The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-07-07
ALLEN N. FLETCHER
IS CANDIDATE
FOR SENATE
He Will Make Canvass on His Rec
ord as Governor
BELIEVES IN DOING THINGS
Intlmates That Senator Pages Record
Does Not Warrant Keeping Him
In the Senate.
BELIEVES IN DOING THINGS

In response TO an inquiry concerning
his attitude toward the United States
Senatorship, Hon. Allen NJ. Fletcher
made the following statement:
Public Office should be regarded not
largely as the means of gratifying a
legitimate ambition for political prefer
ment, but chiefly as aifording an oppor-
tunity to promote the common good.
Public officials should render sat
isfactory account of their stewardship
by giving genuine faithful service for
the people as a whole. not for the few.
Vermont is a small state, yet its
prestige in the nation has always been
great whenever it has insisted upon do
ing things. The strong and insstent
desire that our little Green Mountain
state shall do things is stirring the
commonwealth today. The election of
a United States Senator from Vermont
approaches and under unusual condi-
tiong.
1T is a fact which can not be sue
cessfully denied that many citizens
and newspapers are expressing de-
sire for change, though they may not
have hastened to accept an invitation
to declare what man they would favor
for election TO the office.
81 have decided to be a candidate for
the Office of Senator from Vermont in
the Senate OF the United States and to
ask the support of the citizens of the
state in the September primaries for
nomination as the republican candidate
| for the Office.
Il am the more ready to take this
step because 1t will enable me to en-
phasize various issues and public poll
| cies for which have always stood and
still stand. | am influenced in reach
| ing this decision by my belief that such
| decision will not meet the approval OF
paid lobbists, big interests or such
newspapers as may sustain them. These
elements have persistently conducted a
campaign of misrepresentation against
| the constructive legislation enacted by
the General Assembly of 1912, and my
| administration as Governor, and foI
reasons which appeal to them. stand to-
day energetically and vociferously de
manding the reelection of the junior
| senator.
| "ln the present serious crises in ouI
foreign relations especially with MeXi
co, men are demanding deeds and not
words merely The best way to secure
peace is to be prepared for war. II
was in aid of such preparedness that
during my administration as Governor
n measure was enacted, though moi
without opposition, providing armories
for the National Guard | still stanC
for preparedness in military affairs, II
the moblizing of industries. and fol
progressive and constructive legisla
tiOn generally.
ITO secure the highest possible pros
perity We must have productive soil
the best soil culture, thriving industries
adequate means OF transportation b!
rail and water at home, and larg,
q merchant marine fully protected by
strong navy to push our products on
OF our ports and into the markets o
the world These involve great legis
lative problems in addition to those o
internal Improvements, real conserve
tion of our national resources, educa
tional progress and other yisorou
policies.
ut Is more important that Vernon
be kept at the very front in nationa
councils and that wise and beneficen
measures be pushed to a successfr
issue than that any particular man b