davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
Senator Morrill,.

For nearly half century Vermont
has been singularly fortunate in her
representation in the national senate.
Prentiss, Phelps, Foot and Collamer,
though dead, still live in political annals
as men who, by their abilities, deci-
sively influenced national legislation and
who were the props and advisers of
presidents in national crises. Poland,
Edmunds and Morrill, have builded
strong and symmetricallyup upon the foun-
dations their predecessors laid. They
have won and held for their little state
an undisputed ascendency in the con-
gress of the United States. They have
given Vermont an influence in national
legislation greater than that of the great
est states of the Union. AS senators,
Edmunds and Morrill, have made very
useful as well as very influential combi-
nation. Men of the first rank in widely
separated departments of service, they
have led national legislation in matters
relating to law and finance, frugal and
honest administration of the govern
ment and protection of the people from
the schemes of lobbyists and monopo-
lists. The state has practiced wiser
policy in her course respecting her
representation at Washington than in
respect to her local officials. The ablest
men and tenure of office practically
lifelong in its permanency have given
Vermont her supremacy in the senate,
and by steadfastly adhering to this wise
policy she has contributed decisively to
the national prosperity, greatness and
stability. The election of Hon. Justin
>. Morrill,, last week, to fourth con-
secutive term as senator was so much
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

previous years, though the debentures
of county judges show no proportionate
shortening of the length of the terms.
As compared with period twenty-five
years ago, and periods ten and five
years ago, the number of cases in the
county courts seems to have fallen off
about fifty per cent, as shown by these
statistics, while the length of terms
either by reason of changes in practice
or in the character of the litigation has
not been correspondingly diminished,
being the same as in 1861 and about
one-third less than in 1928 and
1878. The auditor says of the
chancery and supreme court statis-
tics: The number of supreme court
judgments and DEGREES in chancery
give the only basis of comparison shown
by the reports as to the business of
those courts" and these statistics,
legal gentlemen say, are not conclusive
as to the amount of time and work inn
posed upon the judges. Chancery suits
occupy but little time except in con-
tested cases, and the number of supreme
court judgments is also inconclusive as
to the amount of time and labor actually
expended by the judges of that tribunal.
The reference of cases, under the act
of 1878 providing for the payment of
fees of referees by the state, the audi
tor explains, has kept between eighty
and ninety cases annually out of the
county courts. This has diminished
the work in court, but has added some
what to the labors of the judges out of
court. Notwithstanding the incom-
pleteness of this source of informa-
ton as to the comparative amount of
court business, enough is shown to
warrant the conclusion that six Judges
can now perform the duties of the SUI
preme court without being overtasked.
And when, in the course of events,
another change in the bench occurs
legislation barring trivial suits out of
the higher courts, or other reforms,
may make certain that of which there
is strong presumption now that five
judges can decide with due ease and
deliberation all the causes that should
come before them. The supreme court of
twenty-eight states of the Union, many
of them having ten times the area
and from one million to more than
three million population, is composed of
five judges or less. Vermont should
need not more than five.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

President Buckham of the University
of Vermont delivered stirring address.
on the subject of education in represen-
tatives' hall Friday evening. The vital
importance to Vermont of reform in
educational matters, of an awaking
from the apathy and indifference which
has characterized her treatment of the
common schools, was wildly and inn
pressively set forth. We give the fol-
lowing abstract of Mr.. Buckham's re-
marks and commend them to the seri-
Gus consideration of people and legis-
lators:
A large-minded son of Vermont once
wrote to me; " Tell the people of Vermont
that other states are going ahead, and the
world is going ahead, and Vermont must go
ahead too magnifying her peculiar work
and exalting herself. And the peculiar
work of Vermont is in her churches, her
schools and her colleges. Butter and wool
won't save her!' We do not disparage
butter and wool, the material basis of pros
perity but Vermont has no material re-
sources that will save her if she foregoes
the advantages which intelligence and social
virtue nave given her III tne past. Inc
question, then, is a serious one, Are our
schools keeping pace with the progress of
the world? No one pretends that our COM
mon schools are improving as such schools
are in most other states. We dare not chal-
lenge comparison with the schools of any
states except Maine, New Hampshire and
the southern states. 1t is doubtful whether
they are doing better work on the whole
than they did forty years ago. In the
country districts the falling away is mani
fest. But there are bright spots in our sky,
The secondary schools are great gain ON
those of the past. The old academy is re-
viving under better auspices We have one
endowed academy, perhaps two which de-
serve to be ranked among the best. We
have half a dozen high schools which rival
those of the most favored states Our whole
graded school system is substantial gain
on the methods of the past. Our normal
schools, inadequately endowed and strug-
Cling against opposition, are doing much to
raise the standard of qualification for teach
ing. True, our higher schools are threatened
by the communistic spirit. We may have
TO fight for them. The worst indication Of
our condition is the prevalent indifference
to education. IL is not, as it should be, one
of the great interests that occupy the
thoughts of the people Our newspapers,
our leading men, our representatives do not
make IL prominent. Our constituencies do
not select men for their fitness to legislate
upon II wisely. We cannot in the study of
this problem ignore the changes in popula-
ton and mode of life. There are as many
children in Vermont as formerly, but they
are found more in the villages. The coun-
try district school, which used to be the
most important factor in the problem, is
not what il was and it never can be again.
The schools of forty or fifty children Of the
native stock, taught, governed, inspired by
man of intellectual force, or a gifted
woman, is a thing of the past, We must
adjust our methods to the changed con
ditions. The educational system OF our
state is robbed of force by the prevalence of
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

