ton. He is universally and favorably
known In his own state and enjoys
wide acquaintance outside its borders.
He is a progressive and active citizen,
who has given largely of his time and
ability in every good cause. He has
been honored by his state. and in turn
has done honor to Vermont.
''Mr. Plumley has efficiently served
in both branches of the state legisla-
ture and is at present chief judge of
the Court Of Claims. In larger affairs,
he has held the Office of United State
district attorney and in 1903, through
the influence of the late Senator Proc
tor, he was appointed by President
Roosevelt umpire in the mixed COM
missions for Great Britain and Vene-
zuela, and for Holland and Venezuela
In this mission he spent six months in
the South American capital. That
his exacting work in this responsible
and altogether unique position was
highly satisfactory was evidenced in
the fact that he was later selected by
the governments of France and Vene-
zuela as an umpire in further disputes
between those two countries.
Mr.. Plumley is in middle life,
strong man mentally with the health
and courage which comes from right
living. If the republicans bestow
upon him the honor of representing
Vermont in Congress, as the News
believes they wish to do, Mr.. Plum
ley's services to both his state and his
country will be of superior charac-
ter"
In this article there is the intimation
that Mr.. Plumley did not enter the field
two years ago largely in Difference to
Mr.. Haskins s wishes to serve to the end
of he..Roosevelt administration. When
the campaign of 1906 openedMr. Plum
ley had suffered bereavement in the
death of his wife. He issued state
ment at that time which showed that he
kept out of the field not from any con-
sideration for Mr.. Haskins, but simply
for the reason that he then had no
heart for political strife. To quote
from his own signed statement:
Reasons which are purely and
wholly personal compel me to state
that | shall not enter the canvass this
year.
My cherished ambition for polit-
ical preferment for the present is
crushed and dead and it is simply i'm
possible for me to take any active part
in political campaign of this char
!; acter."
The News says Mr.. Haskins "plead-
ed for another term" With whom
did he ''plead?" He certainly never
had any correspondence or conversation
with Mr.. Plumley about his candidacy
prior to his nomination two years ago.
Neither Mr.. Haskins nor any one
authorized to speak for him said two
years ago that he would not again be
a candidate.
The Phoenix happens to know some
thing about the appointment of Mr..
Plumley to the important post in
Venezuela. The position of umpire
was first offered to F. C. Partridge of
Proctor. He declined the appointment
and Senator Proctor then came to Brat
tleboro for conference with Represen-
tative Haskins. Mr.. Haskins sug-
gested Mr.. Plumley as the man for the
place, and acting upon this suggestion
Senator Proctor telephoned to Mr..
Plumley rendering him the appoint
ment, which Mr.. Plumley accepted,
and Senator Proctor then went from
Brattleboro to Washington to lay the
: matter before the president and secre-
, tary of state. Mr.. Plumley's position
, as umpire was highly remunerative
: one, the net return to him being more
than representative in Congress could
1 save from his salary in years of service
in Washington. Mr.. Plumley has been
: we'll used.
e The statement that ''no one will
1 claim that his (Col. Haskins's) ser.
/ vices have been Of more than average
character" is open to challenge.
Col. Haskins is today one of the highly
influential members of Congress. His
appointment in the present Congress
to the important Craftsmanship of the
war claims committee is indicative OF
= the rank which holds. Perhaps the
News knows of another member OF
Congress who has been given such ar