Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-03-03
HOW ABOUT ANYTHING" TO
BEAT MEAD7


4
/ This peculiar sentiment is used al the be-
4 ginning and the end OF an attack made
/ by the Randolph Herald and News upon
the candidacy for the governorship Of DR..
John A. Mead OF Rutland.
In the course OF its attempt to indict
the candidacy OF DR.. Mead, the Herald
and News arfanges its attack under eight
counts. The first impression follow ing a
slogan so unusual in politics, not only in
Vermont, bur 10 any commonwealth that
makes pretention to ever having had good
government, is hat either good govern
ment is menaeed or that such slogan
las basis only in rank and pretentious
misrepresentation.
II good government in this state is
menaced by the candidacy OF DR.. Mead to
the FIRST Office in the state, why, then,
anyt hing to heat it should have a hear
ing. IL, on the contrary, no such danger
exists and the sentiment uttered by The
Herald and News is false alarm, the
good name and fair fame OF Vermont is
at stake, from the fact that vicious attack
is made upon its official OF second rank,
who holds his Office by virtue OF the peo-
Plies choice.
The Herald and News alleges DIR.
Mead's age as reason why "anythieR"
should be used 10 beat him. IL he is too
old for public service, then both OF Yer
mont's United States senators are too old;
ex-senator John w. Stewart vas too old
for his last distinguished public service
be late Senator Justin S. Morrill, Was TOO
old during the last is years OF his public
life; several of the judges OF the superior
and supreme courts are Too old, and hum
dfeds OF the leading men Of Vermont are
too old for public service OF any kind.
Does anybody believe this ? DR.. Mead is
one of the most active men ia Vermont
The man, however younger he may be,
who can follow him day in and day on
week by week, through the demands
upon him OF a business of international
proportions, financial relations Of SUN
cient magnitude to absorb the entire at
tention Of most other men, and obliga-
tious fraternal, social and those connected
with the state office be now holds. will
find his time more closely occupied than
be Is accustomed to have il. Let us be
fair Is there anything so exaeting
about the governorship of Vermont that a
perfectly preserved man, in possession OF
all OF his mental and physical powers, at
he age OF the Rutland man, cannot full
fill the part ? ANY and all argument to
the contrary is indeiensible.
The Herald and News further alleges
that DR.. Mead has no demands on the re-
publican party for its support at this
time. Why are not his demands as good
az any other mans He has been life
long republican, has served the party un-
fiinchingly. ALI of his political prefer
ment has come at the hands of the repub-
lican party aud il the party had not rec
ognized in him ability and loyalty in past
service, would it have advanced him to
the second Office in the gift of the state ?
II the party found him worthy for adj
yancement to the office he now holds,
with all the possibilities always belong
ing to the eutenant-governorship as re-
lated to the one Office higher, has any
thing transpired since then that makes
him less worthy
The Herald and News declares that DR..
Mead has no constructive ideas for better
ing the state. When did a Vermont leg
islature ever go to governor for con-
structive ideas. What laws are there
now on Vermont statute books from
which state betterment has been derived,
that were placed there as having original
ed with Vermont GOVERNOR The Her
aid aud News will perform public serv-
ice by pointing these uncertainties out.
The influence of Vermont governors upon
legislation has ever been a very uncertain
quantity. A careful reading of the Mead
platform will show that he is in the fore
front OF progress as ii is now understood
in this state. What more can candi-
date favor, that Is safely progressive, than
the issues named in the announcement Of
tie Mead candidacy ? Briefy-and
there is nothing in his record ineonsis-
tent with his position now-he supports
business methods OF administration. prac-
tical schools. tax reform, arbitrament of
labor troubles, forest conservation, better
farming, less expensive legal procedure,
the development OF Vermont industrially
to the limit, and the advertising OF the
attractiveness of Vermont to the world.
DR.. Mead did not originate these ideas, OF
course, because they have all been
growths. lie favors them, and all his in
fiuence is for them. What more is
needed
The Herald and News further declares
that DR.. Mead has not demonstrated
claims to promotion while filling the
Office be now holds. Barring the death
of governor, bow could lieutenant
governor do more The principal duty
OF a lieutenant- governor is to preside over
the deliberations OF the senate. Was this
duty ever performed with more fairness
or with greater courtesy than Lieut.-Gov.
Mead performed it in last years long
drawn legislative session 1? n 90, the
Herald and News should point it out.
As to the promotion ides, that has
nothing to do with the question. The
state has nothing to "prove" or disprove
regarding this point. DR.. Mead is can
didate for the governorship. Good for
tune and the suffragcs OF his fellow-citi-
zens have made him the present lieuten-
ant-governor, out no inference is to he
drawn that he would not be candidate
for the goyernorship now Just the same
il he did not now hold the secondary
Office.
The Herald and News continues its
complaint by alleging that Mead was q
leader OF the last legislature Of "notori-
Gus memory" The fact that his only re-
lation to the last legislature was as the
presiding officer Of the senate should rem
der this criticism absolutely Ineffective
Il is indeed the highest kind OF tribute to
His roncenffou ~ HE dufv ae Iiaufananf