mean time Indiana has become a No
vember state, and Ohio is now the in
dex finger to November. Political ex-
citement has been for weeks at a white
heat in every Buckeye community. In
two successive elections the state has
gone democratic. The democracy an
tlcipated this year a third victory, which
should be the omen of national tri-
umph next month. The result of the
herculean struggle shows that Ohio
republicans are still loyal to the party
to which the state owes so much of its
wonderful prosperity. Divided they
may be on local issues; they march
shoulder to shoulder under the national
banner. They want nothing of ma
tional party without principle, party
that was the willing tool of slavery and
that has consistently opposed every
patriotic, humane, progressive or re-
formatory measure that has been pro-
posed during the last quarter of CEN
tury' They still turn to the republican
party with undiminished confidence in
its craftsmanship, its consistency, and
the honesty and rectitude of its pur-
pose. The result is a striking exempli-
fication of the deep-seated character of
the distrust the democratic party has
inspired, and of the confidence still re-
posed in republican craftsmanship. But
success in Ohio cannot be accepted az
conclusive of the outcome of the gem
eral election. 1t is, however, very
strong and very satisfactory pointer.
Indiana and New York now become
the scenes of decisive labor, for, if the
democracy can win these states, they
will gain the election. They must have
New York at all events, and with its
thirty-siX electoral votes twelve more
from some quarter. On the other hand,
if the republicans carry New York, they
elect their candidate, so that the EN-
pire State becomes in fact the battle
ground of the contest This will ap-
pear from the following tables.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
San Act Relating to the Repairing of
Highways and Bridges.o

One of the most useful and impor.
tant bills thus far framed is that bear
ing the above title, which was intro
| duced in the senate on Friday by
Senator Chaplin of Washington county.
The subject-matter of the bill is en-
braced within eight brief sections and
these replace thirty-eight sections of
the Revised Laws. Senator Chapin's
bill provides that the selectmen of the
towns shall annually, previous to May
25, assess a tax of twenty per cent of
the grand list to be paid in mofaey.
without discount, for keeping the high
ways and bridges in repair; in towns
not electing street commissioners. this
tax is to be collected by the collector of
town taxes and paid into the town
treasury on or before June 10, to be
drawn out on selectmen's orders when
required for the purposes for which it
is assessed; at the annual or at a
warned meeting towns may vote such
additional highway tax as they think
necessary, the money to be paid within
the time required and expended under
the direction of the selectmen or street
commissioners or such officers or men
as the town directs; all such taxes are
to be fully and carefully accounted for
and the accounts of the officers under
whose direction they were expended
settled and audited as are the accounts
of other town officers; the selectmen or
other persons having charge of the
highways are required to remove the
loose stones from the roads at least
once month during the season of
wheeling and to snow " the travelled
track of covered bridges during the
period of sleighing; selectmen or street
commissioners are authorized to pur-
chase tools and materials necessary for
making and repairing the highways and
bridges, and finally in case of the alb
sence, neglect or refusal of any other
officers or agents appointed by the
town, the selectmen are given charge
of the highways and bridges and re-
quired to keep them in good order and
sufficient repair. We do not suppose
that Senator Chapin's bill is free from
imperfection. 1t, however, embodies
the elements of a simple, compact,
comprehensive and business-like code
of highway management. 1t is no
fancy measure. 1t is wrought out of
the experience of a man who for good
sense, practical judgment and clear
head, has few equals in the state. We
trust that Senator Chapin's bill, or
something very much like it, will be-
come law. 1t is susceptible of the
clearest demonstration that such a law
would save the towns large sums of
money and give the public greatly i'm
proved roads. A practical illustration
of this fact is given in this issue of
THE WATCHMAN.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

ELECTION reports have been some
what conflicting While the people
have felt disposed to regard change
in Ohio from democratic plurality of
twelve thousand year ago to repub-
lican plurality of twelve thousand this
year as glory enough for October, the
Boston Journal was booming the plu-
rality to twice that number and was
well on its way toward third multiple
of what was reasonable, satisfactory
and entirely assuring plurality. That pa
per, having Disguised its readers by its
unnecessary deception, has at length
got back to earth and to something like
the facts.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
How Great Shall Ii Be!

