The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-12-11
A CLEAN CAMPAIGN
That Is What Is Indicated in Vermont.
Thinks Free Press.

| phaslzed the TACT that, according TO the
published platforms Of the Hon. A. NJ.
Fletcher and the Hon J. A. DeBoer,
whose respective candidacy for the Re
publican nomination for the governor.
ship was announced in the order named,
Vermont was practically assured pro-
gressiye governor Each has apparent
ly caught the prevailing spirit which
has been sweeping Vermont into the
list Of progressive states, and each has
outlined the measures which, in his es-
timation, would give that spirit con.
crete expression in the shape of whole
some legislative acts and inyigorating
administrative policies.
The state is also to be sincerely con-
gatulated upon the prospect of clean
goyernorship campaign. Mr.. Fletcher
has stated that he would rather not Sc
cure the goyernorship than TO obtain it
through what has come to be known
as money campaign and he pledged
himself over his own signature to refrain
from Objectionable methods
Mr.. Del}oer in the course of his adj
dress to the voters gathered in The
Strong theatre on Thursday evening as
wen as in his initial announcement Of
hls candidacy before the people of Mont
ptlier took strong ground in opposition
TO the methods sometimes used to se-
cure governor nominations. He does not
even propose to have campaign man.
ager or TO conduct a campaign OF pub
licity through the newspapers, and he
gave his auditors TO plainly understand
that he rather enjoyed having them
carry out bis idea of the way governor
campaign should be conducted by pay
ing themselves for hall in which to
hear him speak
With these pledges to the people sin
cerely carried out by both of the an
nouneed candidates for the governorship,
a long step in advance will have been
taken in Vermont Our own people, as
well as those Of sister states, have come
TO heartily espouse the cause of mcom-
promising opposition TO the proligate
use OF money in connection with party
caucuses and political elections. That
spirit has been given expression in the
domain Of national legislation as well
as in various states.
We now have q federal statute di.
rected against corrupt practices in CON
nection with the selection of members
Of our two houses Of Congress. We have
gone even further than this in effect
and demand that an unreasonable
amount Of money shall not be spent by
a candidate for the United States Sem
ate or the House OF Representatives,
even though it may represent what, in
political parlance, have come to be re-
garded as Legitimate expenses"
The public sentiment back of these
measures made itself felt in the case
Of former Congressman SibIey Of Penn
sylvania, who simply chung to the old
order Of campaigning a little too long;
and it is now manifestng itself in con
ncction with the reelection of Senator
Stephenson Of Wisconsin who seems TO
have exceeded the financial speed limit
under new system Of direct political
primaries.
The case which will most eonspicu,.
ously appeal to people in this connec-
ton however, Is that involving the name
OF Senator Lorimer as well as the be-
smrching Of the great state Of Illinois,
which il still suspended over the head
OF national legislator like a sword Of
Demoeles.
These are Indications that the old
order Of things has largely passed away
so far as elections to either branch Of
Congress are concerned, and that not a
few things have become new, to even
the people themselves, who in far too
many cases had either come to despair
Of ever being able to abolish corrupt
practices in politics, starting from the
primary and ending with election by
the people or through the representa-
tiyes of the people in the legislature.
Under these circumstances, We say,
il Il fortunate for the cause Of clean
politics and good government in our state
that two candidates for the governor
ship have come out in an open and pro
nounced manner against the objection
able use of money in the effort to Sc
cure the nomination OF their party for
the office of governor Of Vermont.
II is highly important that we choose
a man of energy and Of thoroughly pro
gressive and up-to-date ideas to admins
inter- the affairs of our state during the
coming biennial term. We have slum
bered so long in some respects that we
need more than ordinary arousing to
start MS in the right paths Of action
and progress Especially do we need
an executive who win set a new pace
in the development Of our natural re
sources and the conservation of our sup
ply of white coal.
As great as are our needs in the d.
rections Indicated, however, it is Of far
greater moment that Vermont shall take
an advanced stand for the sterling prin
ciples that count for civic righteousness.
We need vigorous and uncompromising
leadership in this particular direction to
help us overcome the effects of the oe-
casional wholesale debauchery of politics
in Vermont as well as elections.
There is a pronounced sentiment in
Vermont against all that is unclean and
in political primaries and
elections but it needs standard bearer
about whom it can rally and organize
and march to a victory that will be far
reaching as well as enduring. We need
a governor who viii exemplify the prin-
eiple Of pure politics himself as well as
advocate it for his successors, in plat
form and statute
These things being so, we congratulate
the people OF Vermont that the cam
paign for the governorship has been in
augurated on so lofty plane II is
for us as. people to see to it with
constancy and determination that there