The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-04
POLITICS IN VERMONT
Rutland Herald Finds Fletcher Is in
the Lead Now

eltner as IL relates 10 ndiiOhdi VI "
state politics. This is the fact that
most persistently forced itself upon
the attention of a member of The
Heralds staff during a tour of the
state made for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the trend of popular senti-
ment, especially in connection with
the approaching nomination OF state
officers. The aspirants for the Off
ces are more or less busy, as a mat
ter of course, and in some cases
their activity has been of long dura-
ton. The people of Vermont, how
ever. are not talking politics to any
great extent; and the question that
seems to arouse the least interest is,
who is to be the next governor
The quite concerning the guber-
Material question might be ascribed
to apathy. Undoubtedly there is
much listlessness, and in some locali-
ties this is attributed to the entire abb
sence from the campaign of that ele-
ment proverbially asserted to be
what makes the mare go" There
are people here and there who think
that the political mare would be
prancing if there were some OF that
element in sight. That it is likely
to get afoat at any stage Of the game
is improbable in the extreme, for one
of the two linen in the race for the
governorshib has been heard to de-
clare that, much as he desires to he
governor of Vermont, he would not
esteem the office worth having at all
if it could be had only by purchase
His rival has been, since the moment
of his projection into the campaign
posed upon a pedestal of which the
foundation stone is the axiom to the
effect that the Office should seek the
man rather than that the man
should seek the Office. Very evil
IDENTIFY, therefore, with only these
two men in the field, the choice be-
tween them will be determined by
popular estimate of their relative fit
ness for Office uninhuenced by any
thing that might be regarded as cor
rupted considerations
While there may be, and undoubt-
edly is, an unusual amount OF apathy
concerning the goyernorship this
does not apepar to be the prevailing
reason for the almost entire lack of
discussion of 1t among the people at
large. The more apparent reason is
that the matter is regarded as a
foregone conclusion When The
Herald man started upon his tour
NTH gnpGdnut e.-roofatfCv,
that some live wire politics Of the
/ De Boer brand would be encounter
ed The result was a complete sur
/ prise. 1t is not that Mr. De Boer
+ is without honest and loyal support
but his attitude concerning the no
mination has become recognized as
so impossible that even citizens OF
his own county who, both because OF
personal regard and OF local pride
had hoped to see him In the execu
tive chair are suffering from a pro
nounced attack of cold feet. "Mr. De
Boer has muzzled US, one of the
prominent men Of Washington coun
ty remarked to The Herald repre-
sentative, "and the people are moi
going to beg Of him to accept an hon
or that he has not been willing tC
ask for"
That nobody is talking politics,
was asserted in various ways by re
representatives. Of all classes OF citiz
ems met in every part of the state
Usually the conversation led up TO Z
I declaration of the belief that "Flet
cher has got away with the goods
already, and there is nothing more {,
be done than to nominate him" TIL,
most unprecedented observer would b.
driven to such conclusion by
study Of the situation in its existinl
aspect There are people versed n
politics who rather sphinx-like, sug
gest that something unexpected ma,
happen. In the last analysis thi
means that certain influences tina
can be brought into activity by tn
use OF money and that are quies
cent because there is no mRzuma II
sight, may be found in the game be
fore the cards are all dealt. /
would seem to be rather late in tn
day for an attempt to play a hand O
that sort, especially in view of pre-
sent conditions. II might have
show to win II Mr. Fletcher had, q
the present time. n close competitor
which he has not There Is NOR
than this one possible feature Of IN
campaign that might have been lool
ed for had Mr.. De Beers candidac
aroused the enthusiasm which II
promoters looked for Il is tolerabl
certain that. with such a conditio
existing, Lieut. Gov. Slack would b
in the field, backed by Caledoni
county and with warm supporters 3
other parts Of the state. II Is equa
~ certain that Mr. Slack Is not eve
a receptive candidate. and this
evidenced In the fact that men
his own county who had hoped to Sc
him In the race are outspoken SUI
porters OF Mr. Fletcher.
That Mr. Fletcher leads in the rae
with no second runner in sight.
to be accounted for by the lare
degree OF personal popularity whic
he enjoys throughout the stat,
coupled with general recognition
his equipment for the occupancy ,
public station. These two factor
are due, each to the other Mr.. File
cher has been n member OF the lei
islature, in one or the other of II
branches, for n number Of consecl
tive terms. He has a faculty for a
quiring friendships. and as resu
OF this, added to the confidence whic
he has been able 10 inspire In n