The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-06-03
BURDEN OF PROOF ON THE
FREE PRESS.
Rutland News.


(Rutland News.)
The Burlington Free Press now
begs a question that the interests
opposing the candidacy Of Lieuten-
ant-Governor Mead for the govern
ship heretofore have not considered
as of material consequence in their
contentious; at least, silence regard
ing the point has been generally OBJ
served in quarters that have grasped
at every straw that could be used
in argument against the Rutland
man.
The question now raised by the
Free Press is the old academical
one regarding the promotion of q
acknowledgement to the higher
office. In its discussion of the
question it ignores all reference to
the one element that should give
either office to a fellow citizen
the element of fitness. Other things
being equal, as we understand popu-
lar government, the fitness of the
candidate is the principal thing to be
considered. If the best fitted can
didate for the governorship, for
instance, has served in the first
office lower, or is the occupant of
that office now, the fact should not
operate against him by any means
of any rule incapable of relaxation
In its discussion of this question
the Free Press referring to the for
mer custom prevailing in Vermont
involving the promotion of the lieu
tehant-governor to the governor
ship, makes this suggestive state
ment:
One very painful and undesirable
result of this promotion policy was
the selection for the administration
of the affairs of Vermont Of more
than one man who would not have
been dreamed of for governor if he
had not already slipped into the
lower office and claimed the other
by right of precedent.
The list of Vermont governors,
beginning with Thomas Chittenden
1872 years ago, is generally regarded
as an honorable one. OF the 81
different men who have been gov
errors of Vermont, eleven reached
the office by way of the sort of
promotion the Free Press has in
mind. These men were Horace
Eaton, Julius Converse, Ryland
Fletcher, Paul Dillingham;, Red
field Proctor, John l.. Barstow,
Samuel E. Pingree, Ebenezer j.
Ormsbee, Levi X. Fuller, Urban A.
Woodbury. and George H. Prouty-
OF these eleven governors of Yer
mont, with exception of Levi X
Fuller, the last six of the list are now
living and the last named is very
much-alive governor at this hour
1t would be extremely Interesting
if the Free Press would select from
this list of eleven governors the
names of any whose promotion
from the lieutenant-governOrship
was a mistake. Would it blacklist
on this account the men who hailed
from its own city? Would it black
list the first Governor Dillingham;
or Redfeld Proctor or George H.
Prouty? AS regards the rest of
the list, Governors Eaton, Barstow,
Pingree, Ormsbee and Fuller, can
it show that their promotion was
unwise policy for the Stateito pur-
sue?
Unless the Free Press can back
up its statements on this subject
by promptly naming specific reasons
why any one or all of these eleven
governors of Vermont, who reached
the Office by way of the lieutenant
governorship, should not have been
so prompted, its words are meaning
less.
If the Free Press is conscientious
n its view of this mater, why did
t not use its opportunity two short
years ago?