The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-11-11
NOT MANY TAKERS
Vermont Legislature Has Developed
Few Orators.

Few Orators.
The St Adams Messenger yester-
day published the following special
from Montpelier:
Though there is plenty of timber
and plenty of ambition no recognized
leader Of the house has yet appeared
There are several men who are
looked upon as aspiring to leadership
but in some cases the members are
disposed to be suspicious of these am
billions
Neither has there developed any
special oratorical ability. Fish of Yer
gennes, Bacon of Hartford Williams
of Newport, Deeper of Montpelier
and Leary of Burlington have all
been heard to good effect Martin Of
Brookline, who has been so insisteut
on having the telephone companies Of
the state investigated, speaks fire.
quently and with good sense, and his
remarks are never long enough to be
tiresome. He has a tendency to a
formal oratorical style but il is not in
the class of talking teTrors
Mr. Fletcher of Cavendish makes
no pretensionS to Oratory and always
adopts a conversational tone, yet is
one of the effective speakers on the
infrequent occasions when he ad-
dresses the house. Jones Of Sudbury,
who had an ambition TO be heard on
every question, has been squelched
and Is not heard from now. Jones
last attempt at Oratory resulted in
the slamming Of desk lids which was
particularly disagreeable because his
appearance on the floor was for the
benefit of some women.
Davis of Springfield has subsidized
since Jones experience and only talks
now when he has something to say.
Daniels Of East Montpelier and Mar
tin of Plamfeld gave promise of de
veloping oratorical talent when the
nominating speeches for chaplain
we're being made Daniels has hard
" been heard from since then and
Martins few remarks are brief and
miet Otis of Sutton occasionally
addresses the house but very brieuy
Barber OF Brattleboro. one of the
younger members, has some reputa-
ton as a speaker, but has hardly ad-
addresses the house but very briefly
members to form an idea of how well
that reputation is justified.
Watson of St. Adams has been
very quiet thus far To a natural
modesty that might tend to repress
him is added the burden of his work
as chairman of the house committee
on revision of bills The work OF that
committee has never been performed
i'm better shal,r than at this session.
Competent men have been placed on
the committee and the clerk, Hale X.
Darling, is particularly well qualified
for the place The state is now get
ting the benefit of all it paid for his
services in revising the statutes.
"Kinsley Of Rutland is seldom heard
from. Davis Of Derby Is especially
quiet. How2 OF Bennington is too
busy writing bills to make many re-
marks. Howe of St. Johnsbury is
content to let others do the most OF
the talking. Although 1t is not talk
alive house for one that contains so
many members capable of talking
we'll
Such leadership as the house rec
ognizes at present is that OF the
speaker. When he took the floor in
opposition TO the motion 10 adjourn
over election many members were
indignant AT what they thought an at
tempt to dictation and declared he
would find they would run the house
themselves Even some OF his friends
expressed the fear that rom had
made a mistake. The speaker has
never been considered a strong leader
but a capable man for the position
because of his long experience but
If he has not strength In the way II
is usually regarded. he has diplomacy
which is often more effective. When
he took the floor second time TO
oppose the senate proposal 10 aa-
iourn he made good ne TOOK ms
position squarely on the ground OF
public interest. declaring that he
was concerned for the good repula-
ton of the house more than lot Delns
sustained In the position he had taken
and completely disabused the mem
hers minds of any idea that he was
cracking the whip or trying to dictate
~ Them They not only stood bt nm
admirably I'm their vote on the senale
to them. They not only stood by MN
afterward In living up to their Vole'
Almost quorum was present mon
day afternoon, enough to do business,
and a full quorum Tuesday II was
the first time in many years lha' tne
dav of presidential election mas
seen 1913 members Of the house pres
emit"