The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-24
THE OPINION ESSENTIAL NOW

The Burlington News has cleared
for action, it's guns are manned, its
captain cries, damn the torpedoes,
full steam ahead" and it let's drive
from its biggest gun a record proJec-
tile ain,d at the helmsmen Of the
Ship of State. Figurativc? Yes, bu.
The News has boldly and openly ques-
toned the veracity of statement
which il attributes to Governor Flct-
cher.
The Burlington contemporary de-
velops its attack by saying Governor
Fletcher said to Daily News reporter
yesterday that in his appointment OF
supreme court justices for term Of
two years he acted on "A unanimous
opinion of the supreme court
"rhe governor Of Vermont is au-
thorized by law to procure, on occa-
sion. an opinion of the supreme court,
and it is expressly provided that such
opinion must be returned in writing.
The written opinion is the only opinion
recognized by law.
Governor Fletcher did not ask the
supreme court for an opinion on his
right to appoint members thereof for
term Of two years, nor did he ever
receive such an opinion from the
court"
This last paragraph represents the
big shell aimed at His Excellency.
Did it hit? The News says the gov
ernor says he got unanimous opin-
ion from the supreme court. Then it
proceeds fatty to contradict the state
ment it credits to the governor. This
Is joining an issue If ever there was
one joined.
But stay. Did the governor really
tell The News what The News says
he did? The governor referred in his
announcement Of appointments to adj
vice which he said he received from
the supreme court. 1t Is a question Of
veracity Of either The News or the
governor. One or the other is making
false statement. Roth cant be
right; both can't be wrong.
Which is right? The question can
be easily answered. The News can
proceed to furnish proof. The COVER
nor can say that he never made such
/ statement to The News, and then the
contemporary can proceed to justify
itself if possible. Or the governor can
produce the opinion signed by all the
judges Of the supreme court.
1 This last would be the easier and
more conclusive. If the governor Sc
cured an opinion such as the law con
templates, and which one would think
he had from his announcement, he
must have had ii in writing. 1t is
easy to produce written instrument.
It's production would settle this par
ticular question.
And it is high time 1t were settled.
Vermonters don't relish having the
word Of their governor thus openly
questioned. 1t is too radical a depar-
ture from the high plane on which
Vermont affairs have been conducted.
Yet, If The News is correct, no cen
sure can attach to it, but rather IT
should be commended. IF it is wrong
and has deliberately placed the gov
ernor in false position, it may be
left to the Spartan care Of its con-
temporaries for is proper punishment.
But what If The News is right 1t
| is too early to condemn. The News
is entitled TO hearing. So is Gov
ernor Fletcher. The opinion il the
thing. The court Of public opinion IL
| in session. Evidence is in order and
the first witness TO take the stand
should be Allen M. Fletcher.-St. Al
bans Messenger.
Itching, torturing skin eruptions