The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-06
rhe Journals Position Again Defined

The Journals Position Again Defined
Some of our esteemed contempor-
aries, and the friends of Editor Howe.
profess mild surprise that the Jour
nal should oppose his candidacy for
tenantgovernorship and they even
go to the extent of questioning our
motive in so doing. The Journal begs
to assure them once and for all time
that there is positively no personal
animus in this opposition. We be-
lieve we are performing public ser
vice in calling the attention Of the
voters of Vermont to this matter. If
Mr.. Howe were candidate for To-
cal Office, or if he were seeking
nomination at the hands Of the Soc
ialist party, the Journal would ne
content to remain silent and mac
tive From time to time he has es-
poused the principles of this latter
party and we should think his course
consistent, but when he comes for
ward as candidate for the second
highest Office in the state and seeks
a nomination at the hands of the Re-
7 puDllSdh pol W VIC IAoPOoS " VAL
else our right Of freeman Of this
commonwealth and have something
! to say upon the subject.
The Journal is opposed to Editor
Howe's candidacy because, o. for
a number Of years past he has advo-
Gated revolutionary doctrines In his
newspaper, the Banner; (2) he mas
never been either a consistent Repub-
lican or a consistent Democrat, but
has commended theories of govern
ment more in conformity with the
platform of the Socialist party; 90
he has often endorsed one doctrine
today and repudiated the same to-
! morrow; "a he has proclaimed his
opposition to our written form Of
constitutional government; 60 he be-
lieves in the initiative, the reteTen-
dun and recall-with, Of course, his
own ideas as to their limitations; 80
he has constantly attacked the Re-
publican party. its LEADERS aud plat
forms, both in the state and the ma
ton, ana has not supported that par
ty in his paper; CD and, finally ow
ing 70 his many changing views and
ideas, the Journal does not believe
that he is an able, safe and firm coun
sellor. nor properly qualified to III
the high Office OF governor
At this time it already appears
clear that the issues of the approach
ing campaign are narrowing and vii
finally result in this interrogatoiy be
ing pressed upon every man who as
pires to Office: DO yen believe in
and are you ready 10 defend. the con
Institutional government of this state
and nation as established by oul
fathers?' The mighty struggle o
the Republican party to mainta.I
these principles is now on In earnes
and the party demands OF ali its 10y
al followers This year that they rail-
to It's standard and stand up and b.
counted for this cause; that all thos,
in sympathy with the so-called insur
gents of both parties who are preach
ing a revolutionary gospel which
would ultimately destroy representa-
tive government in this country shall
Immediately announce their position
in order that they may be known
Hence our questions to Editor Howe
The Journal has no desire ito pu
him in hole" unless he belongs II
one, but owing to the many and vary
ing attitudes he has assumed il
the past upon public questions, w
desire that he should make his pres
ent position clear 20 the voters O
the state. We have shown in thes
columns that Editor Howe absolut,
~ denies and repudiates many stat,
ments he has made in the past, an
his answers to our questions hay
only served to confuse the mind {
any intelligent reader who is fami
lar with his former expressions. Bl
: through 1t all the Journal can detet
only one thing, namely: that he sti
adheres firmly to his belief in rev
lutionary, populistic, or socialist
= theories OF government.
3" Now, the question Is, do the vote
10 Of Vermont want such a man for lie
tenant governor? And also. DO,
The Republican party Of Vermont d
sire to put forward such man as (
candidate for that high oflce?-Ma
Ill