Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25

has been ruled politically by a machine
whose motive power, whenever opposi-
tion threatened, has been money. Again
and again have we seen men elected to
the governorship-which they coveted
solely for the honor and prestige attached
by the disbursement among profession
al workers, and through them, as needed.
to the electorate, of immense sums of
money. The result has been a degrade
tion of the governorship in the hands of
mediocre men. and the prostitution OF the
high privilege of suffrage. The state
has reached the shameful stage of confess
ing its venality and placing its leading
office beyond the reach of any but very
rich men, willing to barter their fortunes
for a title.
warn the people against the eontinu-
ance Of this iniquitous course, and insist
that the time has come when ability.
rather than money, should be the test. l
make so bold as to challenge the Hon.
Prentiss Granger of Lotus to a test of
that kind and ask the people to choose
between us.
charge that Vermont does not need.
and should not longer tolerate, ring of
office holders, past, present and prospec-
tive, to rule her, who, with their paid re-
tanners, market the places of honor and
trust to their own advantage.
charge that the fruit of this policy
has been stagnation in every material
way that legislation and administration
can affect the states interest; that our
laws are framed and executed so rs to
produce q maximum OF individual bene-
fit to the ruling class and a minimum of
advantage to the people as a whole; that
nh 49,
tured and protected by these means; that
heavy burdens are placed on the taxpay-
ing public from which it should be re-
Iieved, and that policies OF economy and
progress should take their place. There
has been q constant and alarming in
crease in state expenses, With no cores
ponding benefit except to the individual
recipients OF state bounty.
l favor wholesale reduction of salaries
to the scale provided for by the constitu-
tion of the state; the abolish ment Of
many departments and commissions
whose services are in no wise proportion
ate to the ireompensation, and the'concen-
tration OF the state saffairs in the hands
OF relatively few capable men chosen
or appointed for their manifest qualifica-
tons, and not as the reward for their ac-
tivity in behalf of any man, machine or
party.
| favor a fair division of the offices
with the minority parties, according 70
the merit Of particular men available TO
fill them.
stand for efficiency in our tax laws;
for such reforms in them as the people
demand; for sufficient OUTLAWS for our
schools, highways and other departments
to intelligently improve them; for a care
full financing OF the states money and
such general conduct OF her affairs as a
well-ordered private corporation would
demand of its directors.
In the furtherance OF this program Of
reform, 1 seek your SURFACES. fellow
citizens. | shall expend no large sums OF
money in conducting my canvass. /
shall keep careful record of such moneys
as are disbursed, with the purposes to
which they are put, and shall, from time
to time, publish the same, duly verified
BY oath. | invite my opponent to do
likewise.
II elected 1 shall endeavor to give Yer
mont an honest and faithful administra-
ton. shall urge such acts upon the
legislature az seem designed to bring
about the reforms herein advocated. 4
shall fill all appointive offices with sole
regard to merit, without political consid-
Grafton of any kind.
If this is the sort OF government fav-
ored by a majority of my fellow citizens,
/ urge them to rally in my support, with
out regard to the intrigue Of politicians
or the proffeT OF money for their votes.
Very respectfully,
Rollin Spencer.
Westmont, VT, Apr. 25.