The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-11
Rutland Herald Editor
Sizes Up the Influence
of Members
WINDHAM COUNTY
MAN PLACED FIRST
A. E. cudworth Strong aud Courteous
Webster of Swanton Vote Chang
er-Aiken of Putney. and Durham of
Brattleboro Included in List.

RUTLAND, April HIN its usually
understood sense, the legislature Of 1919
might be said to be lacking in strong
leadership, says the editor of the Herald.
He continued: No man, or in fact no
group OF men, exercised any very strong
or persistent direction of either house
or senate, but there We're several men
whose influence was respected and whose
eounsels were always listened to, even
though their fellow-members may have
failed in many instances to follow them
implicitly
], OF the strong men of the house, 1t
would be difficult to make up any list
Of leaders and not include addison f.
Cudworth of Londonderry. His strong
consistent courage when conviction was
involved and his careful courteous treat
ment Of public questions and fellow-mem
bers combined to leave a most agreeable
impression of Mr. Cudworth's personality
and increased the lasting respect which
his acts and public utterances inspired
p Fred L. Webster pf Swanton, Dem
oerat, came to the house with practically
the united vote of his town behind him
Webster was vote changer. Repeated
~, by clear and imposing array o
fact and argument, he was able to swim;
the house with him, not by oratorical eff
fort, but by sheer force of logic and rea
soning, fortified by a personality anC
manner that invited confidence
g. William f. Tracy of Johnson wa
perhaps as much feared by his opponent
Al,
though given to extravagant and rhetori
cal speaking, he created the impression
Of complete sincerity, and despite the COS
nomen OF the wild man of Lamoille,
which was pinned on him by Mr.. Aus
tin of Highgate, he carried great weigh
with his fellow-members and emerge
from the turmoil with great credit.
f. Ernest w. Dunklee of Vernon, a
though less than 30 years old, readil
qualified as an expert in agricultural ma
tiers, and, despite tendency to academi
debate, was listened to with, silent r,
spcct by men twice his age. He prol
ably spoke on the winning side of 6
many questions as any veteran of ii
house and created most agreeable in
preston by his youth, modesty and SCUM
Judgment.
o. waiter =. AUSTIN OF hedQlng. ldfn
er. is now a veteran of three house
1915, 1917 and 1919, and thoroughly just
fed the confidence of his constituents
returning him to the legislature. A
though Mr. Austin spoke in the hou
but seldom and then mostly. on matte
connected with education, few membe
exercised greater and better infuen
over his fellows and this, too, always
the line Of quiet, conservative progre'
6. Harry W, Writers of St, ,Johnsbur
another Democrat, and but recently
years of age was in sense the me
powerful speaker of the present houi
Suggesting in some Of his mannerisl
and ,trenehant sarcasms Judge Harlan
j Howe of the United States distr
court, Mr.. Writers also disclosed |
tent personality, absolute command
himself and bis subject and an Origin
courageous fashion OF debate that ma
him very dangerous antagonist.
niany occasions his councils pointed {
way to conservative, yet forward, leg
lative action.
Z. Willis c. Belknap OF Rockingha
we'll known as editor and publisher
the Bellows hialls Times, made a very
clded impression as legislator His sor
what dry and formal manner did not p
vent his occasional speeches from be
listened to with marked attention. a
Ills clear. concise and comprehens