The Barre Daily Times

Appoint a Real Official.

From the State-House grapevine, that most informatory of all news sources, word comes that Governor Graham proposes appointing some one to the office of secretary of state who will merely fill the place pro tempore and who will not be a candidate for election in 1918. The reason alleged for this singular purpose is a desire to leave the people of the state unembarrassed when they come to select a "permanent" official at the primaries and the polls next year. In other words, the governor does not want to appoint any one who will be a candidate, mere fact of incumbency would give him an advantage over other candidates. With all due regard to the political acumen which would dictate such an appointment, The Herald submits that the reason alleged is wholly political and not founded on the best public policy. The office of secretary of state is increasingly important. Its duties and requirements are constantly expanding and it has developed into such a depot for various activities that legislation was passed last winter to relieve it of some work. It needs a first-rate man and a man who is prepared to succeed himself. If some "honorary" appointment were made, the appointee would merely "mark time" for 15 months, keeping up the routine, perhaps, but making no effort to become expertly efficient in the office and giving it at the best a perfunctory and superficial administration. Why should such an appointee overexert himself when he would have signed away any right to succeed himself and would be avowedly a mere stop gap and political expedient? The plan should fail by force of common sense, but the chances are that no such appointment could be made, as The Herald could not imagine any first-rate man with so little to do as to be willing to give up 15 months of his time, knowing full well that $3,500 a year, for a little over one year, must represent his entire recompense. Can one imagine a proper successor to Guy W. Bailey willing to give up his time and business for a little over a year, merely to fill out an unexpired term and with all avenues of preferment barred thereafter? With such men as W. R. McFeeters, Melvin R. Morse and Harry A. Black to choose from, why should the governor pass them over and appoint some obliging figure-head, who will consent to retire to private life after 15 months of perfunctory service? The Herald would support and applaud the governor's selection of any competent, active man, such as those named above, for this important office, but submits that neither public policy nor good politics would be served by a pro tem. appointment.--Rutland Herald.