St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-01-06
PRESS COMMENT.
Howe and Howe.

MOVIE ana MOVIE.
In another column the Banner today
prints short character sketch from the
editorialcoumns OF the Randolph Herald
and News with Harland b. Howe of St.
Jobnsbury as its subject. In this article
the Herald and News characterlzes MIR
Howe as a populist and corporation
hater who by cunning arts and dema-
gogic oratory leads the House OF Repre-
sentatives to follow false gods and then
laughs in glee at the ruin he has wrought.
Had Editor Johnson sat in his old
place at the reporters table during the
present session of the Legislature instead
OF being merely a casual visitor at the
statehouse for few brief hours we are
confident that he would have formed an
altogether different estimate of the dual.
itications and services of the gentleman
from st. Johnsbury, says Editor and Re-
preventative Howe in the Bennington
Banner.
In the first place it is refreshing to find
a lawyer of real ability who is not think.
ing OF some corporation which employs
him first and of the public aiterward. 1t
is unfortunately true that most of the
really able LAWYERS are retained bv cor
poratlons because the corporations can
pay better and the service is lust as hon.
orable and clean if the lawyer himself is
honest. When lawyer of this class
goes TO the legislature, however, he
takes there his familiarity with the bet
ter side OF a corporation, and while not
intending TO let that influence him in the
least there is always the possibility that
II may. The consequence is a suspicion.
sometimes unjust, but, unfortunately
sometimes justified Mr. Howe is not
and never has been employed by cor
poraton and the rank and file of the
membership of the House like him and
frequently vote with him on that
account.
1t is unfair to call him a corporation
hatet tor he has never sought on the
floor OF the House to treat corporations
unlustly. lie has sought to protect the
pubic from encroachments by corpora.
tons and Others having special powers.
but, II tins be treason, then the word has
taken on a new meaning in Vermont.
was 1t unfair to ask railroads to nav
taxes at rate in some degree pronor.
uonate with that paid by private citi.
zens! Was it treason TO inv to comnel
insurance companies to pay loss 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 a
corporation while leaving citizens r.
shit for themselves?
1t must be rather amusing also to the
gentleman from st. Johnsbury to be
accused Of leading the House around by
us nose. With possibly one exception
there is no member of the House who ba,
mad more bills killed by the House thar
MI MOVIE OF St. Johnsbury, and some o
them have been good bills too. He ha,
gotten his bumps" as often as othe,
members and just as uncomfortable,
ones, but has taken his medicine philo
sophcally and kept right along the ever
tenor Of his way.
Mr.. Howe Of St Johnsburv is n,
near,r perfection than the rest of man
KIND lie probably makes as man,
mistakes as other members and of cours,
Is sonetims wrong, but he isconsistentl,
attached to the interest of the indiyidua
citizen and against special priyileo,
through legislative enactment He bas
on the hoor of the House, shown up :
lew snams, and uncovered somewhat n
sounding brass heretofote covered mn h,
mantle OF charity or some other cioai
that concealed the horns. II by do;ne
TINS ne has male a Danton of himself
MS shoulders are broad enough TO hea,