St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-05-27

John w. Gordon Explains His Atti-
tude in Congressional Contest

John w. Gordon Explains His Atti-
tude in Congressional Contest
EDITOR OF THE CALIFORNIAN:
In the St. Johnsbury Caledonian of
May Goth occurs the following editorial
paragraph
AFTER a lengthy discussion IN a public
speech at Barre, John w. Gordon, candi-
date for congress IN the second congress
sional district says: I can see no press
ing need of further introduction Of the
initiative and referendum into Vermont.
but if such an introduction would heal
our differences would welcome it. We
fear some of his rivals for this position
will interpret his remark somewhat like
this: ! don't really believe in the initia-
tive and referendum but if it will bring
me votes, | am for it. That may be
politics but craftsmanship is made OF
sterner stuff"
1 sent you copy of the address refer
red to trusting that you might publish
it, or parts of it, in your valuable and
influential paper. l am not entirely dis
appointed since you were generous
enough to publish one short sentence
and kind enough to add suggestion for
the benefit of other candidates. This
suggestion is interesting and friendly.
To prove that this is so, l should be glad
to send copy of the whole address to
any of your readers who will send me
their address. My desire is that the vot-
ers IN the district should know my views
upon the questions of the day so far as
am able to get these views before them,
but l am hampered in this undertaking
from lack of funds to pay for space in
such an excellent journal as you publish.
You appear to take the view that your
readers would not care to know what
my views as a candidate are except to
the extent of one sentence and your
gracious comments. My idea is that
voters ought to have the views of candi-
dates given them and that the press
ought to aid IN this work, so that voters
may reject candidate whose views are
wrong and support one whose views are
right.
Be that as it may, it is well known
that two years ago a large number of
very respectable voters within the range
of your circulation and influence voted
for the first time against the Republican
Party. I am not blaming you for this
nor would l intimate that the detection
grew in proportion to your activity
against it but have thought that these
voters were just as honest and conscien-
tious as those of us who stayed with the
party 1t was out of respect for their
opinions that l attempted to explain the
initiative and referendum and point out
that the referendum, at least, had been
used to a considerable extent in this
State almost from its foundation and to
suggest that there might be some under
standing respecting them in the interests
of party harmony. My idea was that
these dissentient voters would not re-
turn to the party In sack cloth and ashes;
hat +haxy could Ia OAa~oa1 Nv
mand for an unconditional surrender
The fortunes of war have not been so
entirely one way as to warrant either
side in making such a demand To
make the voluntary practice of this
State compulsory, or even to do some
thing more. would in my judgment do no
harm, and, If by doing so, we could Sc
cure the triumph of the really essential
and fundamental principles of the Re
publican Party we would do much good
a. If that be treason, make the most of it. !"
/ might cite many instances from the
lives of the most distinguished American
statesmen in support Of nv position of
That of Abraham Lincoln !
would furnish many. Franklin, in ac-
cepting the compromise on representa-
ton in the constitutional convention |
stated the case in his homely way. |
yes, he Sdlui WHICH a JOINER wants TO
fit two boards, he sometimes pares a bit
from both" You may be able to fit the
boards in your structure of Stand-patism |
pairing bit from any, but you |
have not met with much success yet.
If the information would interest you,
l might add that the views contained in |
the address were expressed by me upon
the stump two years ago, and even earl
Ter before the differences of the Republi-
can Party had become disaster and be-
fore / was a candidate for Congress-
Certainly these ideas are not fresh mol
asses with which to catch flies. You
may find a candidate who is well stuffed
with the "sterner stuff " commonly r
known as stand-patism but 1 confess
that l never was filled with the stand
patism that opposed the direct election
of United States senator's, the income /
tax, the primary law and compensation
to workmen for injuries in industrial ac-
,idents.
Trusting you will insert this letter in
the next issue of the ST. Johnsbury Gale
DOMAIN, / am
Very respectfully yours,
JOHN W. GORDON.