News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1914-05-06
VERMONT AND THE NATION
From the st. Johnsbury Caledonian

ton of influential men in national al
fairs. This has been accomplished by
the selection of men of ability and in
tegrity to represent the state in the
national capitol, giving them years of
continuous service there and their eX-
perience added to their natural quail
| fcations has won for them places of
responsibility and leadership. This is
so well known that it seems superhuous
to have repeated it. But Vermont is
soon to meet the question of represent
alton in the United States Senate and
one of the vital question in connection
with the choice is whether Vermont will
continue the policy that has brought
such satisfactory results or try new
methods with uncertain results. Yer
mont has in Washington today, two
men of unquestioned integrity and each
one of them has won for himself
position of great honor, established
national reputation and thus become
an influential leader, Charles A. Prouty
and William P. Dillingham;. A pro-
position before the voters of the state
is to retire one of these leaders and give
his place to the other. We wish to
briefly consider this proposal,
Charles A. Prouty.
Charles A. Prouty of Newport is a
man of whom Vermont is justly proud
Endowed with ability, integrity and
ambition, he won such high recogni-
ton at home that in December, 1896
he was appointed a member of the
interstate commerce commission and
has been identified with that body until
last summer when he resigned to be-
come chairman of the board to make a
physical valuation of the railroads of
this country. From the first he has
been a prominent member of this i'm
portant commission, and by close
study, correct judgment and a fear
less character has probably done more
than any other man in America in
outlining plan of regulation and re-
striction of public service corporations,
Certain it is there is no better author
ity on proper railroad regulation in the
country today and as chairman of the
board to make physical valuation
of railroads he occupies as important
a position as any American, barring
the president. No man in America
can be found to fill his place in this
work. Especial fitness has been ac-
CURED by the more than seventeen
years experience he has had in this
particular branch of work During
these years he was under salary of the
federal government and acquiring abiI- !
ty that made his service to the govern |
mcnt more and more valuable. He |
has voluntarily assumed a position |
where he can give the government the
benefit of his training something to |
which it seems entitled and the whole |
nation is confident he can serve the |
government to its great advantage and |
honor. He does not ask to be estOp-
ped from performing this service to the
government and the government does
lot desire that he be removed from this
icld of usefulness. His is one of the
are cases where ability is given pre-
,edence over politics and the govern
nent should be sustained in this act,
William P. Dillingham;.
The son of a former governor of the
tate, tried by actual experience in
public office, including a term as gov
rnor of his state, with ability well
PROVEN and integrity unquestioned,
William p. Dillingham; was elected
United States Senator on October Is,
900, after one of the historical polite
! battles of the state, over the late
Y. W. Grout and Charles A. Prouty
nd has served in that body ever since.
rom the first Senator Dillingham;
as been true to the ideals and tradi-
ions of Vermont and the senate. Prac-
ically unknown in the national sense
t the opening of his senatorial career,
e has steadily grown in influence and
ecognition until he has become not
My national but an international
on the subject of immigra-
on. Aside from this he has won na-
onal recognition as chairman of the
mate committee on privileges and
ections. In this position he has con-
ucted some of the most bitter con- N
,sts of history over the seats of Ger
hin members and has never been
largcd with dishonesty or unfairne>s
the trying positions he has been
Dliged to assume. 1t may be put
ven stronger there has never been
nv suspicion of his motives, despite
he warm hostility of the opposing
.ctions. He is also a member of the
dietary committee, the committee on
the navy department and ~
rritories besides Others of less inn
1rtance in a national way. He is