1t is settled at last that Vermont will
make collective exhibit at the Worlds
Exposition at New Orleans in the build.
ing erected for the national and state dis.
plays. Hon. j. b. Mead, our commits
sioner, has taken this in hand, and will
give his time, talents and energies to the
work. He has but So 900 0he sum placed
to his credit by the New Orleans IMAM
agers), a sum quite insufficient for all
that might be done, but yet enough to
pay the cost of small sample collec-
ton of the resources of Vermont. and
the use her citizens have made of them.
A collective state exhibit is not, as
some have supposed, an advertising
medium for the advantage of manufac-
turers, or for those engaged in special
industries. All who wish to avail them
selves of the Worlds Exposition for
that purpose must apply for space
themselves, and pay their own ex-
penses. The state commissioner can
advise and assist them in securing space
from the exposition managers, but be-
yond that he cannot go, What, then. is
state collective exhibit? First il rep
resents the soils, the forests, the min
erals and ores, the building stones. the
clays, and whatever else is found on or
beneath the ground that can be applied
to mans service. Next in order are
all things the citizens of state get
either by cultivating the soil, or by APP
plying their skill to the conversion of
their raw materials into articles of COM
mercial value. Take the maple tree as
an instance. In ,Vermont's exhibit
should be a section of one of our trees.
and with it everything made from that
wood from a shoe peg up to hand
somely-polished birds-eye panel. Then
the sugar and syrup products should be
shown, as also the old and the new
methods of treating the sap. So with
our marbles, granite and slate; show
these in blocks and in finished beauty.
Specimens of our fine grades of wool,
of our honey, our butter and cheese,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

THE national republican committee
has issued a stirring address to the
voters throughout the nation. 1t con-
graduates republicans upon the great
victories won in Vermont, Maine and
Ohio, prophesies plurality of 10000 in
the latter state in November, and finds
in the result of the state elections a
foreshadowing of an increase of 100000
in the national republican vote and the
election of the republican nominees by
the largest popular majority ever given
to any candidates. 1t reviews the effect
of the tariff policy advocated and sus-
tanned by the republican party upon the
prosperity of the country and the well
fare of working men, and closes with a
strong appeal to the people to make the
victory in November decisive.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
The October Elections.

Political change has been at work
upon the list of October states, as those
members of the Union which hold cleo
tons on the second Tuesday of the cur
rent month are called, till Ohio alone
is left of those which exert controlling
influence in national canvass, or de-
cisively indicate the result of national
election. In the canvass of 1856 the
October election in Pennsylvania ex-
cited intense interest, and when that
state went democratic, the result was
accepted as presage of the issue in
November. In the memorable election
of 1860 the Keystone state was again
the object of intensest solicitude. When
in October it changed to the republican
column by a decisive majority, the event
was welcomed throughout the North
with transports of delight, and Lin
coins election in the following Novem-
Der was regarded as a foregone conclu-
sion. Pennsylvania, with others, has
dropped from the October list In 1880
Ohio and Indiana were the only impor-
tant states remaining. The feverish
anxiety and eagerness with which the
result of their elections was awaited is
fresh in the minds of millions to-day.
When Indiana joined with Ohio in Civ
ing hopeful republican majority, sue
cess in the national contest in Novem-
Der was practically assured. In the
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

CONFIRMATION of the superiority of
town management of highways ac-
cumulates. Here is the experience of
Randolph, and it is only one of many.
Last year the town voted to pay the
highway tax in money, fifteen per cent
Of the grand list, and to put the roads
and bridges directly under the control
OF the selectmen. Highway districts
and score or more of surveyors were
abolished, selectmen hired teams and
labor, expended the tax and managed
the work on the highways as three men
of good judgment would spend their
own money and manage similar affairs
of their own. What was the result?
The town had better roads under the
new system with fifteen per cent tax
than under the old district system with
a twenty-five per cent tax; not this
only, but at March meeting the select
men further reported $267.99 of the
fifteen per cent tax on hand for high
way purposes, and no outstanding ac-
counts against this sum. This showing
speaks for itself. 1t is not an isolated
or an extreme case. The voters of
Randolph needed no argument to per-
suade them to readopt this system of
management at its last March meeting.
Two road machines have been bought,
and with them, unhindered by petty
district lines, long reaches of road are
advantageously put in better condition
than under the shoe brigade" in its
best estate. BY the use of these ma
chimes and by virtue of experience
gained, the town confidently expects
still further to reduce the expense of
caring for its roads while still improv-
ing their quality.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
STATES CONCEDED TO REPUBLICANS.
STATES CONCEDED TO DEMOCRAT.
STATES RECKoNED DoU

