The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-06
The Game Political.

tRanuOIpn Herald ana News
The candidates for the Republican
gubernatorial nomination, some of whom |
had been hiding in the bushes while dis !
robing for the cold plunge, followed each |
other like boys at the swimming pool. !
after the first had taken the dive. The
water looked pretty cold for while and
there was a big Stone at the bottom that
thew aimed to avoid, but after this had
been pried out the pool looked more in
viting. There is little prospect, however,
that once in they will holler back TO
those still ashore, Come in, kids, the
waters fine" Everything indicates that
there is rather cramped swimming room
already and more would make it crowded.
Some of those in will soon have to
dog paw" or float" in order to keep
their heads above water, due to lack of
elbow room and to the rather long and
tiresome stunt ahead.
Changing the metaphor, Messrs. Hart
ness, Babbitt and Emery, naming them,
as show programs do, Fin the order of
their appearance have started bout
for points 1t is a strictly amateur per
, Torrance, with title but no purse at
stake. The trouble with these contests
is that. beginning with smile and hand
shake, with profuse acknowledgements of
each Others merits and virtues and regis
tering solemn vows to spar fair, the an
tagonists warming up and egged on by
their rooters soon forget their assur-
ances. Starting with nice little love taps
one of them. by mistake, perhaps, but the
other thinks by design places a blow a
little harder than the recipient expected
The crowd jeers. No. , then responds
with a real wallop and the fun is on
Soon they are at it hammer and tongs. 1t
is fortunate outcome indeed if before
the affray is over, the boxers don't throw
away their gloves, go to it with bare
fists. hit below the belt, gouge each
others eyes and Jump on each other,
stomachs. Unfortunately, in the political
squared circle there is no referee to pul
them apart or award the decision on {
foul. Everything passes that the Grove
will stand for-and it is used to every
thing short of mayhem and murder.
The public, in this latest go" 70
which the gong has Just been rung, vii
| hope for the best but be prepared 70
the worst 1t WILL if previous cam
: paigns are any criterion, soon learn tina
three of the most respected citizens o
the state who have been honored by tn
: people. whom their wives trust and t
whom their neighbors loan garden tool,
are in fact the biggest rasca4s outside o
2 jail. Their ancestry will be scanne
closer than it ever was for genealogi
I cal tree to discover which particula
grand uncle was caught stealing shee
1 and which distant cousin bore scandal
e Gus reputation. All the things thes
I three men have ever said or done Z
G written or thought will be thrown o
the screen for the ediication (?l Of I'll
I people, who will decide, as usual. not o
e which is the stronger but which has mad
: the fewer blunders and which woul
: probably do the least harm if he were I
! win out
/ Retainers and henchmen and new,
! papers viii soon be blowing up their pal
= ticular man and blowing down the oil
;. ers. A candidate for public office now;
! days not only needs a .rhinoceros hid
o jacket" like the one Allen NJ Flctcht
: boosted of wearing, but boiler plate Al
NOR with asbestos lining, impervious eve
= to liquid flame. The game political HI
Il everything else stopped a mile for inte
e est and excitement and results. but it
lie rough and tumble, brass knuckle, blacl
> Jack affair in which mem of thin skin
$ thin purses and weak muscles have iui
t. about as much chance as Charley Chapl
o would have in a ring with Jack Dempse