St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-09-02


going into. the General Assembly.
which could provide for a special
congressional election just as easily
as it now proceeds to elect when the
general election shows no choice for
governor.
The same things applies to the 400
statutory provisions which depend on
sections of the constitution amend
ed by the people. These constitute
perhaps the most serious situation
named in the Governors review and
might demand special session at any
time to protect the states interest.
Taking the interview as a whole, it
would seem to The Herald that the
chief executive has cited a situation
which merely calls for "watchful
waiting" rather than an extraor-
The Real Issue in Vermont.
Believing that it's views in this re-
| spect coincide absolutely with the
views of the average citizen, The
Messenger makes bold to say that
the main question in this coming
campaign is the question of economy
and efficiency. We must remember
that we are a small state and that
we cannot undertake to do the
things that bigger, more populous
\ and richer commonWealthS have no
trouble in financing. Here is little
| Vermont, smaller than a good many
cities, yet in some measure we try
to do what is beyond us, and this
tendency is just what is making ex-
penses grow. There are a good many
things that could well be done by the
state if it had the money, and a good
many of these things lie within the
| definition of social service, but If we
/ haven't the money we will have to
do without. There is no question
but that every man in Vermont
would benefit nightly by taking a
trip around the world, and such a
trip would be worth what it would
cost, but how many of us can afford
to take it? That is the point that
the state must remember. There are
many things we might properly do
but which we can't afford just now.
We will have to do without the frills
of life.
And that is the issue. We must
stem the tide of ever increasing ex-
penses, and we must call such man
to the governors chair and send
such man to the legislature as will
dCI OH LuIS 00A OO
action. 1t is easy enough to talk
about it, but it will take some cour-
age to put the pruning knife here
and there and lop off the unnecessary
branches. Still, this is just what
must be done if we are to save our
selves from our extravaganza. We
must elect those men who will do
these things, who will see that eX-
penses are kept down instead of
choosing those who will come to us
later on and tell us that the increases
were inevitable. They aren't newt
able The individual can live within
his legitimate expenses, so can the
state If the people will keep this
one point in mind and insist that this
be the dominant issue, it will make
no difference whether the storm
breaks or not. Their attention will
be fastened on the real target and
their aim will not be shaken.-St.
Adams Messenger.
Office Seeks Charles w. Gates.
Three good citizens of the State
have announced themselves as will
ing to be the republican candidate
for governor this fall, and although
the caucuses to elect delegates to
the convention that will select
candidate are less than two weeks
away, no one of the three has as
yet created any enthusiasm among
the voters. Two, four and six years
ago the Times advocated getting out
of this rut of always selecting. the
candidate who put himself most
prominently forward, but the custom
prevailed with the result that each
succeeding election brought small
WIFI thO nQrfV
continue the practice this year, or
has it learned by experience that
there must be change in methods II
the party is to continue in power in
the State? ues
eff ever the party should make the
selection, it is this year. Ii repub-
licans who strayed away from the
party two and four years ago are to
be brought back to the fold, a candi-
date must be selected whose very
name will be an assurance that II ne
is elected the State will be guaran-
teed a wise, progressive and eco
nomical administration. He must be
a man whose personality will lend
great strength to the ticket.
''The party has such men, and the
Times has in mind one in particular
who by his able public services IN
the past eight years has won for him |
self a high place in the esteem of all
our citizens, and has shown ca
pacity for ever greater duties.
''This man is Charles w. Gates.
Although he refuses to become |
an active candidate for governor
while holding his present Office as
State highway commissioner, he will |
not refuse the nomination. The
Times has assurances to this effect.
''Why not, then, nominate him?"
Barre Times.
The Times has we'll expressed a
thought that has possessed the minds
of probably the majority of Vermont
not of voters of other
party Affiliations If the State con-
vention on September is composed
of uninstructed elegates-those not
secured by and pledged in advance
to the three active candidates for
the position. but free to act accord
ing to their own best Judgment
there is little doubt that the call for
Mr. Gates will be very strong lie