Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-03-12
]. w. GORDON'S CANDIDACY.
Statement 60 the Voters OF the Second
Conversational District.

Ex-senator John w. Gordon has issued
the following appeal to the voters OF the |
second congressional district:
The decination of the Honorable Frank |
Plumley to be a candidate for recollection |
to Congress casts upon the second con |
gressional district the duty of electing |
his successor. To succeed him is a high |
aspiration |
The legislative problems of to-day are
broad deep and fundamental. The very
work Of the founders of our government
is under review. The practices Of a CEN
tury are attacked. An announcement of
this kind permits only a brief reference
to ones attitude towards the problems
that demand attention ] hope that an
opportunity may be afforded me before
election to discuss some Of them in more
detail.
Speaking generally, there Is little need
of any radical revision of our funda-
mental law. That has been found so
elastic and responsive to the needs OF
the people that only seven amendments
have been made since the year that YER
mont became a State.
We should regard our constitution with
reverence because of the blessings that
not look upon II as too sacred to be
| changed when occasion requires. IL was
itself an innovation among existing sys-
TENS, and it's trainers anticipated that
changes might be needed and provided
for orderly and deliberate amendments.
The two recent amendments are illus
trative of what can be accomplished when
public opinion is so far unified to
| nf
| nents received the consent OF three
| fourths of all the States, and neither Is
| the work of a faction, class or party.
| Such are the amendments that the
founders contemplated should be made,
| and such are the changes that will be
| respected.
| Allow me to say that I gave my humble
support and advocacy to both of these
amendments believing that an income
tax law will more equitably distribute
the burdens of government and that the
direct election of senators will prevent
the legislative deadocks and corruption
that have existed in some States.
/ call attention to my attitude towards
these amendments as an illustration Of
my position respecting the questions of
Ihe day. While eschewing fadism,
gressive republican, and am confident
that my record. 50 far as ! have had an
opportunity to make one, will justify
the claim. | do not fear wise innovation
any more than the founders of our
government did, and l believe that in
the main the principles of our govern
ment do not need alteration, although
the ever changing and varying conditions
of our progress may require new applica-
lions or adaptations of those principles.
If elected to the Office of representative,
/ shall act on the belief that the Rerubl-
can party is still an organization. ready
; and capable of making new laws or
; changing old ones as occasion may re-
quire; that it is still vitalized by the
spirit Of &c and of 81; that its useful
ness was not ended when It purged the
constitution Of its slavery provisions but
, Is alive to the needs of the present as
when but yesterday it supported the
proposals now adopted, whose purpose is
to prevent corruption and equallze bur-
dens. The recent division of that party
has been a national misfortune. one re-
suit is that the caucus of the minority
controls nation founded upon the idea
that a majority should rule. What union
of discovered elements may take place
in the future cannot be predicted; but
those who have acted under the name of
, the new party. as well as those who have
acted under the old name, claim the
same heritage of principles and tradl-
ton. y common heritage implies a COM
munity of future interests
= Such being the case, | ask each voter
. to give my candidacy, as we'll as thai
Of others, the same careful considera-
/, tion that he would give to the important
. concerns that touch him intimately. Il
he does this, he will serve his State arc
country best, whether his vote IS for OF
against me.
In promoting my candidacy, ] shall
have neither the funds nor the DISPOSE
ton to promote it by the method of ex
tensive and paid advertisements, ex
toling my virtues, real or imaginary
-, The fat purse has fabricated too many
campaigns in Vermont The day ha
:, come when the individual voter, as l be
9 lieve, desires to cast his ballot solel,
- from consideration of the merits o
. candidates and the attitude that the.
:, take towards the questions of the day.
a | shall strive to avoid making mysel
- ridiculous in the eyes of the judicious b,
~ claiming myself or having others CLAIM
| that my virtues and qualifications euua
= | those of an ideal candidate | would Gu
! a sorry figure in the shoes of Abraham
G Lincoln or the cooked hat of Georg
a Washington. Born in Vermont reare
: upon one of her farms, educated in he
~ public schools and academies, a gradual
, | of the college of a neighboring State
Il acquainted with the surroundings of a
r. ordinary Nermonter, humble studen
# of the legal Legislative and economical
lr questions OF the times. l have endeavore
az to fit myself to perform the duties @
ar citizenship and to qualify myself for sue
4 service as may fall to my lot. That
p the sum and substance of my biography
II and as such a Nermonter | submit t
IN the voters of the second congressiona
H. district the question whether they wi
at choose me to represent them in Con
10 gress,
X JOHN ". GORDON
20 UPS AND DOWNS OF THE OYSTEI