The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-05-13
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BENNINGTON, VERMONT
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1922
ALLEN N. FLETcHEn

the most nOldD. man III GIHoHt
in keen thinking and courageous act
ing on questions which came to him
to decide. His death under rather
tragic circumstances is a great shock
to the people Of TIE state
Mr. Fletcher wen hs business sue
cess before he came to Vermont to II
live and for the past twenty years
while he has been active IN political
and state matters not so much
has been heard Of lis business activi- 4
IS. AS a matter OF fact, however, he
was always IN business even up toI
within a few hours of his death he
had extensive real estate interests
in Indiana and Mississippi as well as
in Vermont and was considerable
investor in securities OF various
kinds
With all these Gfings he kept in
ooGc and constant touch and IN the
yigor and broadness with which he
c9u act in business crisis he had .
no superior He was probably the
greatest user Of TIE long distance
to ephcne IN the state of Vermont. .
There was rarely day in which he.
did not spend an hour or SO in telc-
picnic communication
or course it was his political career
which made him best known IN Yer.
mont and lie has been a participant
in many heated controversies but no
one ever accused him of failing to
have the courage Of his convictions
or Of hesitating to do what he be-
lieyed to be right regardless Of pub
lie clamor or widespread criticism.
He was in the legislature five terms
and those who we're with him in the
several legislative assemblies OF
which he was a member will agree
that there was no other man at Mont
pelier who could see so far ahead or
reason more clearly on any issue Of
real importance and these were the
only issues in which he was ever
seriously interested.
He was not a very effective speak.
er but had the faculty OF carrying his
point by the force and keenness of
his mind which made him more than
Q match in almost any legislative
controversy
When he became governor he
promptly found himself in conaic,
with some Of the easy.going methods
that had grown up in state affairs
and he had the holiness to undertake
to set them right even though they
temporarily interfered with his popu.
larity. He had the bigness to leave
IL to tie future to decide whether o.
not he was night and in NOSE cases
the eventual verdict has been that
his judgment was correct though no
was no; always tactful in putting Il
in force, Even while in more .or
less conflict with the House and Son.
ate he accomplished more OF benefit
to the state than almost any cover.
nor in fifty years.
he was intensely interested in Yer.
mont and loya' u It's interests. His
last conscious hours cf life were
spent in company W IN the writer Of
this art Gle and were devoted almos
exclusively to discussion o. hts
state and what could be done for it
lasting good, Contrary to the
thought OF many he had no intention
Of being candidate for any office
Int was willing he might be thought
10 be a candidate if by so dong te
could ho.d up the pub ic conscience
to higher ideals in public na,tars
Tncre was another side 10 Mr.
Fietchcr's character known only to
his famiiy and closer friends. ny
seme he was thought cold, stern. and
unfcrgiying hut only by those who
did not know his true mnd lie was
ono OF the most kindly and gentle
men in Vermont lie would 70 far.
Their TODD a friend favor than 60 !
gain q personal advantage No mat.
ter where he was he kept in closest
possible contact with his family and
was never satisfied to retire at night
without calling up his home to con.
verso for few moments with bis
wife and children
His many deeds Of charity and
kindness will never be known. Ms
most of thom were done so quietly
and mostentatiously that even the
recipients Of his aid did not ALWAYS
get an opportunity to thank him. In
The death OF Governor Fletcher Yer.
mont las lost a man who has served
The state we'll always honorably and
up to his highest convictions of Yer.
mons welfare.