The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-07-29

This question is being asked by think
ing men more to-day than for many
Years, and in u broader, deeper sense,
Ordinarily, heretofore, voters have.
been too prone TO cast about thom for
some special friend or good fellow, rs
! the world goes, to honor with place
in the popular branch of the state leg
stature. And often times this is done
with no view to unqucstionablc fitness,
or to any marked ability or capacity TO
originate legislation, or yet with suili-
cicnt intelligence and nerve to with
stand the pressure of the LOBBYIST and
| schcmCr. In short, too often has the
whole matter turned upon mere per-
sonal considerations, and in nine times
| in ten to the detriment of the state. 1t
is pleasing sign of higher statehood
when voters take Il broader and deeper
view than can be found in mere person.
al friendships or party services. This
year important issues that affect the
common people are to be met and de-
cdcd. for This once at least, if not for
ever. Foremost among these are the
| election of Il United States Senator TO
sue, ccd Senator Eimunds, the passage
| of a railroad commission and short
haul bills aud, we hope, the entire aboli-
! ton of the free pass system. These
and their related matters are and should
be considered of paramount Importance
as affecting the farmer, mechanic and
laboring man, the entire people with
the exception of the self-sceker, caucus
packer and political shystcr. Then in
casting about us for 4 representative
we should be wholly governed by these
| issues us we may feel. If we are will
| ling that Vermont should lower her
standard of representation at Washing
ton, and that monopolies should con-
tinuc to override and fattcn upon the
people, and that the political hummer
should continue TO ride free upon the
roads that we helped to build, we will
doubtless know where to find him.
But if we are disposed to take the con-
trarv and more enlightened view, if
we are firm in the conviction that our
| little State cannot afford to loose her
proud leadership in the national Senate
chamber. that monOpolies need TO be
put in leading strings and that the free
pass must 90, we. too, will be able to
pick out our man. How to do this in
diligently is the question men are ask
ing to dav. Whom shall we send? 1t
seems to us easy of solution. We do
not want half-and-half man, one clai-
med by both parties or all sides. Nei-
tlcr do we want one whose views upon
these issues have been made up and
strengthened by the belief that it is the
popular side and therefore the stand for
him to take. Or, in our plain phrase.
ology, one of these death bed repen-
lance fellows. But. on the contrary,
we want representatives, this year,
W no stand squarely for these meas
ures from honest conviction, not rs Il
political necessity, and whose position is
KNOWN TO ALL MEN,
and whose intelligence, ability and
backbone is of such character and make
up that 10 ono of Gov. Smiths paid
attornics or other lobbyists will dare ap-
proacl him. This is the kind of a man
the people want this ycar-thc only
kind that will fairly represent them.
This is the man whom many towns arc
going to find and elect. 50 mote it be.
| Free Riders.
The Burlington Clipper, one of Gov.
Smiths losing newspaper investments.
is awfully distressed because some
editors, who don't make the chanting
of Gov. Smiths praises the chief bust
ness of life, accepted the customary
free transportation on the occasion of
the late editorial excursion, It's beast
ly mean, the Clipper thinks, to accept
favors from the Governor, and then
not stand by him in all his railroad and
political fights. Whose ,tdrOrS! Does
Gov. Smith own the railroads? When
he gives man free pass, does he do
it at his own expense, or is he giving
away other peoples money and rights
Clearly the latter. Why then should
the receiver of a pass feel under such a
burdcnsome load of nalobligation
to Gov. Smith, as to constrain him to
become his political tool and slave:
The very complaint of the Clipper
} proves that Gov. Smith and his plan,
supporters regard the acceptance of Il
free pass as pledge of political vassa.
: lage to the giver, personally not in any
way as constituting an obligation to the
+ owners Of the property given away
In other words, Gov. Smith is giving
-. away what does not belong to him, anC
: has been doing it for a generation, tC
S secure his own personal and politica
C advancement. He uses the railroad.
: he manages as his own personal proper
e ty and gives away their services to pc
t litical strikers and bummers in ex
b change for political support. This i
just what we have been asserting al
Il along, and upon this fact we have il
). large degree based our demand for tn
IL entire abolition of the free pass abus
e and abomination.
d If the Clipper will come up on to tn
t SIFTER's broad platform we will gladl
Is join it in denouncing, not only the &C
o ceptance of free passes by editors an
II everybody else, but the issuing of ther
a to anybody under any circumstance
lie whatever. This is just where we stant
Dt and there is no other fair and hone.
5, ground for anybody to stand on. An
at there are special reasons why men VIII