The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-09-18
SPOKE ONLY FOR HIMSELF
Rev. E. J. Ranslow Writes Regarding
His Speech Nominating Mead

and myself; there were four, but Pas
cal is dead L;ut there is a distraction
with difference; the others have
sought notoriety and have lot. l am
not in the center of the stage because
| want to be- At the last state Repub
lican convention | seconded the nomi-
nation of Judge Stanton at his per
sonal request, backed by that of the
delegations favorable to him in Frank
lin county.
] also seconded the nomination Of
John A. Mead at his personal solicit
tation. Since then'I have said moth
ing and done nothing in a political
way except to answer some questions
put to me by one of the papers OF the
state. These questions l answered full
ly as they were given. Now comes
several Of the state papers claiming
thatI "artfully lodged questions which
l never knew were asked till after that
article had gone TO the press.
These last questions l will now ans
wer once and forever, Mick Kirk of
Fairfield, claimed to be the father of
all the champion wrestlers of that
champion town. When any one, dis
puted a fall that he took from an op
ponent, Mack was won't so say in his
high piping voice, "Wer, l will Try
and make the next one satisfactory
And he did No one ever disputed
the second fall, least of all, his oppo-
nent SO I will try and make this
answer satisfactory"
am asked by what authority
pledged Doctor Mead not TO run for
Governor at the expiration of his term
of office? Who knows that | did?
"See how plain tale will put you
down" by no word, action, gesture.
or other means did Doctor Mead ever
toucn upon the subject Of promotion
to me- So far as l am concerned he
is at liberty to take all the Offices
from fence viewer up.
Now as to myself. The language
used in my speech was carefully cho-
sen so as not to involve him | had
opposed Prouty, because he was Lieut..
governor. To make myself appear
consistent, 1 stated that what was
sauce for Prouty was sauce for Mead,
and did it in these words:
And l state here and now that II
John A. Mead comes up for governor
in two years 1 snail use my little in
fuence and my little vote against
him" Just this and nothing more.
Why, the idea is ridiculous and any
one can see it in the dark. If | pied
ged Mead with his consent, then he
is dishonest to run; if without his
consent then he would call me to book
which he has not. II / had pledged
him | should have done so in such
positive manner that no one would
have doubted what l meant for I do
claim the power to make myself I'M
derstood by those who listen.
The person who thought | gave a
pledge from Doctor Mead was up in
balloon" that is all. OF course he
couldn't hear straight
But now there will be a chorus of
editors who viii ask. how l know THAI
the above was my exact language. /
will answer by a story which l got
from Ben Butler and will give it in
the generals own words. Ben was
defending a suit for damage A man
had fallen from a building and was
injured. The usual badgering ques-
lions were asked. How far were you
from the spot where the victim struck
the ground?" Were you half
mile?" Were you six feet?" and
so on. But finally Ben met his match
A witness stepped briskly on to the
stand and the general began as usual
How far were you from the spot
where the man struck the ground?'
ut dhoN Vi CdAhG IN blHptigs was
forty-six feet and a nalf." How do
you know?" said General Butler in
thunderous tones. well l know some
d-n fool of a lawyer would ask me,
and l measured it at once"
hope have made my answer sat
isfactory" but there is nothing per-
sonal in the above story.
And now, to change the subject and
that the chores may be all done up be-
fore l cut my corn, the Messenger has
said that there is no rule about pro
motion. True in theory, and it is also
true that there is no mountain rule"
but l should like to see the Messen-
gers head after it had butted against
it. As matter of fact We don't elect
any lieutenant governors of such
uality that their heads
quality that their equals
can't be found in any part of the state
And what is more. the people know