Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-30

Mountain
political giants in these days This be unfortunate
it may pronove that genuine democracy from which
the nation whole seemed at one time to be rapidly drift
ing Great statesmen to be as scarce Eizabethan
poets and yet weshave men who undoubtedly would
have ranked high Fin what with increasing years as
people coming Americas heroic age for the
general average Is higher.
The spirit this period calls for public servants and
party dictaors and records preserved in print show
that great statesmen accustomed to regard con-
siderable latitude of domination their political right
Vermon present general lack of towering political giants
may, therefore, have many compensations.
We showed few days ago that the chief obstacles to
the of the effort to reorganze the Republican party
along lines thoroughly up-todate and in keeping with the
spirit of this time is the personal equation" Every
whom leader has that somebody should be hit and
hit hard On the other hand every reactonay leader has
presumed that whenever talked about eliminating
tonary influences it blow aimed at the party instead
Of at reaconary leadership and intended to strengthen the
party
AS regards the govenorshp precisely the opposite sit
uation presents itself The personal equation is lacking
Instead of calling particular for governor the
demanding the selection of candidate who will
stand for living principles involving the welfare of the
monwea)th and who will show his determination to fight to
the end need be- for the triumph of those principles and
policies regardless of predatory wealth special privilege
In this connection the Montpelier Journal says:
THAT the Burlington Free Press has struck the keynote
the situation in New York State is undenabe and there
can be question that the conditions apply with even
force to Vermont What this State needs is the
ination Of and, the Free Press suggests none
would be better than antireactonary republican,
who is fearless and who would into office with the deter
mnation of being the of Vermont and not the
governor of any clique or faction.
There be question that the majority of the cleo
torate in Vermont desires clean politics and good
ment and with this end in view would give its support to
candidate truly representing these principles without
gardng too closely his political affiliations IT, the Free
Press no party demonstrates it's ability to appreciate
the demands of Vermons voters then it will not be
prisng to witness in this State repetition of what hap
penng in New York. and it will be up to the of indie
pendent thought of progressive easand desire for clean
politics to select for their candidate vermonter who will
stand for these things and who be depended to
carry them out.
"Under existing circumstances it ought not to be diff
cult for the to find such man, and if they udg
ment in their selection they will be certainly contributing
to the welfare of the State whole for Clean honest
State the welfare of the community and
its Institutions"
Right here practical problem presents itself Not
qualified for the governorshp ready to enter
the at least not this year. Hon. Frederick G. Fleet
wood former secretary of State alone has indicated his will
ngnes to become if the people want him. More
he has formulated platform which is excellent far
it but not few people would have him little
farther before accepting him as their candidate.
The voters of Vermont coming to realize that under
the constitutional amendments the corporation legislation of
this State must be largely rewritten by the next Legsa
re unless by hook crook the Legislature gets
opportunity to do this work through extra session. More
public service corporations menaced both the courts and
in the legislature Vermons natural to be
conserved during the coming session will be eveast
ng late These and other great issues demand of
the strongest backbones Vermont had sitting erect in
the executive chair and it is to be borne in mind this
necton that of Vermont under the amended
constitution now has real veto power
The questions being asked in various directions
Will Mr. Fleetwood stand this test will State Highway
Commissioner c. w. Gates better meet this requirement?
Or will Leu-Gov Frank E. Howe who has shown marked
degree of aggressveness the upon whom the
people rely in this unusual emergency? Or would Max
L. Powell be the fighter needed Or P W. Clement shake
off his affiliations and apply his unquestoned talent to the
solutions Of these problems thoroughly loyal to the people
despite his personal interests in other directions?
In view of the way in which platform pledges
pudaed the last Legislature State declaration of prn-
cipes of any party will meet the situation this year
The to want to know where the candidate
governor as other candidates stand and
other questions and they not likely accept cand
date until he speaks out not in generaties but specifically
and to the point
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