Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-04-17
PlUMlEY VS.. HASkINS.

PlUMlEY VS.. HASkiNS.
The candidacy OF Hon. Frank Piuml-y
of Mortified. To- sucarei Col. kntrelg-
IIa>kins, oi Braitl.loro. a, rrIarSruta-
tive ia Congress from the SECOND Nri-
mont district l. Officially w. had almost
said uilicious S-aunouuc- this Ar,k Ia
the Mortified News. Summarized.
The News Arguments are a. follows
That ia 1900 when Col. llaskius Was
first nominated Mr.. Plumley generously
Withdrew ia his favor, ait-r'a ''protraci-
ed nights struggle: that two years ago
Mr. Plumley declined 10 eui-r the colt
test. il being .'g,n-rally understood
that Colonel llaskInS was 20 be- renomiu-
ated for his last term: that at the CON-
pletion of his present term Mr.. lltsklnS
will have served longer than most repre-
seutaiives sent from Vermont aud that
his service has been of no more than
average character: that Mr.. Phmley is
we'll fitted to succeed Mr. llaskins, aud
that if elected the Mortified mans ser
vices will be of superior character.
No friend of Colonel IlasltimS will say
that Mr.. plumley is not an honorable
upright man, hut hy what warrant is 1t
said that there was a general under
standing" that the former would not
again be a candidate: Colonel IIaskius
received the nomination two years ago
as we believe he will again next June
because the voters deemed it for the best
interests of the district to return him to
Congress. His nomination was not a
consolation prize nor were there any
strings attached to it, So the argument
against returning him because of a
general understanding" is entirely he
side the mark.
Within the past quarter of century
no representative from Vermont has
served less than eight years, aud ouly
one, Senator Stewart, has served so short
time. He declined further re-eec-
ton. General GrOut was ia the house
eighteen years, Judge Powers ten years.
and Congressman llaSkjus and Foster
will have served eight years at the close
Of their present terms, SO precedent iaN-
Ors liaskins' rc-alection-
Daring Colonel IIaskins' seven years
in Congress he has risen to position of
greater influence than most representa-
tives from Vermont have ever reached
in the last generation in fact. he occu-
pies more important committee posi-
ton than General Grout did after
eighteen years of service. Vermont has
won It's influence in Congress 10y keep.
ing its representatives and senators
there, 10y following the well proven RUE
that length of service is what brings re-
suits. Senator Dillingham; has been in
Washington just as long as Colonel Has
kins but no one would think of displac-
lug him on the ground that he has been
there "long enough, or because some
one else wanted the place.
I Congressman Iiaskius service has
been far more than "average." Few of
the men who have been in the house AS
long as ne has occupy positions as inn
portant as~that which he holds, and if
Mr.. PIumley has all the ability his sup
porters claim for him there is no reason
to suppose that he could give Vermont
the standing she now has until he had
been there at least eight years. As a
public man before going to Congress
the record of Colonel HaSkins was not
second to that held 10y Mr.. Plumlpy.
There is nothing in the record of either
to warrant the assertion that Mr.. Plum
ley could give Vermont service "snperi-
or" to that Mr.. Ilaskins now gives. On
the contrary it is doubtful if he could
ever reach the position of Importance
our present representative holds. If the
office is to be passed around AS a plum
to deserving men of the district then let
us change our representative every two
years. If it is desirable to secure for
the state the m ost efficient service posi-
BILE let us return Colonel Haskins.-
Brattleboro Reformer.