Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-21
vergennes Man Announces His
Candidacy for Congress in
First District.
is NOTIFYING HIS FRIENDS
Wis intention for Some Time to Re
come Candidate Two Years
Hcnc~--Promises of support,
He Saya. Lead Him 10 En-.
ter the Campaign Now.

So Johnseury, May IA repre-
sentative OF the Free Press found r,
l." Fish at ono of the national banks
this afternoon Just after he had fin
ishcd his usual examination, and asked
him il the rumor was true that he
was candidate for Congress.
Yes" said Mr.. Fish, ~ have de-
didcd TO enter tho contest and am
notifying to-day my friends through
out tho first district.
1T has been my intention for some
time TO become a candidate two years
hence. I frankly told Congressman
Foster SO at the meeting Of the re-
cont state convention. but also ad-
viFed him that | might be candi
date ms year. Ny assurances Of
support were such at that time tina,
| was almost persuaded TO announce
myself as candidate then and there
But decided to wait until / could
sec my friends in my own county and
also ascertain what newspaper SUD.
port | should receive
ON making inquiry both in nv
own county and outside found a
strong call to enter the contest. II
had b-~n my conviction that Mr.. Eos.
ter would abandon his candidacy 70,
one or the other Of the Offices which h.
Is seeking and thus simplify the situa.
uon' Having been assured by his
trends that this is not to be his mol.
ICY | feel free in asking the voters
IN my county and elsewhere to sun
port me for the House and am tro+
10 say that the promises Of such sun.
port are very fattcrinE"
The ncws quickly spread abou,
town that st Johns bury was tompor-
ar1ly harhorins congressional can.
dldate and Mr. Fish was heartily con-
graduated by his many friends
Frank l.. Fish OF Vergcnnes who bs
announced his candidacy for Congress,
from the first district Of Vernon, has
been leading lawyer Of Addison conn
~ FOR nearly twenty years
Mr.. Fish was born at Neu-fane
"lndham county. Sept. II, 1863, and
was educated at Leland and GRAY
seminary at Townshend and Vermont
Academy at Saxtons River. graduating
from the latter institution in 1885. He
was the first editor of Vermont Acad-
envy Life. a publication Of which he
was one of the founders
He studied law in the once of Judge
j. Nj. Tyler Of Brattleboro, who was
appointed to the position of supreme
court judge during the time Mr. Fish
was student in his office. He also
studied in the once of Judge r.. NJ
Read Of Bellows Fails. where he ro-
NAMED two years, during which time
Mr. Fish acted as register Of nroba ito
At the same time he had charge of
tho local department Of the Bellows
Fails Times. He took his examination
FOR the bar in November 1889 At tho
suggestion Of one OF tho examiners
the late Charles NJ Wilds of Middle
bury, Mr. Fish located at Vargcnnce
commencing tho practice Of his pro-
fcssion there in January, 1890
The following year re was elect cd
city tax collector. which Office ne held
for six years and in December, 1891
he was appointed by tho judges Of Ad-
Olson county court. on the resignation
OF William n. Bliss states attorney
for Addison county. which Office he
held by repeated elections until April
1900 when he resigned. having beer
appointed national bank examiner.
During the time he was States attor
ney, Mr. Fish was called upon I,
prosecute many important cases in behal
" tho State. one of the most &C Zebra tet
cases was State VS.. Smith Davis and an
other important case was that Of Stat
vs.. Ea st wood The latter defendant wa.
convicted of murder and sentenced to ~
hanged, but the legislature commute,
the sentence TO life imprisonment Thi
was before the establishment, Of tn
office of artorr@ y-Srneral and the i'm
portant state cases were conducted y,
the States attorney and such counsel a
verc assigned.
Mr.. Fish argued for tho State hefor
tho United States Supreme Court a
Washington in State VS.. Hodgson Il
which case the coust nationality Of tn
prohibitory law was questioned. c. A
Prouty of Newport was associated wit
Mr.. Fish. the latter preparing the br .
nd making the closing argument for tn
State. The late f. j. Phckr Of Burning
ton argued in h->ha!f Of tho defendan,
The court upheld the law.
As one OF tho States attorneys alon
the line Of tho Rutland railroad MI
Fish was made defendant with the othe
states attorneys and with the railroa
commissioners IN tho suit brought b
the stock holders ~ tho Rutland railroa
n enioin the issuing Of rileages pur
suant To an act of the legislature. MI
Fish was assigned by Governor Smit
~ defend the state officers, He mad
the brief and argued the case bcfor
Judge Wheeler against Michael f. Car
dozo Of New York. This case was aban
doned by tho State on account Of a
adverse decision in a similar case by tn
T.. s. supreme court.
Since 1900 Mr.. Fish has occupied IN
office of national hank examiner n
Vermont and during most Of that tim
also for the counties Of Berkshire an
Franklin in the State of Massachusetts