The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-26
A GREAT CONSPIRACY (D

In a recent issue the Richford Ga
zette says:
mo person or newspaper asserts
that Dr. Mead is not qualified in ev-
! cry way to fill the office of Governor.
Not one questions the staunchness of
his political faith, his great business
ability, his administrative capacity, or
| his character as man and citizen.
In fact, no reasons are advanced
against him except that he is Dr..
Mead, and that he is not endorsed by
the machine that has long dominated
the Republican party in Vermont. If
these be good reasons why he should
not be made Governor, the people fail
! to see it, and the mass of Republican
voters in Vermont will be found sup
porting him in the caucuses to be
held June a."
That is a pretty broad assertion to
make The Journal was under the
impression that there were several
persons and several newspapers that
did not believe Doctor Mead to be
qualified in every way to fill the Of
fee of Governor" This paper does
not believe that any man conducting
the kind of campaign that Doctor
Mead is carrying on is qualified in
every way" to fill the high office he
seeks.
The very fact of conducting a can
vass that must, naturally, cost great
deal of money, tends to discourage
any worthy aspirant, who is not rich,
from seeking the position. This pap
er does not believe that without the
use of money to create public senti-
ment Doctor Mead ever would
have been seriously considered for the
Governorship. 1t does not believe
that he will figure as formidable
candidate before the State Convention
unless he organizes and operates a
costly political machine for gaining
control of caucuses and bringing del
egates to Montpelier. This is one rea-
son why the Journal does not consd-
er Doctor Mead qualified in every
way" for the office of Governor.
This paper does not consider that
Grand Army and the physicians, tends
to show special qualifications so far
as the fitness of things is concerned.
1t does not consider the sending out
of an address on the Holy Land, as
part of his political literature, to be
the highest evidence or good taste.
Nor does it consider the issuing
through the same publicity bureau, of
a bitter and vituperative attack made
by one Vermont newspaper upon an
other, as indicating the possession of
those qualifications that the first citi-
zen of Vermont should possess.
The Journal ventures to assert that
the remarks made by Doctor Mead to
the Mead Club the other evening, in
which he promulgated a plan for sur
Unconstitutional advisers, naming his
political manager, j. l.. Lewis as one,
S hardly qualification for the office.
He thinks that the work of eXamin-
ing the bills properly is too great
for one man. Governor Prouty signed
440 acts and resolutions between the
opening of the session October Z,
1908 and it's adjournment January 30,
1909. OF these 236 were public acts,
the others relating chiefly to char
tiers of corporations, legalizing grand
lists, joint resolutions and other mis-
cellaneous acts. Very many of the
public acts, so-called were not of a
nature calling for profound research
regarding their merits. Governor
Proctor attached his signature to SIG
acts
1t seems to have been possible for
these officials to guide the Ship of
State without setting up any Depu-
lty Governors, responsible to no legal
authority and in no way authorized
by law. The other candidates have
Hot tApIeSstu any uOuDJ as 10 InelT
ability to pass upon all the measures
the Legislature may adopt, without
installing their political matagers in
the Executive Chamber to aid them
in their work.
Is the Gazette quite sure that no rea-
sons are advanced against the Rut-
land candidate except that he is Doc
tor Mead and that he is not endorsed
by the machine that has long dom
mated the Republican party in Ver-
monte The Journal already has adj
vanced other reasons that deserve
serious consideration.
What persons constitute this ma
chine" that has dominated the Repub-
lican party in Vermont so long
The Journal knows of able and
efficient Republican leaders, but it
knows of no bosses and no machine"
in the generally accepted usage of
those terms. Doctor Mead's ma
chine" just now seems to be the most
active political organization in evil
dence. The Gazette will do a real
service if 1t will give particulars re-
garding this mysterious machine"