The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-27
Time For United Activity.

The party nominations Tor state
tickets have been completed ana
the Vermont campaign is definitely
outlined before the voters. The main
fight will be, as usual, between the
Republican and Democratic parties
although there are prohibitionist and
socialist tickets. The Democrats and
Republicans are each planning for an
active campaign and the employment
of the most influential party orators
possible TO obtain and we no doubt
will see the voters aroused to an
unusual degree.
Before the storm breaks ii is well
to look at the situation with candor.
First as to the two tickets named by
the Democrats and Republicans. The
Democrats have named II. b. Howe
of St. Johnsbury for governor; II. G.
Comings of Richford, lieutenant gov
ernor; ]. C. Durick of Fair Haven,
secretary OF State; Martin A. Brown
of Wilmington, treasurer; Lewis w.
Johnson of Burlington, auditor; and
B. f. Bailey of Montpelier, attorney
general. While these nominees are
all good citizens and some OF them
very popular in their home commu-
mites we fail to recognize but two
who have had any experience In leg
islative or state affairs. III. b. Howe
has been member of the house OF
representatives for one term. He
succeeded in killing some bills that
came before that body. He introduc-
ed a large number himself, some of
them OF a radical nature but we are
unable to recall any important act
on our statute books that was placed
there through MIR. Howe's influence
although he was recognized as an in
fiuential member of that house. Mr..
Comings has served in the legislature
and was recognized as man of good
Judgment and a man of some inhu-
ence with his fellow lawmakers. But
there is no important act labeled as
Comings measure. None of the 9th
er nominees have been Identified
with any of the important legislation
of the past decade. SO while we ac-
knowledge the individual merit of the
different men we fail to see any guar
antv that their election would mean
safe and progressive legislation II
a man was to build a barn he would
not turn to men without experience
for his builders and the voters should
be as careful Ina the election OF state
officials as the building OF barns.
The Republicans have nominated
A. NJ. Fletcher of CaVendish Tor
governor: +. f.. Howe of Benning-
ton. lieutenant governor; G.. W. Bar
lev of Essex junction. secretary OF
state; f. IL. Deavitt of Montpelier,
treasurer: IL. F. Graham of Gratis.
bury. auditor: and r. b. Brown OF
Burlington, attorney general. Every
man on this ticket has been promin-
emily identified with legislation and
state affairs for the past decade. Mr..
I Fletcher has been in every Legislature
/ since 1900 and has been an influential
member thoroughly acquainted with
every important act placed on the
statute books during that time. No
man nominated for governor in the
/ last twenty years has had the thor
ough knowledge of state affairs that
| MIR. Fletcher has. Mr.. Howe has
/ served two terms as a member OF the
| House. the last as its speaker, and
has been prominent in his support OF
thoroughly progressive measures. Mr.
Bailey as secretary of state is in
charge Of the publicity work that
has been so successfully undertaken
and has introduced many improve
ments in the methods of conducting
the business in his Office. Mr.. Dea
Witt has had several years experience
in his office and knows the things
necessary for the safe and expedi
tious handling Of the states funds
AS for Mr.. Graham he is the man