The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-05
DEFENDS PLATFORM
Hon. F. C. Fleetwood Address
ses GrotonA Audience on Gov
ernorship Question
RIDICULE FOR DR.. MEAD

LamOile County Candidate For Gov
ernOr Speaks In Defense OF His
Claims to the Ofiice-Fails to Find
Remedies For Difficulties Outlined
by Mead's Platform.
Groton, April 29-The Groton OPP
era House was taxed to it's capacity
this evening when Hon F. G.. Fleet
wood, candidate for the Governorship,
spoke on State issues. The candi-
date was presented by Hon. T. b.
Hall While in Groton Mr.. Fleet
wood was the guest of former Repre-
sentative r. n. Darling.
In opening his address, Mr. Fleet
wood said that the people of Vermont
liked the square deal and were not in
sympathy with the stand-patterS
methods often practiced, the speaker
stating that he had profound rever-
ence for the wisdom and good judg-
ment OF the people of this State. Mr..
Fleetwood then brought up the plat
form of Dr. John A. Mead, his oppo-
nent. plank by plank, sarcastically re-
ferring to some of the display adver-
tisements sent out by the latters
press agent, one of which is illustrat
J ed with half tone photographs of a
! Speaking of Dr. Mead's program
of public school education along
practical lines, Mr.. Fleetwood said it
was one to which all would say
amen. but he insisted that the doctor
! be more specific. Asking all where
land when the program was to be car
methods championed by the doctor
were to be applied Mr. Fleetwood em-
phasized the fact that it was the real
and not the theoretical things that
Interested the people of Vermont
: Mr.. Fleetwood dwelt for some time
on the taxation problem, saying that
in the platform offered by Doctor
Mead there was not single sugges-
ton as to how the burden could be
| lightened. No special remedy hav-
ing been put forth. the speaker sug
gested commission acting as an
equalization board and dealt with
great particularly of detail upon
this subject. His views met with the
unanimous approval of the audience,
judging from the loud and contnu-
Gus applause with which they were
! received.
Taking up another plank of DR..
Mead's platform. that of good roads,
the speaker asked how, when and
where all these improvements in the
doctors advertising matter could be
brought about Mr. Fleetwood favor
! ed trunk lines. saying that good
| roads are the foundation of the
| States prosperity.
! In referring to DR.. Mead's program
calling for retrenchment in State ex-
| penses. MIR. Fleetwood called atten-
| ton to the expenses evolved In
summoning grand and petty Jurors,
he said, they are called for the first
day of every month and envariably
| have to wait until some case is ready
| for trial. Every day of county court
'Csts the State approximately 500.
Mr.. Fleetwood suggested that if all
| the jurors were summoned at the
discretion of the presiding judge, the
court expenses of the State would be
materially reduced He spoke of the
cost of confining prisoners for less
tnan a year in jails, statiuS that
money could be saved by sending all
prisoners with sentences of more
than 60 days to the House of Correc-
tion at Rutland.
Mr.. Fleetwood made a plea for a
direct primary law, saying that it
meant nomination by the people.
In the 2S states in which it has been
tried it has proven successful.
In connection with forest prob
lens, the speaker said that conserva-
tion has a great deal to do with
wealth and prosperity of the State,
saying that over 60 per cent of the
area of Vermont is waste and seine
of it well suited to forest purposes.
In closing his address, Mr.. Fleet
wood said that the people of Yer
mont insisted that the avenues lead
ing to public office shall be broad
and open and that methods used by
candidates to secure office must be
made known to all. Mr.. Fleetwood
expressed himself as being in favor
of the corrupt practice act, compell-
ing a candidate to file a sworn state
ment of all campaign expenses in the
office of the secretary of State, Mr..
Fleetwood speaks next week in Bur-
lngton and Lunenburg.
Advertised Letters.
The following letters are adver-