Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-11-24
THE GOVERNORSHIP.
What Mr.. eBoer and Mr.. Fletcher
Stand FOR as Regards Taxation.

speech outlining his views and reiterat-
ing his willingness to be Governor, put
him fairly in the field though he again
declares that he will make no personal
canvass. Mr.. DeBoer did, however, go
further than he ever has before and
announced his willingness to participate
I in pre-convention discussion of State
issues. This attitude permits him to
write letters and address public gather
ings which is a considerable change
from the position that he has hereto
fore taken.
The Banner yesterday printed Mr.. De
Beers speech in full and also by pure
chance the Banner on the same day re-
printed from the Burlington Free Press
an interview with the Hon. Allen M.
Fletcher of Csvendish, who is an active
candidate for the governorship. A COM
parison of the speech and interview at
this time is interesting for both are
practically platforms on which they go
before the public, though in considering
them it should be borne in mind that
Mr.. DeBoer's was a prepared address
while Mr.. Fletcher spoke offhand in
answer to questions.
In the main, both gentlemen agree as
is to be expected they would, for both
are able men and students of Vermont
needs and Vermont possibilities.
Both are in favor of a primary election
law and both favor the publication of
campaign expenses. Mr.. Fletcher spoke
and voted in favor of these propositions
in the Legislature last fall.
Both favor a continuation of the road
building policy of the State and generous
appropriations.
Both favor an organized attempt to de-
velop Vermont resources and to adver-
tise Vermont attractions and opportuni-
ties.
Both advocate the home investment
of more capital and undertaking to put
agricultural life in this State on better
basis.
Both, as shown by their past records,
as well as by present day views, can be
relied on to support the cause of educa-
ton at all times. Both are cognizant
of the dangerous condition of rural iso-
lation and Mr.. DeBoer declares himself
in favor of some definite attempt to
overcome this evil.
Where the two men split is on the tax
issue and if the campaign is fought out
on the issues the candidates themselves
have suggested, it looks to the Banner
as though tax reform would be the chief
basis of discussion.
Mr.. DeBoer's theory of tax reform as
developed by him during the session of
1908 included fiat rate on intangibles,
complete doing away with offsets and a
State tax commission with power to en-
force uniform methods and especially
uniform valuation.
Mr.. Fletcher's views on the.tax ques-
ton are hardly so radical, but are still
a marked departure from the present
system. He favors the New Hamp-
shire law which e&empts from taxation
real estate mortgages bearing interest
at five per cent. or less. He favors the
limitation of offsets to some extent, but
not doing away with them entirely. At
the last session of the Legislature Mr..
Fletcher favored and was largely re-
sponsible for putting through several
measures designed, as he himself
stated. not so much for tax reform, as
to put teeth into the present tax law so
that it could be enforced and thus show
the defects that ought to be remedied.
On the labor law issue which is not
very prominent in Vermont as yet, but
is bound to be in the near future, Mr..
DeBoer will be found to take a more
radical and advanced stand than Mr..
Fletcher.
Both candidates are progressive men.
Mr. DeBoer is a student and idealst
while Mr. Fletcher is a keenwitted,
hard-headed business man. Both are
men of advanced ideas and the cam
paign should progress on high plane.
From the Bennington.B