The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-12
NEW CANDIDATE RUNNING
james X. Batchelder, OF Arlington,
Announces His Willingness to Re-
ceiye Nomination for Governor.

and prints letter from Mr.. Batchel-
der, giving his views on some State
issues. Mr.. Batchelder is promi-
nent lawyer.
He has been a member of the Leg
islature four times and was twice
speaker of the House. He was a can
didate for the congressional nomina-
ton in 1900 when d. j. Foster, of
Burlington won.
In a letter to Mr.. Howe, of the
Banner Mr. Batchelder says;
Dear Sir
In reply to your letter of recent
date. asking if / am to be candidate
for the Republican nomination for
Governor, / would say that, having
considered the matter and after con-
ferring with Republicans of this and
other sections, l have concluded to
allow my name to go before the con-
vention. Should it see fit to nominate
me, ] shall esteem it high honor,
as indeed it would be. But should
the convention consider another
more worthy, l shall cheerfully bow
to tho will of the majority and heart
lily support the man of it's choice
In further reply, l would say l am
in favor of the proposed amendments
TO our constitution submitted by the
special committee appointed by the
Governor, except the third.
The third amendment proposes
holding our freemen's meeting in No
vember, and it does not occur to me
that it would be so convenient for
the people as in September.
am in favor of general corpora
ton laws broad enough to cover all
cases where charters should be
granted, and the doing away with
special acts. This is desirable on &C
count of the expense to the State OF
enacting them. One has but to look
at the acts of the general assembly
for nearly every session to see that
half the volume or more consists OF
private corporation acts. Then again
some special privilege, by oversight
or otherwise, often gets into pri-
vate charter which ought not to be
there, and which others do not en-
Joy.
] am also in favor of maintaining
and from time to time increasing our
permanent public school fund. Ev-
eryone recognizes the necessity for
good public schools. Three-quarters
of all the children in this State today
will have completed their school ed
ucation when they leave those
schools
] think it is important that the
work of the commissioner of agricul.
ture be continued. II
! am also heartily in favor of con.
tinuiDg the work of the State for
ester, as tending to the preservation
and extension of our forests.
| am in favor of reduction Of
some Of our court fees and expenses
that without impairing the efficacy
of the court, will lessen the costs to
ligitants and the State; and to this
there should be some amendments t
the present law that will hasten the
trial OF causes and do away will
some of the laws delay"
/ believe there should be a NOR,
searching scrutiny, OF appropriation!
by the Legislature, not only in tn,
interest Of economy, but with thu
view Of getting more for the none,
We spend. The present revenues o
the States are sufficient for all rea
sonable demands. Taxes should no
be increased, and it will not be neces
sary TO hunt for new sources of rev
enue, if what we now have and tn
natural increase from year to yea
is wisely and conscientiously ex
pended.
! am in favor of the State buildin,
and owning the main trunk line high
ways, thus relieving the towns of
share OF their burdens and providing
system of roads that will keep Yer
mont abreast of her sister States
Such a system should be eXtensiv
enough to benefit all sections of tn
State and not be confined to a frac
ton Of the towns. | believe tina
such system of roads, if their con
struction is extended over a reason
able number of years, can be bull
by wise use of the present revenue
Of the State, but | would not approx
the assessing of a direct tax or tn
bonding of the State to accomplis
such result
| am in favor of material change
in the rules of the State Senate an
House of Representatives. 1t is tim
the present antiquated rules were rt
placed by new ones, better fitted I
handling the increasing legislatiy
business of the State Committee
should be readjusted to better divid
the work, and thereby the bushes
may be better done than now, and
a shorter time | feel sure that
conservative revision of the method
OF transacting the legislative bus
ness of the State would result in
saving of at least $4,000 for eaC
biennial session.
! stand ready to join with any
all of the other candidates in filir
sworn statement of the expenses
my canvass, either before or after Il
nominating convention is held.
! believe that | have now answert
your several questions in detail
far as space will allow.
Very truly yours,
JAMES X. BATCHELDE
TanfannfoI az Du,.a