Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-01-07
HOWE OF ST. sonNssuAY.
Opinions Called Forth BY . Recent
Pen Sketch in This Pepper.

In another column the Banner today
prints a short character sketch from the
editorial columns Of the Randolph Her
aid and News with Mr.. Halrand B. Howe
OF st. Johnsbury rs its subject. In this
article the Herald and News charaeterizes
Mr.. Howe as q Populist and corporation
hater who BY cunning arts and demagog
ic oratory leads the House OF Representa-
tives to follow false gods, and then
laughs in glee at the ruin he has
wrought.
Had Editor johnson sat in bis old
place at the reporters table during the
present session of the legislature instead
Of being merely q casual visitor at the
state house for a few brief hours we are
confident that he would have formed an
altogether different estimate Of the quail
dcations and services OF fhe gentleman
from st. Johnsbury.
In the FIRST place it is refreshing to find
lawyer Of real ability who is not think
ing OF some corporation which employs
him first and Of the public afterward. It
is unfortunately true that most Of the
really able lawyers are retained BY cor
porations because the corporations can
pay better and the service is Just IS hon
orable and clean II the lawyer himself is
honest. When lawyer of this class
goes to the legislature. however, be takes
there his familiarity with the better side
OF corporation, and, while not intending
to let that influence him in the least.
there is always the possibility that It
msy. The consequence is a suspicion,
sometimes unjust, but, unfortun ltely.
sometimes justified. Mr.. Howe Is not
and never has been employed BY a cor
poration and the rank and file Of the
membership of the House like him and
frequently vote with him on that account.
II Is unfair to call him a corporation
hater for he has never sought on the floor
Of the House to treat corporations unjust
~. He has sought to protect The public
nom encroachments by corporations and
others having special powers, but, If this
be treason, then the word has taken on a
new meaning in Vermont. Was It I'M
fair to ask railroads to pay taxes al a rate
in some degree proporgionate with that
paid BY private citizens2 Was 1t treason
TO try to compel insurance companies to
pay less after they have accepted the
risk and pocketed the premium Was it
disreputable to try to stop the state Of
Vermont from becoming the collecting
agency for & corporation while leaving
citizens to shift for themselves
Il must be rather amusing also to the
gentleman from It. Johnsbury to be ac-
cused Of leading the House around By its
nose. With possibly one exception,
there Is no member Of the House who has
had more bills killed by the House than
Mr.. Howe OF s.. Johnsbury, and some OF
them have been good bills, too. He has
gotten his "bumps" as often as other
members and just as uncomfortable ones,
but has taken bis medicine philosopni-
eally and kept right along the even tenor
Of his way.
Mr.. Howe az st. Johnsbury is no near
er perfection than the rest of mankind.
He probably makes as many mistakes As
other members and OF course is some
times wrong, but be is consistently at
tached to the interest OF the individual
citizen and against special privilege j
through legislative enactment. He has, |
on the door of the House, shown up
few shams, and uncovered somewhat OF /
sounding brass heretofore covered up by
a mantle Of charity or some other cloak /
that concealed the horns. II bv doing
this he has made Danton OF himself. !
his shoulders are broad enough to bear
the burden; and -wouid that this kind of
Dantons were more common.-Benning-
ton Banner.
The Randolph Herald aud News under
took to construct little Notwithstanding
over 81. Johnsbury and her representa-.
tive, as likening Howe and st. Johnsbury 1
to "a lost soul at the portals Of heaven;'' /
Nhereupon the Worthwhile News and Cit
lien rises in pious indignation to the de-
Tense of both Howe and st. Jchnsbury. /
Says our contemporary to the northwa-d:
81. Johnsbury Is generally we'll repre- /
sented IN the state legislature, even when i
she does send Republican. She sends 4
strong men, men Of sterling integrity I
and upright character, and has even seat
those from whom have been selected q I
speaker and Acknowledgements st. /
Johnsnury Is q pretty good tewn, 1t has
one Of the best manufacturing industries
IN the state, and Is made up OF law-abid-
ing citizens and il is unjust and unfair to
throw out innuendoes Of this kind con-
corning it,"
All OF this may be pleasing to Mr..
Howe Of St. Johnsbury, for it is giving
MIN that degree OF publicity which he
undoubtedly Desires However, it does
not seem to Us that it was the Randolph
contemporary's purpose to paint him in
the deepest dye Of q villain, but to con-
trazt his personality to the quiet peaceful
nature OF his surroundings in the scale
town. Howe Is not q man to let tbe
grass grow under his feet; that's what
was undoubtedly meant.-Barre Times.
The gentleman from st. Johnsburv. ),
hariand 3. Howe, having been written
up on his Mr.. Hyde side by the Randolph
Herald, Is "Dr. Jekylledn by the BEN
nington Banner in a spirited defense and
now MS home paper, the st. Johnsbury
Republican, reprints both views in a two
column article and thus completes the
circle OF desirable Publicity, which this
very able and insidious batter of the
wicked corporations must find Of a verv
desirable profitable character. Rutland
Herald.