Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-09
PLUMLEY VS.. HASKINS.
From the Brattleboro Pheonix)

O7rom the Brattleboro Pheonix)
The candidacy OF Hon. Frank Plumlev
as representative in Congress from this
district was announced by the Mortified
News this week in the following cdi-
torial:
THE News is pleased to formally an
nounce the candidacy Of Hon. Frank
Plumley for representative to Congress
from the second Vermont district.
In 1900 Mr.. Pumey was candidate
for congressional honors. Hon. Porter
H. Dale OF Island Pond, Hon Wendell p.
Stafford OF St. Johnsbury and Hon. Kit
tredge Haskins of Brattleboro were his
opponents, the latter leading him by a
very few votes.
Mr., Plumleys support stood by him
with splendid loyalty ballot after ballot.
as DID the supporters Of the other can
dldates. A protracted nights struggle
confronted the convention with tho prob
able i'll blood natural to follow such a
| contest. to end as such contests usually
do with the defeat Of the original con-
| tastants through a dark horse" brought
/ forward as a compromise.
at was then that Mr.. Plumlev, in the
logical result. generously withdrew and
Mr.. Hasknss nomination Immediately
| followed.
| 1.-TWO years ago there was n strong de-
mand that Mr.. Plumlcy again be a can
didate. Mr.. Haskins pleaded FOR another
term that he might serve to the end Of
| the Roosevelt administration. This was
recognized al a reasonable ambition and
| ~.
cided Mr. Plumlev to decline to enter the
canvass In 1906 Mr. Haskns was hand
somely renominatcd for what was gen
orally understood to be his last term in
| Congress.
with the completion OF his present
term Col. Haskins will have been longer
in Congress than most of the representa-
tives sent from Vermont in the past. and
no one will claim that his services have
been more than OF average character.
"Mr. Plunley, with n laudahle ambi
ton to serve his state in Congress. has
waited TO announce his candidacy until
he was assured from every section Of the
district that there is hclrtr ana on
thusiastic support for him. Mr. Plumley
needs no newspaper Introduction He is
universally and favorably known in his
lance outside its borders. He is a pro-
gressive and active citizen. who has
given largely of his time and ability in
every good cause. He has been honore1
by his state and In turn has done honor
to Vermont.
"Mr Plumey has efficiently served in
both branches OF the State legislature
and Is at present chief judge of the
~ T,, ~ roir I,e l,.tc
held the office of United States district
attorney and in 1903. through the in
nuence of the late Senator Proctor. he
was appointed by President Roosevelt
umpire In the mixed commissions for
Great Britain and Venezuela. and for
Holland and Venezuela In this mission
he spent six months IN the South Ameri-
can capital Tha; his exactinG work in
this responsible and altogether unique
position was highly satisfactory. was
evidenced In the fact that he was later
selected by the governments of France
and Venezuela as an umpire in further
disputes between those two countries.
Mr.. Plumley is in middle life. n strong
man mentally, with the health and cour-
age which comes from right living. "
the republicans bestow upon him the
gress, as the News believes they wish &c
do. Mr.. Plunleys services to both his
state and his country will be Of SUI
pcrior character"
In this article there IL the intiratior
that Mr. Plumley did not enter the FIELD
two years ago largely In Difference to Mr.
Haskinss wishes to serve to the end OF
the Roosevelt administration When tn,
Nat ton h1f
suffered a bereavement in the death o.
time which showed that he kept out o
the .leld not from any consideration fo
Mr.. Haskins. but simply for the reason
that h. then had no heart for politica
strife To quote from his own signed
statement:
Reasons which are purely and wholly
personal compel me to state that I shall
not enter the canvass this year.
MY cherished ambition for politica
preforment for the present is crushed an,
!, dead and it is simply impossible for M
to take any active part In politica
campaign of this character"
The News says Mr.. Haskins pleaded
for another term" With whom did H.
"plcad?" He certainly mover had an,
correspondence or conversation with Mr.
; Plumley about his candidacy prior to hi
nomination two years ago. Neither Mr.
, Haskins nor any one authorized to spea'
for him said two years ago that h
would not again be a candidate
The Phoenix happens to know some
thing about the appointment OF Mr.
Plumley to the important post il
, Venezuela, The position of umpire wa
first offered to F. c. Partridge of Proc
tor He declined tho appointment anC
Senator Proctor then came to Brattle
boro for conference with Representa-
- tive Haskns. Mr.. Haskns suggested Mr.
Plumley as the man for the place anc
acting upon this suggestion Senate
Proctor telephoned to Mr.. Plumley ten
dering him the appointment which Mr.
: Plumley accepted, and Senator Procto
then went from Brattleboro to Washing
ton TO lay the matter before the Presi
dent and Secretary Of State. Mr.. Plum
ley's position as umpire was a hghl,
{ | romunerative one. the net return TO hir
- being more than representative in Con
gross could save from his salary i
[ | wears of service at Washington. Nj
= Plumley has been we'll used.
The statement that mo one will clail