The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-01-20
FRANK E. HOWE. Editor and PubIishe,
Why Not?

some OF tne papers nave arranged
the state delegation at large to the
Republican national convention to suit
themselves and announce that it is to
be or should be composed of Senator
Redfleld Proctor, Senator William p.
Dillingham;. Representative David J.
Foster and Frank l.. Greene. OF
course the state convention may pos
sibly not yield to the superior quail
fications of the up state newspapers
in selecting the members of the dele
CATION and therefore we may be out of
order in referring to the matter at ALL
but the Banner is opposed to three of
the gentlemen mentioned, namely,
Proctor. Dillingham; and Foster.
i We have the highest esteem for the
personal and political qualifications of
these gentlemen. 1t is a trio of which
the state is rightly and reasonably
proud but they are men who have
asked and received much at the hands
of the voters and will, in the future
doubtless ask for still more. Is it not
right that they should stand one side
and give other men, just as able and
even more important to the welfare of
the state chance to participate bit
in national affairs?
The heads of the greater industries
and business enterprises of Vermont
have neither time nor inclination for
political preferment, but they deserve
none the less, and we believe more,
at the hands of the citizens of the
state. Without their work and effort
Vermont would be rural, backward
community, and it is due to their abil-
ity and progress that the new Yer
mont is with us and that the prospects
for the future were never SO bright.
Not to detract in the least from the
honor due our senators, congressman
and other politicians, who are above
the average in ability and virtue, We
do not owe them everything For in
stance here in Bennington who de-
serve first place, the politicians who
have gone up to fill high Office or the
men who own and conduct our mills
and keep up the business that gives
us our daily wage? Who deserves
first honor in Lamoille county, Page,
the politician and governor or Page,
the tanner and banker? In our sister
town of Brattleboro who could be best
spared, the Office holders. valuable as
they may be, or the Esteys, the Smiths
and Hunts, the Carpenters, the Cros-
bys, the Dunhams, etc? And so on
through all the larger and better com.
munities of the state.
These business men are just as
much interested In the welfare of the
state and nation as any men living
They are just as well qualified to rep
resent Vermont at Chicago. They
cannot be spared from the desk and
factory for any long term but most OF
them would welcome an opportunity
to sit in one of the great councils OF
the nation.
The Banner offers as reasonable
suggestion for the delegation to Chi
cago, Joseph A. DeBoer Of Montpelier
Frank l.. Greene of st. Adams, J.
Gray Estey of Brattleboro and William
II. Bradford of Bennington. There
are score Of others who are equally
available and who rank equally high.
Could the state do better? And then,
too, are not our senators and congress
men willing to step gracefully aside
for once in favor of some OF the rep
resentative business men of the new
Vermont?