The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-22
Mr.. Fletcher's Record.

MIR. Fetcher's Record.
After all has been said and done
the chief question before the voters
of Vermont at this time is, which of
the five candidates for governor can
and will do the most good for Yer
mont if elected to that office. These
candidates are, Allen NJ. Fletcher
of Cavendish, Republican; Harland
B. Howe of St. Johnsbury, Democrat;
Rev. Frazer Metzger of Randolph,
National Progressive; Fred w. Suitor
of Barre, Socialist, and Clement F.
Smith of Morrisville, Prohibitionist.
In the consideration of these can
didates seriously We may dimiss the
las two. Messrs. Sutton and Smith,
who represent only small groups OF
voters who are unquestionably ear
nest and sincere, but who can hope
ouly to poll a few votes in support OF
their peculiar theories which they
would make supreme over all other
issues in which the state is vitality
interested.
This leaves three candidates to con-
slider in relation to what they can do
for the state and what they are
likely to do If elected. 1t is a queG-
ton for the voter to consider with
all seriousness and with discrimina-
ton and intelligence, for upon their
action depends TO a considerable de-
gree the political and material adj
vance of the state during the next
two years.
Harland B. Howe represents the
old line Democracy of the state, the
party of the late Brad Smalley and
Hiram Atkins. and their successors,
John Senter. Thomas II. Brown,
James +. Burke, Emory S. Harris
and others. Under these leaders the
Vermont Democracy has been stand
ing pat ever since the Civil War.
During these many years the Demo
cratic party has not quite held its
own. It's total vote in 1910 when il
had an unusually strong and popular
candidate for governor, was over
three thousand less than it polled
thirty years earlier, in 1880.
If there are any real reasons for
turning TO the Democratic party this
year they are not apparent. 1t is the
same old party who have swallowed
the free trade vagary of the Demo
Gratis of the South and West this
year just the same as they swallow
ed the Bryan wildcat bank deposit
guarantee scheme in 1908 and the
free silver craze in 1896. They want
the distribution of national patron
age in case the Democrats carry the
country in November and for that
reason they have gone into partner
ship with the solid South and Tam.
many hail. who will be in control
of Democratic destinies in case the
Democratic national ticket is success
full. DO the plain people of Vermont
approve of that kind of a partner.
ship?
The other candidate who is trying
to wean the voters of Vermont from
their allegiance to the Republican
party is the Reverend Frazer Metz
ger a genial and likeable clergyman
VINO is temporarily abating his eff
forts in spreading the Gospel while
he seeks to divide the Republican
party of Vermont over a national is
sue which has no part or place in
our state campaign.
Whatever the merits or dement's
OF the national contest, ii must be
evident that Mr.. Metzger's canvass
will tend to distract attention from
the vital interests of our own state
which are important to every Yer
mont taxpayer and Vermont property
owner, and to putin their places a
controversy over national matters
with only one object in the Septem-
Der election-to seek to defeat the
Republican ticket.
Mr.. Metzger's activities up TO the
present campaign have been chiefly
confined to his church work. and II
appears that he has taken little part
in public affairs except to serve for
several years as vice president of
the antisaloon league. He has never
had any experience in the legislature
or even in town office. He cannot
therefore have any first hand knowl.
edge of the law-making system of
the state with which a governor
must be in touch in order to be OF
any real service.
On the other hand, there is no man
In vermont who has had a wider &C.
tive experience in the legislature
than Mr.. Fletcher. II is apparent
to every student Of Vermont affairs
that during the past ten years the
state has had an awakening along
the lines Of progress more marked
than at any previous period Of half
a century,
Much real advance has been made.
ana an examination OF the records !
shows that Nh Fletcher has talnr