The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-11


yention will name the ticket which,
according to all precedent, will pro-
vide the list of state officers for the
ensuing two years. A glance over
the field just before the battle of the
ballots may be worth while.
The announced candidates for the
gubernatorial nomination are four, as
follows DIR. John A. Mead of Rut-
land present ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
head Of the Howe Scale Works and
prominent in other business enter
prises; Frederick G. Fleetwood OF
Morrisville. former secretary of state,
lawyer; Marsh J. Hapgood of Peru,
landlord; James X. Batchelder of
Arlington, lawyer. These are nam
ed in the order of their entry. For
lieutenant-governor the candidates
comprise the following: Ernest w.
Gibson Of Brattleboro, lawyer;
Leighton p. Slack of ST. Johnsbury,
lawyer; George +, Leland, Spring
field, manufacturer; DR., f. T. Kid
der of Woodstock, a physician. There
has been little canvass made for the
second place, and the choice is quite
as apt to fall on some new man as on
anyone thus far mentioned. The
present secretary of state, Guy w.
Bailey of Essex Junction; the state
treasurer, Edward II. Deavitt of
Montpelier; the state auditor, Horace
w. Graham of Craftsbury, and the
attorney-general, John G.. Sargent of
Ludlow, will all undoubtedly be re-
nominated, probably without opposi-
ton.
The main interest-and that less
keen than usual-centers over the
nominee for governor. DR.. Mead was
first in the field; in fact, his boom
was launched at the legislative SEES
sion two years ago. From his early
entrance, as well as by virtue of his
present office, bringing him as It has
into some measure of prominence,
DR.. Mead has profited He has plow-
ed the field diligently. Through his
connection with the G. A. r., the
medical fraternity and other orders,
he has managed to put some added
support to his credit.
DR.. Mead established several
months ago Literary Bureau with
Senator John l.. Lewis at its head,
later reinforced by ex-Editor d. II.
Lamberton as publicity agent, and
others This bureau has issued APP
peals for support through the press
and otherwise and waged an active
warfare for its chief. There have al
so been hired workers travelling about
from town to town, besides those To-
cally interested In short, DR.. Mead
has played the game in the old way,
so familiar In Vermont, without much
regard to any possible change In DO
itical ethics to conform to an altered
vision.
Those who oppose DR.. Mead In this
canvass object mainly to three meth
DDS, introducing as they do the i'm.
proper use of money, and the bizarre
exploiting OF a man who should not
require full-sheet posters to introduce
his merits, If he has them. That Dr.
Mead has not opened his barrel wild.
er has been due largely TO the atten.
ton already drawn to the matter by
the opposition press. The caucuses
are yet to be held, and It Is very like
that under the final stress. when II
7 is too late to cry out against IL. we
shall see more fragrant abuses than
have yet been noted. The DISPOSE
ton Is apparent to windy fair means
II pOssible-but win.
The part that DR.. Mead ANTICIPATED
his money would play in this canvass
and his anxiety TO safeguard himself
were apparent when. alone among the
make public his campaign expendi
lures. In the face of prevalent sen
timent, no other construction can be
put upon this refusal II ought TO b,
sufficient in and Of itself. to defeat
him.
For some years we have heard gen
eral criticism Of the undue and ex
cessive use OF money In Vermont
campaign. We have heard IL sale
that no man could hope to win IN,
nomination against an opponent viii
ling to use money in large sums un
less he, too, would loosen up" Tn,
results in several instances hay,
seemed TO bear this out. Now W,
have the issue squarely presente,
once more. Are We to let the nomin
alton go TO man whose chief asse
Is his wealth, boldly proclaimed, wifi
the MISUNDERSTOOD inference that Il
such contest as this money counts
There are other men In the field, al
worthy as DR. Mead, who have pur
, sued methods above question, VIII,
, have little money TO expend In pro
noting their political ambitions or II
corrupting the electorate. There 4
the possibility Of selecting anybod,
stu more worthy by a real deman,
from the ranks for his services. |
does seem as though. with the coun
try-wide awakening In civic righte
business and political morality tina
has taken place in the past few year
the ringing answer OF Vermont Re
publicans next Tuesday would be
MOI TO the man who expects hi
money TO land him In the governor
seat.--Randolph Herald and News.
Forward March
| We believe Il will be the pleasan