The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-07-09
turned Saturday but Mrs. Wright and
daughter will remain short time
1920 Campaign History.
(E. P. H., in Bennington Banner

tour ambitious sons OF Vermont an
nounced that it was their intention to
run for the office of governor. All four
were loyal citizens of the Green noun
tain state, but their opinions as to the
best way in which to benefit the state
were conflicting and widely varied
In the year of 1920, the Shepard pro-
hibtion amendment had just been made
IA part of the federal constitution and
the Nolstead enforcement act had re-
lcently been declared. constitutional by the
lsupreme court of the United States. One
of the candidates, well-known manufac-
| turer from Ludlow, disregarding the fact
that state governor had no chance to
in any way effect the repeal of these
measures and being mmoved by the
| findings of any such tribunal as the
| United States supreme court, decided to
wage his fight on a liquor platform which
consisted mostly of one plank which
smelled strongly of alcohol and a few
shingles that in a vague way mentioned
state rights and the freedom of the peo-
pie.
The gentleman from Ludlow fooled
some of the people part of the time
and few of the people all of the time,
but soon after the campaign started and
for the most part realized that this can
didate stood for something which was
impossible of achievement. The blare of
trumpets and busy campaign failed to
arouse the looked for enthusiasm and
soon the one -plank, candidate ceased to
be factor in the race.
There was second candidate who
hailed from Springfield, fine man and
a patriotic citizen. He was also an |
author and he liked to write. He wrote |
a platform so long that it was put out |
in pamphlet of As pages with a promise
OF more to come. 1t was a wonderful |
documet filled with the dreams of life
time. 1t told about war veterans, social
unrest, democracy, the American spirit.
the age OF machinery, and divers other
Things. Its style was like that of Wood.
row Wilson, who was then President of
The United States, but it revealed the
author and alarmed the people who were
men facing paper shortage. This plat
form was followed up with much written
propaganda and propaganda was not pop
liar In 1920. The people also learned
nat this man from Springfield was an
nFeRtor and suspected that he was not '
PRACTICAL. They likewise heard that he
lad seldom attended a town meeting and
nat he mad not always sent his children
o the pubic schools, so concluded that
e ohd not know all about the state of !
.ermont. And then they ceased to Sc (
lously consider him for the governorship. t
There was another candidate, a son of {
'ewport, good Vermonter also. who r
al Tor many years been public official /
nd who had picked luscious plums in the 9
fficial fruit orchard. He wanted to be
oFernor. He went into the race early
nd waged a silent campaign. opening
oors softly and leaving words of wisdom
the ears of all who would listen. He
as here, there, and everywhere, and ,
IS rubber heels did not give warning of
Is approach. But he did not get into
'rsonal touch with the voters and the v
lestion, ''Who is this man?" was not '
ways satisfactorily answered. There q
re, although he ran a good race. he -
und that the gubernatoriaI fruit grew
70 far up in the tree for him to pluck. 8
he fourth and last candidate was a =
iierent Kind of man. His home was q
Bellows Falls, where he had success b
lily built up a business which was one q
the finest in the state of Vermont. "a
MS candidate went straight to the peo- Do
with his story. He did not make 81
que promises, but constructed a plat x
rm OF ten planks. He promised the b
ople of Vermont something he could 81
complish as governor, namely, that he ~
Duld put into the business of the state p
e same brand of aggresiveness and zeal III
at had made his own business a sue ~
s.. He visited all the counties in the q
ate where his personality and straight III
rward talk built him up a host of 81
lends and admirers such as no otherI %
ndidate could boast. Soon after the H
mpaign began, the voters were looking s.
r seats on the Bellows Falls band e
lgOn. H
And what did the voters do? ThevI 81
joyed the hectic campaign which waxed ~
more strenuous as the weeks q
mt on before the 18th of September. 81
any devices and schemes were en- N7
Dyed to blind the leading issues of the q
ntest, but the people could not be M
Died. The voting day came at last u
lie vote which was polled on that event q
day broke sometprevious records, but III
did something more. 1t proved that 81
knew the kind of man they "a
lnted, for they sent to the state house &k
Montpelier the right type of man, the *
ndidate from Bellows Falls who had e
ne to the voters with his story. had ~
EN- heard and approved. 81