The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-10-03
EIetcher,s Case Analxzed.

Undoubtedly this condition is some
thing of puzzle to Mr.. Fletcher, who
must begin to think that states, like
republics, are ungrateful. When gov
ernor Mr.. Fletcher with what to. a less
aggressive man would have been an
extremely distasteful task tried to
remedy what he deemed to be certain
abuses from which the people of Yer.
mont were suffering. In following out
his course he attacked many powerful
interests, many prominent public men
and one or more professions as a
whole. He made numerous enemies
The public, in whose behalf Fletcher
was waging this warfare, did not
respond. Either it did not realize the
enormity of the Ills from which it was
suffering or it viewed its volunteer de-
liverer with suspicion. Had it been
clear that Governor Fletcher had no
personal motives, no political ambi.
tions that he hoped to promote by cur
rying favor in this way, no scores that
he wished to settle while he had the
power, and that he was in fact sin
cere reformer, the public might have
assumed a different attitude.
Vermont welcomes, as it should,
men OF ability and uprightness OF pur-
pose who come here from other states
and cast their lot among us. Nor does
it hang out this warning to those with
political ambitions: -"All hope aban.
don. we who enter here" At the same
time 1t is true that more or less pref
udice does exist against men OF wealth
who come to Vermont late in life and
almost Immediately develop an insa-
table craving for public office. 1t
looks too much as though the coming
was for the purpose and that an effort
was being made to secure in small
state what would cost much more in
effort in a larger state. This CRATES.
1t has operated to thwart Mr.. Fetch
er's ambitions as it will anybody's who
ever undertakes it.
The possession of wealth reputed to
be very creator Vermont-combin-
ed with his late entry into public life
here. has tended also to raise a pref
udice against him. To his credit be Ut
said. however, that Mr.. Fletcher has
never employed his abundant means
unduly to achieve a desired end. The
temptation must be very great, when
man has wealth and ambition and
the knowledge that lavish outlay
will likely promote his prospects. to
wage that kind of a campaign. There
are always plenty to urge this course
upon him, for one purpose or another.
1t requires a man Of considerable
force to stand this invitation off. Some
will say that Mr.. Fletchers outlay Of
over $4,000 in his senatorial canvass
was excessive, yet Senator Pages was
practically the same, and so far as APP
pears neither has made corrupt use of
his funds. Given two rich men in the
field, no one can expect the outlay to
be limited to the cost of few postage
stamps
Mr.. Fletcher did not ask our advice
as to the wisdom of his entering the
senatorship this year-and we did not
volunteer it. A man of his sagacity
should have noted these things to his
prejudice, however,
L. His career as governor, what
ever its record of accomplishment,
sent him out of office extremely UNI
popular No proof of this should have
been required.
2. The time had been too short for
this feeling to die down. Public favor
frequently changes. but not quickly.
3. Mr.. Fletcher was challenging the
seat of a senator who. If not regarded
n strong man. was certainly not set
down as a failure. No public desire
was manifest to get rid of Page.
4. II is almost an unwritten law of
Vermont that senators shall be allow
ed to die in the harness.
5. Mr.. Fletcher was at the same
time challenging the custom that gives
each side of the state senator. His
election would have meant two on this
side and none on the other
These five reasons should have been
sufficient to deter Mr.. Fletcher If it
were merely a case Of scoring up
with contest for Senator Dilling
hams seat four years hence in mind,
it has served poor purpose in that di-
rection. Much better would 1t have
been to have kept in the background
allowed time to have worked the