St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-05-24
United States SenatorshIp.

Without attempting to declare our
selves for any man we will attempt to
make statement concerning the
United States senatorship in Yer
mont The term of Carroll s. Page
expires next March and his successor
will be elected at the biennial election
to be held in November. The nom
nations will be made at the primary
to be held in September. so the fight
will be really settled at that time.
Sen. Page would like a reelection
and cites the important committee
positions he has held or would be en-
titled to in case he is returned, claim
ing that his length of service will give
him better committee positions than
II is possible for a new man to obtain
Sen. Page also has many friends in
Vermont who would be glad to see
him returned. On the other hand
there are those who do not see that
Sen. Page in his eight years service
has won a very prominent position in
the senate. His voice has not been
heard, nor has he been quoted on any
of the great issues that have been
before the senate and the people back
home cannot feel that he is a big
force in our national law making
body.
Ex-Gov. Allen M. Fletcher has al
ready begun a campaign for the nom
nation as republican candidate for the
senatorship. although he has made no
public announcement to that effect.
But some of the newspapers he is
credited with controlling have said
things that politicians accept as feel
ers. The ambition of Mr.. Fletcher to
be United States senator from Yer
mont is reported to have originated
when he first won his riches as a cor
poration man in Indianapolis and
when Vermont elections were being
bought and sold by such men as Nc
Cullough, Webb and Mead. Thus far
we have not heard a man express
himself anxious to have Vermont SEN
atorships sold and believe that Mr..
Fletcher's support is not a popular
movement but a carefully sprouted
personal boom.
We have heard in several places
that Gov. Charles w. Gates desired
the election of United States senator
and also heard several say they would
like to see a man Of his stamp elected.
AS to Mr.. Gates desiring an election
we believe he does not, that he will
attend to his duties as governor until
the expiration of his term without at
tempting to promote his candidacy for
any further political honor. But if
there Is a popular demand that war
rants it, we have reason to believe
Mr.. Gates would carefully consider the
matter and allow the use of his name
as a candidate. There are some who
do not see in Mr.. Gates ability enough
to warrant the expectation that he
would win high recognition for Yer
mont in the senate. But he has this
record. He has never undertaken
anything he could not do in an hon
orable and creditable way and, should
he consent to become a candidate.
the people would understand that Mr..
Gates believes himself he could serve
Vermont well.
Thus far the contest promises to be
between these men, although some
other names have been mentioned. |
Now the question arises about what
kind Of a campaign would these men |
put up. 1t is believed Sen. Page |
would spend money if he has to. in
fact he has already started a letter |
campaign that costs money, although |
il is a perfectly legimate way to spend |
money. Mr.. Fletcher is reported to
have told some one This will be no
Sunday school picnic" which is in
terpreted as declaration that he has
money to spend for the qualification
of his personal desires. He and Page |
both have money they can spend if
they decide to do so. Mr.. Gates is
not a wealthy man and never has
spent money to promote his political
ambitions and il is not expected he
would spend money even IL he knew
IL would win such a high honor as
the senatorship for him. So it is pos
sible Vermont will have a campaign
OF monied men against a man who
will use no money. Two years ago
and again this year in the governor
ship fight Vermonters went strongly
for a no money candidate and they