Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-02-10

hardly come as surprise to those con.
versant with State matters. As long ago
as the opening Of the last legisla ture
there were strong Indications that he had
designs upon the office OF chief exc
cutive. and since that time he has been
cutting n little Ice everey day to furth'
er his ambitions.
The six column sketch IL well prepared
and IN some spots It Is more noticeable
for what it does not say than what It
really tells. The story. however, hardly
lives UP to its little, "A Dramatic Lfe
History" Like hundreds OF other poor
boys Or. Mead made a commendable
struggle for an education and attained
to worthy profession.
Then he turned his endeavors to com.
mercial lines and money getting has
been his Iifes work He has allowed
himself the diversion Of the political
game at every opportunity, occasional
" being successful, but more often fail.
Ing through the Indifference or positive
opposition Of his own city and county.
But keeping everlastingly Mt it, has
brought him finally to q place where
| through combination Of circumstan-
ces he may reach the governors chair
at a n age when most men hesitate to take
up great responsibilities along lines en-
| tirely new to them.
| Or. Mead has promulgated a platform
along the lines generally accepted as
progressive. but as the Bellows Falls
| Times well says there Is a delightful
| indefiniteness" in r. The candidate will.
however. have plenty Of opportunity to
amplty on the excellent outline Of his
announced position on public affairs.
| The News is glad to have Dr. Mead
have his say In It's columns and sug-
gcsts that it's readers peruse the care
fully prepared sketch--end thcn lets
reason together.
THE GOVERNORSHTP.
(E'rom the St. Johnybury Caledonian0
As Indicated last week very strona
pressure Is being brought to bear upoi
G. w Gates OF franklin to allow the use
| OF his name MS candidate for the gov
ernorship. From the first there ha!
been demand for him from representa-
tive Vermonters who have been acquaiii'
ed with Mr.. Gates work and principles
but Mr.. Gates has not yet given his con
sent but there is reason to expect h
will soon do so. The possibility that Oir
Merrill might enter the field has KEEP
Mr. Gates friends In check but now tina
he will not he IA candidate they are NOR
insistent that Mr.. Gates come into tn
contest. While It is evident that Mr.
Gates recognizes the honor they are do
ing him. his heart is in the work Of Stat
highway improvement and II" Is reluct
ant to allow any other purp 20 inter
lere with his present work.
The call for Mr.. Gates does not com
from the political leaders Of the Stat
but from men prominent in business an
civi life who feel that it is time for tn
people themselves to choose their gov
ernor rather than simply acQuiesce II
the personal ambitions of an asprant
To many people the idea of winning til
governorship with money is obnOxiou
and they feel that some one with NOR
popular strength than either OF the an
nounced candidates must come into tn
field in order to effectively rebuke III
use Of money in politics. To them Mr.
Gates appears to be the logical candi
date
Being thrifty and Industrious he ha
acquired a. moderate competence as
country merchant. 80 he does not be
he hostile TO the legitimate undertaking
OF wealth. Probably there is not anoth
er man in Vermont who has kept II
closer touch with the lawmaking bodie
the past decade or understood NOR
clearly their purposes than Mr.. Gates
In this way he has been cognizant o
and an active participant in the iegisla
tive progress of this period.
Until MI Gates was appointed high
way commissioner the position had bee
I used as q political plum for persona
friend of the governor and no real pro
gress had been made. When Mr.. Gate
was chosen by the late Gov. Bel II wa
for the purpose of inaugurating real al
vancement in highway construction i
Vermont. 1t has been slow work be
cause public sentiment to support
State system of highway work had TO b
4 created Conscious that he could go n
faster than the people were willing I
/. uphold him Mr.. Gates has labored
1 make highway policy independent
e politics. So firm hos he been to thi
y purpose that despite the several change
t in the governorshlp he mas been rear
pointed to the position and each term h
has held the office he has accomplishe
Improvements.
His consent TO allow the use OF hi
name wAl place an obligation on all VIII
I have expressed their dislike or seem
3 politics controlled by money, 10 laoc
j for a man who has the courage TO stan
l for higher principles. His friends al
@ Handicapped by the la;eness OF the cor
Z sent Of Mr. Gate. but persistent activit
= apd ,horouph organization on their pal