The total electoral vote is four hundred
one; necessary to a choice, two hun
dred one. With New York the repub-
licans would elect and have nine votes
to spare. Losing New York, they must
gain Indiana at all events and with it
any two of the remaining states of Cali
fornia, Connecticut and New jersey.
The democrats losing New York lose
everything, for the aggregate of all the
remaining doubtful states will not Weld
them the forty-eight votes they will
need, unless detection growing out of
the temperance question shall cost the
republicans western state or two-a
contingency too remote to be seriously
considered. On the whole, republican
courage is good that November 4 will
quite eclipse October IA in national
display of continued distrust and rep
rotation of democracy on the one hand,
and on the other of renewed support
and approval of republicanism.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
Education.


gree's message in which he calls the at
tention of the general assembly to the
subject of education as embodying con-
siderations more important and states
manlike than any executive has adj
dressed to the legislature during the last
quarter of century. The matters Gov
ernor Pingree discusses lie at the very
foundation of the states highest and
best prosperity. The attention of Yer
mont for ten years past has been en-
crossed in an unusual degree with
purely economic problems. Court ex-
penses, matter involving in its worst
estate only about 100000 biennially.
occupied considerable portion of
the governors message six years ago,
and the subject was regarded so seri-
ously that an able commission was APP
pointed to investigate alleged abuses
and report remedial measures. The re-
form that followed has been the theme
of much congratulatory comment, and
to have first officially championed this
reform is the chief glory of Governor
Proctor's administration. Reformatory
revenue legislation which has equalized
general taxation and obtained large an
nual income from hitherto practically
untaXed sources, for four years has al
most exclusively engrossed public and
official thought and interest. The state
has been intent on saving dollar here
and raising new dollar there till little
else than court expenses, listing laws and
revenue laws is thought about or talked
about Occasionally vigorous protest
against the sordid One-sidedness of the
states solicitude has been uttered.
Earnest appeals for the schools have
been made but they have fallen upon
unwilling or Indifferent ears. 1t has
been represented-and correctly-that
more than half million dollars annu-
ally-a sum double the yearly state ex-
penses about which so much has been
said, more than six times the biennial
court account which is the subject of
so much vigilance-is expended on
the schools; that for this sum raised
by direct taxation there is practi-
cally no accounting; that ii is spent
under a system that no community
to-day could be prevailed upon to
adopt for the management of its
general business affairs and which
was either never adopted for the man
agement of school affairs by other COM
munities or has been discarded by
them, and that no adequate return for
this outlay is obtained. The subject
surpassess, even in its narrowest pro-
portions, its purely pecuniary dimen-
sions, the aggregate of all those others
which have been the object of so much
official and popular concern for ten
years past, for to the vast sum--vast
for Vermont-raised by direct tax
alton for schools is to be added ex-
penses for text books and a hundred
otherthings which are devised for the lat
terday school-boy and schoolgirl These
matters have arrested Governor Pin
gree's attention, occupied his thoughts
and convinced his judgment. Having
the courage of his convictions, he has
not hesitated to call the attention of
the Legislature and the people of the
state sharply to them and to suggest
and recommend, unequivocally,
remedy that abundant experience has
shown to be effective and which is
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

Further tables are given showing the
business of the courts by counties in the
years lS72-73 and in 1882 SO. but the
aggregates in the above general table
are the basis for whatever opinion NAV
be formed from the information fur
nished. The auditorsays: The county
judges debentures being made up from
a per diem and mileage upon uniform
basis, furnishes the best test of the
comparative length of the terms of the
county courts in the different years.
Entries and Jury Trials ;
embrace the civil business onlv.'' Ac-
cording to the test applied by the audi
tor the length of the terms of court in
the years which form the extremes of
the period over which the comparison
extends is almost identical. Previous
to 1878 the county judges were paid
their per diem for the entire length of
the term-during recess as well as
while court was in session. Now
these officers draw pay only for the
number of days court is in actual
session. So the test is, to the extent
this element affects it, inconclusive as
to the comparative length of the terms.
On an average about eight per cent of
the entries are tried by jury. For
the last two years reported the rate is
seven per cent, but for 1928 the
entries and trials are only about from
one-half to two-thirds the number for
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
National Republican Ticket.
FOR PRESIDENT,
JAMES G. BLAINE of Maine.
FOR vtoE-PRRsIDENT,
JOHN A. LOGAN of Illinois.
poR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS,

THE republican plurality in Ohio at
the recent state election is now reported
to be, for secretary of state, II ,321; for
superintendent of public works, II ,476;
for Judge of supreme court, estimated
at between $1,000 and 10000. The
democratic plurality two years ago was
about 10000, and one year ago about
$4,000.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22
Court Business.

In response to the resolution of Mr..
French of Woodstock, calling for infor-
nation as to the amount of court bust
ness in certain years, the state auditor
has furnished the following data.