The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-10
JOHN W. eoRDoNs CANDIDACY
An Open Letter to the Voters of the
Second District

greSS casts upon the Second Congress
sional District the duty of electign
his successor. To succeed him is
high aspiration.
The legislative problems OF today
are broad, deep and fundamental.
The very work of the founders of our
government Is under review. The
practices of a century are attacked.
An announcement of this kind per-
mits only brief reference to ones
attitude towards the problems that
demand attention hope that an
opportunity may be afforded me be-
fore election to discuss some of them
in more detail.
Speaking generally, there is little
need of any radical revision of our
fundamental 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 Vermont became
state.
We should regard our constitution
with reverence because OF the bless
ings that have flowed from it, And
yet We should not look upon it as
too sacred to be changed when occas
ion requires. 1t was itself an limo
walton among existing systems, and
its trainers anticipated that changes
might be needed and provided for or.
derby and deliberate amendments.
The two recent amendments are
illustrative of what can be accom-
plished when public opinion is so far
unified as to warrant change. Both
of these amendments 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 con
templated should be made, and such
are the changes that will be respect
ed.
Allow me TO say that gave my
humble support and advocacy to
both of these amendments, believing
that an income tax law VIII more
equitably distribute the burdens OF
government and that the direct cleo
ton of senators Will prevent the leg
lslative deadlocks and corruption
that have existed In some states.
call attention 70 my attitude tow
ards these amendments as an illus
tration of my position respecting the
questions of the day. While eschew
ng fadism, | believe in progress.
claim to be a progressive republican
md am confident that my record. sc
far as have had an opportunity tc
make one, will justify the claim.
do not fear wise innovation any
more than the founders of our gov
eminent do not need alteration. al
hough the ever changing and vary
ing conditions Of our progress may
require new applications or adapta
tions of those principles.
If elected to the office OF represen
tative. | shall act on the behalf that
he Republican party is still an or
ganization, ready and capable OF
making new laws or changing ole
ones as occasion may require; that
1t is still vitalized by the spirit of '7t
and of '61; that its usefulness was
not ended when it purged the cons:i.
tuition of its slavery provisions, bu. Is
alive to the needs of the present as
when but yesterday 1t supported the
proposals now adopted, whose pur
pose is to prevent corruption and
equalize burdens. The recent div
sion Of that party has been a nat
lonal misfortune. One result is tina
the caucus of the minority controls
a nation founded upon the idea that
majority should rule. What union
Of discovered elements may take
place in the future cannot be predict.
ed; 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 tradition. A common
heritage implies a community of fu-
ture interests.
Such being the case, ask each vot
er to give my candidacy, as well as
that of others, the same careful con
sideration that he would give to the
important concerns that touch him in
timately. If he does this, he will
serve his state and country bes.,
whether his vote is for or against
me.
In promoting my candidacy. | shall
have neither the funds nor the dis
position TO promote it by the method
Of extensive and paid advertisements
extolling my virtues, real OF imagl-
nary The fat purse has fabricated
too many campaigns in Vermont.
The day has come when the indivi-
dual voter. as | believe. desires to
cast his ballot solely from consider
alton of the merits OF candidates and
the attitude that they take towards
the question OF the day.
] shall strive to avoid making my
self ridiculous in the eyes of the ju-
dicious by claiming myself or having
others claim that my virtues and
qualifications equal those of an ideal
candidate. would cut a sorry
figure in the shoes OF Abraham Lin
coin or the cooked hat OF George
Washington. Born in Vermont. rear
ed upon one of her farms. educated