The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-05-16
ALLEN M. FLETCHER.
An Intimate View of Late Governor
By Bennington Banner.

The death of former Governor Allen
M. Fletcher removes perhaps the
most notable man in Vermont in keen
thinking and courageous acting on
questions which came to him to decide
His death under rather tragic circum-
stances is a great shock to the people
of the state.
Mr.. Fletcher won his business sue
cess before be came to Vermont = Je
and for the past twenty vars while
he has been active in political and
state matters not so much has been
heard of his business activity. As a
matter OF fact, however, he was al
ways in business even up to within a
few hours of his death. He had exten-
sive real eDtate interests in Indiana
and Mississippi as well as in Vermont
and was a considerable investor IN
securities of various kinds.
With ALI these things he kept in
close and constant touch and in the
vigor and broadness with which he
could act in-a business crisis he had nc
superior. He was probably the great.
est user of the long distance telephone
in the state of Vermont. There was
rarely day in which he. did not spend
an hour or SO in telephone communica-
ton.
Of course it was his political career
which made him best known in Yer,
mont and he has been 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 believed ia
be right regardless of public clamor or
widespread criticism.
He was in the legislature Eve terms
and those who were with him in the
several legislative assemblies of which
he was member will agree that there
was no other man at Montpelier who
could see so far ahead or reason more
clearly on any issue of real importance
and these we're the only issues in
which he was ever seriously interested
He was not very effective speaker
but had the faculty of carrying his
Joint by the force and keenness of his
mind which made :. him more than q
match in almost any legislative con-
troversy.
When he became governor he
promptly found himself in conflict
with some of the easy-going methods
that had grown up in state affairs and
he had the holiness TO undertake to sci
them right even though they temper
arily interfered with his popularity
He had the bigness to leave it TO the
future to decide whether or not he was
right and in most cases the eventual
verdict has been that his Judgment
was correct though he was not al
ways tactfui in putting it in force
Even while in more or less conflict
with the House and Senate he ac
complished more Of benefit TO the state
than slmost any governor in fifty
years.
He was intensely interested in Yer
mont and loyal TO its interests. Hi'
last conscious hours of life were spent
in company with the writer of this
article and were devoted almost ex
clusively to discussion of his STATE
and what could be done for its last
ing good. Contrary to the thought o.
many he had no intention of being {
candidate for any Office but wal
willing he might be thought 20 be Z
candidate il by so doing he could hole
up the public conscience to higher
ideals in public matters.
There was another side TO Mr.. Fletef
er's character known only TO his fam
ily and closer friends. By some h
was thought cold, stern, and unfor
giving but only by those who did mo-
know his true mind. He was one o.
the most kindly and gentle men II
Vermont. He would go farther TO d,
friend favor than to gain person
al advantage. No matter where h
was he kept in closest possible contact
with his family and was never satisfied
to retire at night without calling uphii
home to converse for a few moments
with his wife and children.
His many deeds Of charity and kind
ness will never be known, as most Of
them were done so quietly and un
ostentatiously that even the recip
tents Of his aid did not always get ar
opportunity 10 thank him. In tn
death Of Governor Fletcher. Yer
mont has lost a man who has served
the state well. always honorsbly. ant
up to his highest convictions Of Yer
monf's Bennington Banner.