St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-01-07

II is true I0aJ the FrOSEeSS1N0S al 2
nor urging anyone, the fact tnat the
Progressive papers are talking fleet
wood is a good indication that ne
would be acceptable to the new party.
And this same Fleetwood developed
no little strength in the Republican
ranks when he was conteStlng with
Doctor Mead for the nomination in
1910. Then there is C. w Gates.
There is a surface Indication that he
would be acceptable 10 the Progress
sives for he entertains views that
commend him to forward-looking
men. while at the same time he does
not enlist under the banner OF the
extremists. Mr.. Gates undoubtedly
would be a strong candidate with
both the new and the old; he might
well be the man on which to unite.
AS for Guy w Bailey there is no dis
putting his popularity nor is it doubt
ed that he would develop strength on
all sides. 1t is said of Mr.. Bailey,
however, that he prefers to continue
the good work he has undertaken as
secretary of state, but he has the free
dom of every man who has not de-
clared himself, and he might enter the
race at any. time Lieutenant-GOver-
nor Howe perhaps would have some
trouble in making the Progressives in
his own county think that he was
the right man on which to base a
union; in other words he might not
be so acceptable to the new party
as he would have been some months
ago before he became Lieutenant
governor. AS for Mr.. Howe, of st.
Johnsbury, his announcing himself
as a candidate again for the Demo
CHI 110
mountain rule does not appeal tc
him as affecting candidates. If the
Democrats were to come back to
the west side it would not be
unnatural if they should come
to ST. Adams and determine on
Charles D. Watson, whose popularity
has not been lessened by the treat
ment he received at the hands Of Gov
error Fletcher. But it is all a matter
of conjecture. There is one thing
that ought to be borne in mind in this
connection, however, and that is that
there are men on whom tho ReDubli-
cans and Progressives can unite; men
worthy of holding high ofice.-St.
Adams Messenger.
Yielding to the Spoilsmen
Not even the warmest friends of
the Wilson administration try to de-
fend it's attitude towards the merit
system and the civil service Law. The
Iooting of the diplomatic service is
a shameful chapter in the record of
President who before and after his
election had professed devotion to the
OF civil service reform. The
to shift the blame for the
recall of trained men who had won
their way to important positions in
the foreign field, and for filling their
places with inexperienced men, has
failed end it was bound to fail. The
secretary of state, who cares nothing
for the merit system, has been busy
taking care of his political friends at
the expense of the government, but
the looting of the diplomatic service
could not have been accomplished
without the consent of the President.
The civil service law has been at
tackled, and it is pointed out by one
of the administration strongest
newspaper supporters that sit is a
rare piece Of important legislation
that nowadays leaves Congress with
out some rider directed against" this
and that 1.-The income tax
clauses of the tariff law, the urgent
all contain concessions to the spoils-
man." A post-office appropriation
bill now in committee carries a rider
providing for taking out of the class
flied service assistant postmasters of
the first and second class. That these
officials should be left in the compe
titive service, where they were placed
by President Taft in 1910, goes with
out saying, and it hoped that in case
Congress passes the bill in it's present
form Mr.: Wilson will use his power
to defeat the purpose of the Office
unters-Rutland Herald.
Vermont Farmers Cooperating
Bennington county farmers have
set the pace for their brethren
the State by undertaking CO.
operative work in businesslike way.
A year ago they organized a county
league for the cooperative purchasing
of some of the larger farm necessities
such as fertilizer, grain and seed, and
the cooperative selling of those pro-
ducts which are raised in quantities
on Bennington county farms.
While still in the formative stage
the, League has done much IN the
way of cooperative purchasing 1t
received orders for about fifty tons
anG was able to save farmers $500
per ton over agents prices and $500
over retail prices. Altogether $4,000
worth of fertilizer was purchased. A
corresponding saving was made in
seeding purchasing, and very salts
factory seed was procured to the ex-
tent of about S 500 worth.
The organization of the County
League is yet incomplete. In order
that the buying and selling of farm
ers may be done effectively It is nee
essary that local organizations be
formed, to be known as Farmers As
ISOLATION" Already in Dorset and
Bennington such associations have
been formed, and soon other towns
will follow These associations. have