Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-05-21
MA. paours.s CASE.
trrom the Newport Express and Stands

As the home paper Of George II. Prou-
ty, candidate for governor, the Express
and Standard has RETAINED from long.
winded editorials or complimentary re-
marks in his favor, knowing full well
that such an attitude would be expected,
as q matter of course. Regardless of this
rule, however, or whether the candidate
was OF home extraction or the product of
some other county, this paper has copied
all arguments for and against him,
whether beneficial to his cause or not.
This is the kind OF newspaper liberty we
advocate-the right to disseminate views
the privilege to give the analysis OF
both sides OF q question, so that our read
ers. judging from a fair and impartial
standpoint, may formulate ideas to suit
themselves. II q candidate for Office,
whether from our town or some other, il
not fit for the place he seeks, and 1t can
so be proven, we want to know IL; and
We want our readers to know il; and We
intend they shall know it IL it knocks
every spoke ont OF the hub.
So having printed all utterances for
and against the Hon. George III. Prouty,
candidate for governor, and iaboring I'M
der the impression that all such utter
ances have been thoroughly read, we de-
sire to ask: "Has Candidate Prouty.
through all adverse statements against
him, been materially harmed or lowered
I in public es.eem?' l. Il not a fact that
the whole core of the argument of his
opponents. when boiled down and sug-
AIRED of, resolves itself into this single
statement: "Mr. Prouty is a very good
sort of man, good citizen, fairly sue
cessful in business, but hardly fit for gov
erncr of the state" Such Is their whole
argument, which they love to fiout In
print, concentrated into a nutshell. The
whole pith of it is discernible on the sur
face. "A good citizen" l. well enough
but "a very good scrt OF man" IL a polite
way OF limiting below the average, while
a "fairly successful man in business" IL
intended to convey the idea that he is
half failure. This statement does not APP
ply to the Hon. Geo. II. Prouty in the
least. Even IL half true be would COM
pare well with half OF the ex-governors OF
the state and none were ever elected that
we know of who did not stand high in
public esteem.
I Here is the point. Prouty's opponents
would convey the idea that be lacks exec
utiye ability; fails in business capacities;
is without knowledge of public affairs;
and is really void OF the ordinary inteIli-
gence so essential in the shaping OF
Z Peoat> toANNs AaoNt n SCca Us
head. perhaps, set up on a pedestal to
look at, but hardly fit for governor OF the
state" Here is where the whole opposi-
ton sticks in a quagmire or wanders in a
total eclipse. Those personally acquaint-
ed with Mr.. Prouty and his successful
business career, smile at this puny effort
to lower his record. Those not acquaint-
ed with him, but who have followed the
argument for and against him, should
ask themselves these questions: "Whst
has been the cause OF Prouty's almost
phenomenal rise in politics? How comes
it that a man of Just average intelii-
gence' and but fairly successful in BUSH
ness could rise so suddenly from the
Office of state senator to the bonored posi-
ton of Lieutenant governor, and with
still fair prospects of being chosen to I'LL
the highest Office in the state 20 There is
something incongruous about it-some-
thing that does not harmonic with the
course OF events. A man of the calibre
portrayed by Prcuty's opponents could
not rise out of the ordinary rut. The feat
would be impossible. Something is lack
ing in their portrayal. of Prouty's
strength. No one claims that George ii.
Prouty is Daniel Webster for profundi-
ty of thought, Patrick Henry in orator
ical display, or an Edison for inventive
genius. Neither does it require such
men to I'LL the executive chair. II
wants a thorough business man; one who
can grasp situations; is thoroughly con-
versant in public affairs; cannot be ca
joled or wheedled; is honest in his con-
victions, believes in what Is right, and
will disseminate the right principles
while he holds the sceptre of Office. That
Prouty possesses these essentials we do
mt hesitate N las "a