The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-13
BENNINGTON, VT, OCT. 10, 1911
MR.. DeBoER


attempt to get Hon. Joseph A. De-
Boer of Montpelier to run for the gov
ernorship next year and the Times
comes little nearer success than
heretofore Mr. DeBoer says in eff
feet that he would like to be cover.
nor but cannot spare the time from
his business to make canvass of
eight or nine months such as seems
to be required in Vermont
While Mr.. DeBoer is officially right
in his attitude, it is not likely that
he will be governor under the con
dition as it is. Mr. DeBoer may be,
and probably is, intellectually, the
superior of any other man in the
state of Vermont, but Vermont has
many men splendidly qualified to be
governor. We're the other aspirant
or aspirants for the place unfit men
men whose elevation would lower
the high standards of the state of
Vermont, then an aroused public
sentiment would force Mr.. DeBoer in
to the executive chair, but the issue
in this case is not of that kind.
Mr.. Fletcher, the leading candi-
date, is a man who in his legislative
service for the past ten years has
done much for the state. Vermont
has made real progress during that
time and from glance back over the
issues of the decade and their out
come it would appear to be
unquestionable that Mr.. Fletcher has
fought usually on the right and pro-
gressive side and that he has had
weight and influence equalled by
few. Mr. Stacks service has been
shorter but there can be no question
that he is safe and competent man.
Under these circumstances. it is
hardly likely that the rank and file
OF the voters will take the time and
trouble to give the governorship to
Mr.. DeBoer, highly as they may and
do esteem him. The Banner is
sincere admirer of Mr. DeBoer He
is one of the great and brainy men
OF America and we hope some day to
see him occupy a seat in the United
States Senate. We should like 20
see him governor of Vermont, but we
do not think that the need is so acute
that the voters will arise in their
might and force him to accept the
office.
Great crises require revolutionary
methods but this campaign is not a
great crisis in Vermont history Yer.
mont is making progress-not
as fast as some of us would like, but
at a rate not greatly exceeded by
any eastern state. You can pick out
one thing here and there in which
other eastern states are ahead Of
Vermont, but when a general aver
age is struck, Vermont is pretty well
forward. In striving for further
progress and for actual specific
things, we are apt to lose sight OF
the splendid progress that Vermont
has been making during recent years
and that without a direct tax, with
out running into debt, and without
even taxing corporations. banks, etc
as much as they are taxed in most
states
Campaign year is coming on and
we shall hear a great deal on the
stump, through the newspapers, anc
in behalf of various candidates, ant
especially a great deal that isn't true
Vermont has been making progress
but there is room for more The is
sues are more important than the
men. The future does not depend OF
any one faction. an one party Of
any one man. The chief thing is L
distinguish the honest from the dis
honest, the patriot from the dema
gogue. the real advance from th'
humbuggery and sophistry and bun
combe with which campaigns ar
| rife