The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-31
LEND SUPPORT
TO J. w. GORDON
Continued from first page.l


in and hard cider once played a con-
spicuons part in making a president. A
joint debate upon subject of nation
wide interest made another president.
A speech with striking metaphor re-
yealed to great party a thrice chosen
candidate. A style of public utterance
typifed by pitch fork has given celeb
rity to the name of senator. The echo
Of Dewey's guns has been heard in every
presidential year since his victory in
Manila bay. The constant iteration by
a single journal of the name and abil-
tiles of Woodrow Wilson made him the
occupant of the White House to-day.
Instances might be multiplied of ac-
cidents or circumstances that have con-
centrated public opinion upon a candi-
date. But neither chance nor accident
are available in all instances. No mat
ter what mans abilities and qualifica-
tions are, campaign of some sort, eth
er by the individual himself or by his
friends seems to be regarded as neces-
sary.
eve love to repeat the old saying
that the office should seek the man,
but the office is mere position and
has no power of choosing among the
aspirants. 1t can never seek anything.
The common practice followed in all
times is that candidate should, at
least, express a willingness to serve in
any given position and circumstances
have determined how far he should make
a personal effort to secure it and how
far he should leave the burdens of a
campaign to others.
But certain methods and influences
have come under public condemnation.
The convention with large percentage
of paid attendants is discredited The
10000 majority in favor of direct pri-
mary is the verdict of the Vermont cleo
torate against that institution. In view
of such a decided expression of the peo-
pie | trust that Governor Fletcher, who
primary law, will call the legislature
together at an early date so that it
can enact such law for use at the fall
elections. Without such law the ex-
pressed will of the people will be thwart
ed the Objectionable method of NOM
mating by caucus and convention will
still have to be followed. But aside
from the question of the primary law
the legislature ought Immediately to
adapt the statutes to our amended con-
stitution. Our present statutes specify
several things to be done in way and
at times that cannot be done as pre-
seribed because of the change of the
date for holding the general election.
There would be doubt and hesitation, if
not positive error, in proceeding under
our present laws. But whatever may
be the laws under which we shall pro-
ceed | shall appreciate any legitimate
assistance that the citizens of Barre or
elsewhere may give to my candidacy.
''0ther things being equal, Barre above
any other political division in the state
is entitled to recognition. Although she
has always been an important town,
and during the last two and half
decades the largest municipality in the
second congressional district, none of
her citizens with one possible exception
of which there is doubt have ever been
elected to federal or general state Of
fee. Yet she has given the state a pc
culiar distinction. She is the largest
monumental center in the world. Her
granite adorns almost every spot from
the humblest graveyard to the mightiest
battlefield that memory or history has
set aside to preserve the names and
deeds of the past. Her industries have
created thrifty and progressive COM
munity of which the whole state is just
ly proud. After more than a century
of existence. the strongest reasons
should exist before such live eommu-
nifty as ours should longer be denied
recognition except in graveyard or