The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-08-28
TO THE THOUGHTFUL VOTER.

III lHE IhUUGhlfUl WlER,
The General Election is only thre,
DAYS away. These three days will
mark the approach of the crisis in the
local political situation. There can be
no better time TO place before the vOt'
ers of the town of Brattleboro the
claims of the Independent candidate
| for Representative to the General As.
sembly, William Tanning, and to call
10 their attention few of the adyan.
tages which would accrue TO the town
| through his election.
BY this time Mr.. Tanning has be.
come personally known TO a large ma
| iority of the voters His qualifications
for the office he asks were well set
forth in recent article in both of the
local papers. But since this article
may have been overlooked by some, a
brief outline of il may not be out of
place here. He was born in New York.
and his earlier education was obtained
in the public schools of that city. From
the public schools he went TO one of
the foremost military academies in the
state, where he was prepared for the
U. $. Military Academy at West Point.
Upon the completion of his prepare.
tory course, however, he changed his
mind and entered Princeton Univer-
sity. After leaving college he was for
several years connected with Depart.
ment of Agriculture of the Dominion
of Canada, working under the personal
supervision of the Hon. Sidney Fisher,
the Minister of Agriculture. Here he
learned scientific and practical farm
ing. He held the office of Fish and
Game Commissioner in Westchester
County, n. y, being the only Republi-
can elected that year, and the only Re.
publican TO fill that office in many
years. Mr. Tanning has lived in Brat.
tleboro nearly ten years. His family is
one of influence and position. He and
his family are members of one of our
Protestant congregations, and are act
i've in their support of the church.
SO much for the man. Let us look at
his aims and at his methods. First |
and foremost, he is Republican. He |
was asked recently by voter if he is
really a Republican. And his father,
who was him at the time. made the |
statement that not only was William |
Tanning n Republican, but so was his |
father and his grandfather before him.
There is no doubt upon that essential
point.
His political methods are wholly free
and above board Announcing himself
fused to 60 into the caucus, that eau
,us which has been SO criticized and
condemned as to bring about bolt
rom its nominee. His whole campaign
las been conducted throughout with an
and openness little short of
A prominent local politician
upon it, said that he al ,
most doubted that Mr.. Tanning came
rom, New York, as his politics were
o clean. He further said that Mr..
aiming had introduced a new ele-
nd that his greatest fault was that he
old too many truths. Efforts have I
cen made to buy him off, efforts that t
ere unavailing. The paid "heeler t
as offered him his services, and has /
cen fatty refused. Ask them. You II
now who they are. If he is sent to
ne Legislature this year it will be the 9
,sult of the cleanest campaign on a
cord. i
He ought to be elected, for he stands f
rimarily for all that is for the best a
terest of the town. As the Demo ?
attic nominee has said on. one of his Is
II boards, he wants "to do things for Il
lie town and not do things to the "
wn." In his desire for this Office the is
ement of personal gain is not fac a
r, and among other good reasons for II
is is the strong one,-that it is I'M is
'cessary. sc
He stands quite alone He is allied
it'll no interests inimical to the wei. q
re of the people of Brattleboro. T.
liling in securing the nomination of al
e has thrown the weight of its sup in
TT to Mr.. Barber. Has Mr.. Tanning II
ceived any such supportP Not bit. ia
1t has been urged that he is not fit tn
/ for the office sought, through lack tn
experience How straight this ar at
ment comes from the law office. ne
urfifths of the legislators of the ri'
lntry are lawyers. The doctrine of
? "divine right of kings" is no more ex
!lously guarded than is that of the lu
livine right of lawyers in, Yer "a !;
rience for this Office than Mr.. Fan 1t
lg9 If it be decided by political ex- su
renee, is Brattleboro the better tie
ool9 Mr.. Tanning stands somewhat
the position of the workman in fu
est of job. Given a trial. is he 60 It
to endanger his opportunity by Til
n work? Certainly not. The hide mt
ldent candidate is man. of iron g,
| and determination, and if he goes 10
0 the house at the coming session, it gre
| be to give the town of Brattle
o such representation as shall be yo'
hout flaw. It
'hink over some of the more impor- Fo
t issues in the local campaign yol
IRE is the water question to come up an'
in this year. Mr.. Tanning is he
,ngly in favor of the village own to
and controlling its own water sup bly,
1t is to the greatest possible ad- ure
tage, financially, and also with an Bos
to the conservation of the public of
It'll. How does Mr.. Barber stand be
The Water Question: How does Mr.. ent
ran stand on the Water Question: var
them. Think it over. adv
or a busy, hustling town of its
, Brattleboro is poorly lighted. G