St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-10
Letter from a Stanton Supporter.

Editor of the ST. Johnsbury CALIFORNIAN:
In your issue of May 9th, marked
copy" of which was sent to me, is
reference to the two candidates who are
asking for nomination as the republican
candidate for governor, in the following
words: "Prouty and Progress. Stanton
and Stagnation. Which do you prefer p
This is, presumably, addressed to the
republican voters of Vermont. If it
fairly represents the opinion of the
writer thereof, upon what facts in the
lives Of the two men named is it based
Or is it designed merely to prove the
fertility of the authors mind in ALTER
ation3 If the latter, why not "Prouty
and Puerility. Stanton and Strength.
Which do you prefer" What act or
acts in Mr.. Stanton's career justify the
allegation that he is the Corporation"
or railroad" candidate?
What did Mr. Prouty have to do with
the enactment of the "Corportion Act ?"
He was the presiding officer of the senate
of 1906. As such his duty was to preside
over its deliberations in strict fairness,
not to originate or secure the passage of
bills. That is the function of representa-
tives and senator's elected by the people
for that purpose.
One ignorant of the facts would
naturally be led to think upon reading
the article printed under the caption,
"Prouty's Position" published in the
same issue as the above quoted With
csm () that the idea of taxing corpor-
atoms had its inception in the brain of
the present acknowledgements during
the legislative session of 1906, or at
some time not long prior thereto. Is
that according to the fact? To those
interested in arriving at the truth in this
matter perusal of Chapter 80, Public
Statutes of Vermont, relating to tax
alton of corporations, will prove in
structive. The marginal references
will serve to indicate when the greater
portion OF that chapter became law.
Will you kindly designate the sections in
that chapter which had their origin in
the legislature of 1906? Or to keep
more closely to the particular question
uuder discussion, in the brain of Mr..
Prouty?
How do you know that Mr.. Prouty
was instrumental in creating the Cor
poration ActH' Much of it was law
before he was known outside of Newport.
What proof have you to offer that
legal representative" of the Central
Vermont and Rutland railway corpor-
atoms are asserting that the corpor-
atoms named are out today to trim
Prouty and trim him good and hard 7
Can you name the man, legal repre-.
sentative" who has made such asser-
ton? To whom, when and where
If the voters of Vermont are satisfied
that the present system of taxation of
corporations in this state is equitable,
they will elect a legislature whose men,
bers will see to it that such system is
continued or amended if more rigorous
law is demanded along that line 1t is
not now, it never has been, and it is to
be hoped it never will be the function Of
the chief executive to legislate He
properly may suggest and advise-not
coerce
The people of Vermont are as we'll
acquainted with Mr. Stanton as with
his competitor for the high office sought
by both. And it will be difficult to con-
vince them that the former. big in body.
strong in brain, pure in heart, has
suddenly been transformed into the tool
of corporations that are blindly and
demagogically accused of being engaged
in an attempt to overthrow the reign
of law.
Lawyer-not
Corporation Attorney.
Manchester Center, VT, Nav 80, 1908.