The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-16
(Encsburg Standard.)

The campaign for the Governorshlp
s nearing its clcse Before the ext
iesue of tn Standard THE caucuscs
will have been held and the Republic
cans of Vermont will have registered
their verdict.
The issues have been clear cut and
well defined; not at all complex, but
by the ordinary citizen
who has given any thought or atten-
ton to the progress of the campaign.
Hon. F. G. Fleetwood of Morrisville
has been consistent candidate from
the start. He early announced his po-
sition upon all public matters of in
terest, and has adhered to his state
ment in a determined manner to con-
duct his canvass entirely in harmony
with the mandates of the law. He has
gone before the people and presented
his ideas from time to time. In fact,
he has made very vigorous can
vass, speaking almost every day for
the past month or six weeks. He has
in every way represented a high stand
ard of citizenship which should govern
the determination as to who shall 0c-
cupy the highest office within the gift
of the people.
Whether he succeeds in securing
the nomination or not, Frederick G..
| Fleetwood is entitled to great honor
for the heroic fight he has made for
good government and right principles.
He is, in an eminent degree, pioneer
= in the great reform for the elimina-
ton of money as a corrupting agent
in gubernatorial campaigns, and we
have no hesitation in saying that if the
law had been observed governing the
management of these campaigns, there
would today be no question as to his
nomination.
In contrary distinction to the high
plane upon which Mr. Fleetwood has
conducted his campaign, we turn to
that of DR.. Mead, his chief competi-
tor. He started his campaign with
refusal TO publish campaign ex-
penses. He has treated with indiffer-
ence and contempt, as far as we have
been able to observe, the spirit and
letter of the law, relative to the eX-
penditure of money. 1t does not need
absolute evidence tina, money is being
used unlawfully, with the surface
signs multiplying with such increasing
rapidity, as has been in evidence for
the past two weeks in Franklin coun-
lty. 1t is not reasonable to suppose
THAT men travel throughout the coun-
lty, spending their time and paying
their expenses to push DR.. Mead's
candidacy, without receiving pay. II
they do, human nature has certainly
changed, and this is the first evidence
that has ever come under the obser-
walton of people OF today where men
manifest undue interest and display
unknown and unheard of zeal and en-
lergy in promoting the candidacy OF a
particular candidate from patriotic
instincts.
1t is a question of right and wrong
Dr.. Mead stands for Indifference tC
and ignoring of the requirements Of
the law. Mr.. Fleetwood, on the othel
hand. stands for law observance. II
lis a question the Republicans of Yer
mont will have to meet at Montpelier
whether the Republican party has be-
come so sordid and commercial in
!; stinct so strong that man can be
nominated to the highest position with
in the gift of the people who ha:
manifested a supreme contempt Of
law.
While NJ. ]. Hapgood and Hon. }
: X. Batchelder are in entire sympathy
with the attitude of Mr.. Fleetwood or
sall public matters that have been con
/, sidered in the canvass for the Cover
norship, yet he has made the fight
=. and if DR.. Mead is defeated the honoi
!; should go to Fleetwood beyond any
lother man in the State. The STANDARD
J sincerely trusts that the result of the
caucuses next week will assure the
/, nomination of Hon. F. G. Fleetwood