Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-21

mistakes, as it seems to us. One was the
choice as superintendent of education of
a man who from start to finish opposed
the new law which he was finally elected
to execute, and whose friends could only
urge in his behalf that he was briefless
barrister and needed the salary. The
second and greatest error was in the
amendment of that portion of the bill re-
lating to the appointment of the super
visors. AS drawn by the educational
commission it provided that these officials
upon whose fitness for their work the
success of the law very largely depends
should be appointed by the governor.
But, instead of leaving the power of nam
ing the supervisors where it properly be-
longed, and where it would be exercised
with discretion and some sense of respon-
sibility, the legislature established lili-
putian electoral college in each county
to do the business of choosing the super
yisors. The office of the supervisor is
thus made political plum, to be plucked
by the man who has the strongest 'pull,' -
regardless of the fact whether he pos
sesses an atom of information or intelli-
gence respecting educational matters
The practical working of the measure in
this regard is already beginning to show
itself. Every half-educated, bumptious,
impecunious fellow throughout the
length and breadth of the State, from
Readsboro to Richford and from Guild
hall to the county in the lake. that has
any political influence, is already cunning
for the office of supervisor. He visits
each town of the county to marshal his
cohorts of crossroads political pigmies,
hoping thereby to secure the choice in
the several towns of electors who will
hug themselves with joy over the privi-
lege of boosting him into fat place. The
supervisors WILL suspect, if this scheme
works, very much resemble Falstaff- s
troops in mind, morals and makeup
should they ever by any mischance gath
er themselves together to consider how
much they don't know. But the voters
can defeat the plans of the unworthy,
and, if they will awake to their RESPONSE
bilties, may still put fairly good men in
office by choosing electors who are free
from undue influence and who cannot be
led by the nose, in blocks of five or 9TH
erwise.
The remainder of the new laws are of "A
miscellaneous character. Those enacted
in the interest of temperance are stout, at
least on paper; but if the unlawful sale
of intoxicants is not stopped now, in ali
probability it will 60 on forever. Those
who caused these laws to be passed, and
who believe in them, have duty to per-
form in seeing that they are enforced to
the full extent. A law that is not put in
operation is worse than a dead letter, in
that it breeds contempt, not only of the par
ticular law, but of all legislative enact
ments. And those who look upon the
new law as oppressive and savoring too
strongly of the worst side of Puritanism
to be tolerated in our day, have similar
task. 1t is said that the way to bring
about the repeal of bad law is to enforce
it. Therefore, let these liberal-minded
spirits at once Join hands with the ultra
temperance people for the purpose of
putting the law in force. They can
thereby try their favorite theory, which
we have quoted, and see if it is true, and
at the same time provide a spectacle ex-
ceedingly diverting to gods and men--
barring the rumselers.
A study of the other enactments is re-
commended, though there is nothing in
them which calls for particular mention
but every one is supposed to know the
law. Our lawmakers appear to have ex-
tended this ancient doctrine beyond its
legitimate limits by passing acts to take
effect from their passage, though those
whom they affected, as the county clerks,
for instance, were not made aware of the
legislation for more than month after
wards.