Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-08-11
"COUNTING THE CHICKENS"

Even thus early in the political
game, we see unmistakable signs that
the political hen is preparing her nest
and setting consisting of at least one
favorite son from each county on the
west side is assured. 1t is no empty
honor to be put forward as possibility
for the governorship, even though the
honored one knows his name is men,
toned in that connection merely for
the purpose of compliment and fiattery.
1t is recognition of his public worth
as judged by his personal friends and
admirers. In the coming campaign
there are not more than two or three
probabilities among long list OF
three of the mentioned candidates can
hope to go into the state convention
with more than a mere local support.
There are however few men men,
toned for the governorship whose
candidacy must be considered seriously
because of the state wide support of
which they are already assured. Be-
fore public sentiment has taken
definite shape as to any of these can
didates, we hope to give our readers
brief biographical sketch of those VIII o
in our own opinion have a chance at
winning the coveted honor. For this
issue we select DR.. Mead, the present
lieutenant governor, because at this
writing he seems assured of a whole
some and hearty support from the state
at large, a support inspired by his
business ability rather than by his
political genius.
John A. Mead of Rutland was born at
Fair Haven in the early forties and
though for years he has been spoken of
as 1.-The old doctor" the term has been
one of endearment rather than one
denoting old age, for DR.. Mead is of
practically the same age as Senators
Dillingham; and Page, Congressman
Plumley, Judge Munson of the Supreme
Court and Judge Miles of the Superior
Court, while Judge Rowell, chief of the
Supreme Court, is several years his
senior. He is business man in every
sense of the word and his success is
attested by the fact that he is now the
president of the Howe Scale Co. and
of the Baxter National bank and is also
an extensive real estate owner in the
city of Rutland. His business career
has been marked by policy which
was progressive, yet safe, sound and
conservative rather than visionary.
Like Governors Prouty, Page and Proc
tor, he could give to the state OF Yer.
mont what may we'll be called bust.
ness administration. DR.. Mead is not
politician and therein lies his greatest
handicap in the coming campaign.
While he may excel in merits and has q
broad grasp of public affairs he is weak
in his knowledge of political manipula
ton He has never been an office
seeker, and he has never held public
office to such an extent as to jeopardizt
himself in the coming campaign. What
ever offices he may have held have come
to him in the nature of promotions wei
deserved In Rutland where he ha
been associated with the commercial
life of the city for forty years, the.
made him their mayor; they sent hin
to Montpelier to represent the city Il
the legislature the county of Rutlant
sent him to the Vermont senate an
the people of Vermont elected him a
acknowledgements. AS the presiding
officer of the senate he won the respec
of every senator because of his perfec
fairness and good judgment and it
because of his record in that capacit
that large majority of the member
of the senate of 1908 are now so er
thusiastic in his support for tn
governorship. Judging him upon hi
merits and the enthusiasm of his SUI
porters, DR.. Mead seems to be the mos
probable choice at this writing.