The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-17
OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN
Hon. Frederick g. Fleetwood Fires
First Gun in Fight FOR Governor

First Gun In Fight FOR Governor
slip.
st. Johnsbury, March IL. Freder-
ick G. Fleetwood of Morrisville open
ed his campaign Tor Governor of Ver-
mont in his native town ton.glt, with
an address on State issues in the Col
, .a IL,.,... L., ,aHle 49,. ~ inVl-
.atlon ...l LAS announced that he will
discuss State issues IL Vermont where
he is invited but that he will not spend
any mon to secure tie h.inination.
State senator Edward Il. Fairbanks
presided and Edit3r BiSelow of the
Caledonan spoke Driens, but pointed
ly upon the use of money in previous
campaigns and scored Lieutenant
Governor Mead, Mr.. Fleetwood's oppo-
nent in this fight, for hiring a press
agent and paid workers to create a
sentiment throughout the State for
his candidacy. Candidate Fleetwood
was most gracefully introduced by
Senator Fairbanks, who briefly re-
| viewed his successful political career
and complimented him upon his fear
less, Independent and manly standing
in this campaign.
Mr.. Fleetwood opened with a rap at
his opponents literary factory at
Rutland and said that if all the coun-
| ties in northwestern Vermont were
for Mead, he would like to ask who
delivered the goods and if the people
had been heard. This led to a brief
description of past political methods
| in Vermont, especially in regard to
manipulating caucuse5, and he de-
clared strongly for the direct primary
! syst m. This was not new method,
it was spreading all through the west
and has lately been endorsed by Gov.
Hughes of New York. This should be
supplemented by currupt practices
act.
He said the act of 1902 was not suf-
ficient as it did not provide for can
didate filing his expenses with the
Secretary of State nor any sworn
statement. In discussing Vermonts
increased court expenses, he said $685.
900 could be saved annually, if the
law could be amended so that GRIMM
ais could be transferred from county
jails where they were a daily expense
to the State, to the House of Correc-
ton where they could earn 33 Ia
cents for the State every day of their
service
He also said much money was vast
ed by having petit and grand jurors al
County Court the first day of the term
when there were no cases ready. He
favored amending the law and hav.
ing them summoned by the trial judge
when the cases were ready. He also
favored establishing district courts
as recommended by the auditor of ac.
counts. Mr.. Fleetwood wanted the
statutes to define trunk line highway
and then maintain them by money thai
appropriations. He favored the work
of forest preservation and the pur'
chase in every county of State fores
preserves. He ridiculed the very pre-
funtory method of presenting a poll
teal platform as the closing act of {
Republican State convention and sale
the platform should be the first bust
ness of the convention and the nom
mating of candidates a secondary mat
ter. In closing, he believed Vernon
citizens would adopt as their politica
slogan, Down with money cam
paigns.' The address was followed
by an informal reception and both la
; dies and gentlemen warmly congra
ing of his campaign.