Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-09-16
AN EXPLANATION.

From some things which have seen in
various papers of the state 1t would seem
that am occupying the center of the
stage in a way altogether out of proper
ton to my political value. Most of what
has been printed amounts to nothing ex-
cept to FIJI space and pad the outside so
as to match the patent inside. But ! did
notice an extract from your paper which
is likely to do injustice to Lieut.. Gov
ernor Mead. Ii is asserted that in sec
onding the nomination OF DR.. Mead ]
gave his pledge that be would not run for
governor in two years. / will answer
that statement in the manner of Lord
Eskgrove. the Scottish judge who pro-
nounced his words as a child reading a
primer-"And 80, gentlemen, having
shown you that the panDell's argument is
utterly IMPOSSIBLE, will now proceed to
show you that it is extremely improba-
bill"
First, then, would say that your edi-
tcrisl assertion il utterly impossibill."
Ny Nords were-these-"And / give no.
tice here and now that IL DIR. Mead is
elected lieutenant governor and al the
end OF his term OF Office should try to
elevate himself to the governors chair
will use my little influence and vote
more. The reason why made that stare
ment is plan. Nv first argument
against Mr. Prouty Was based on the fact
that be was a lieutensnt-goyernor.
wished 20 set myself right before the peo-
pie and let them know that | was not a
trained politician who can blow hot and
cold at the same time. ! believe now a.
then that the whole thing i vicious and
will make endless trouble. With me il IS
matter Of principle aud not OF the men
immediately concerned. l take INV poll
tics Is the little man in Pickwick took his
crumpets-on principle.
DR.. Mead had not then, nor has be
since, passed a word with me in regard to
f promotion. Whatever faults l may have
in public speaking, I believe I may claim
to be able to make myself understood,
and il had given pledge from DIR. Mead
at that time il would have been 50 given
that no delegate would have the slightest
DOUBT as to the meaning. SO. then, let il
be understood that so far as pledges given
to me are concerned Gov. Mead has per
feet right to run for any Office from that
Of hog reeve to president OF the United
States, and he can do so. to use the pic
turesque phrase of Sam Slick, "from July
to etarnity."
So having shown your statement to be
'utterly IMPOSSIBLE" I will show il is
Extremely improbable" II DIR. Mead
wished any such pledge made public I
would not have been the one 20 DO it. but
rather the person from his own county,
who put him in nomination. do not
know much about politics, hot know
enough for that. IL would have been alb
surd for me, who merely spoke in behalf
Of certain friends in franklin county, 70
have been chosen as a medium to make
known such pledge. II would have been
worse than absurd--it would lave been
ridiculous. But not only so, since DR..
Mead knew that he had never spoken to
me on the subject, IL | had given this
pledge be would have called me TO hook
within an hour. But he never has.
There is one way in which we can
avoid these biennial squabbles and that
is TO have all offices put up at auction and
go to the highest bidder, and the money
TO go to the state. This was Thomas X
Beecher's plan and not so very bad. He
said that the offices went that way now,
only the state got nothing out OF it. OF
course the plan bars the poor man, bur
for that matter be is pretty we'll out OF
the fight now.
However, that is a side issue and | Nill
now resign the stage to Cook and Peary.
Let US have peace.
E. j. Ranslow, Swanton, Vt, Sept.
10. 1909.