davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
State Teachers Meeting.

The State Teachers Association met at
Newport on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
of last week. Contrary to the expectation
of those who considered the town not suf-
ticiently central for place Of meeting, large
and enthusiastic body Of teachers was pres
ent. Friday was the busy day of the meeting
The court house was comfortably filed with
teachers and citizens when Rev. George
Mills of Newport opened the exercises with
Scripture reading and prayer. ID, NJ. Camp
editor of the Express and Standard, gave the
association warm, substantial welcome to
which President Bishop made brief and
feeling reply.
l.. b. Folsom of Rutland read paper on
Methods of Promotion. He made the fol-
lowing points: Our system of graded
schools demands some method of promotion,
and in every graded school some method
exists. The question of promotion involves
the interests of the parent the pupil, the
board Of education and the teacher. The pa
rent usually expects promotion for the child
and unftness must therefore oftentimes be
urged and shown. The standard should
not be high enough to discourage the duller
pupils, nor too low TO encourage laziness.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
The Railroad Commission.

Does the public fully understand the
object of the railroad commission?
that it is for the use of the people, for
any one who has matter in which his
rights and the rights of railroads are
concerned? 1t is in no sense court at
law. 1t does not undertake to adjust
damages, in case of accidents. 1t does
not assume to estimate damages even.
1t has no power to enforce claims. But
it does have power to investigate, as in
the recent Swanton accident, and to
report the result of such investigation.
This was understood when the commits
sion was created. Do the people 30
understand it? There are no formal
complaints to be made. Just write
letter to the commission, in good faith,
stating the case, and asking an investi-
cation. This is the whole of it. Many
times an investigation and recommen-
dation is enough to satisfy both the
claimant and the railroad, and secure
justice. Is shipper overcharged and
unable to get the matter righted, any
one injured by trains, cattle killed on
the track, stations so situated as to
make approaches to them dangerous?
All these, and a multitude of other
things, are proper causes for investiga-
ton by the commission. Herein lies
the power and value of the law. 1t
enables the people to bring their COM
plants to the public eye and the public
judgment without the Intervention of
lawsuits and lawyers. If the commits
sioners think the individual is in the
right, or has suffered damage, it will
say so in its report, and this report goes
into print. Public opinion sets it's seal
upon it in an unmistakable and under
standable way. The commissioners
are not to 60 about the state asking for
something to investigate. There are
certain things for them to do of their
own motion, and others on complaint.
The commission can be made of great
practical value. 1t offers an inexpen-
sive, immediate hearing to everybody,
and is as open to the poor as to the
rich. Is this understood by the public?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
Call a Halt!

Editor Of Watchman II am pleased to
see that you have promptly raised warn
ing voice against unusual and extrav-
agant appropriations by the legislature.
Judging by the bills already introduced.
members Of the present general assembly
far excel all predecessors in devising ways
and means of lavish expenditure of the pub
lie money. 1t really looks as though the
old-fashioned ideas about rigid economy
and strict accountability in the manage
ment of public affairs and the expenditure
of public funds, Through which our great
war debts and all other debts have been
wiped out and the state put in her present
proud and unique position among her tax
burdened sisters of lowing no man any
thing, have suddenly fallen into disre-
pute among the new generation of law
makers now coming to the front. To them
full state treasury appears to be as fright
full calamity and bugbear as the much
talked-of but rapidly-vanishing national
surplus is to the anxious and average dem
ocratic spokesman. Hence we have a null
titude of cunningly-devised schemes for
depicting the treasury in all sorts of
hitherto unheard-of ways, some of them
wise, possibly, but most of them beyond a
doubt far otherwise. The inhabitants of
Vermont, in the main, are Woodworking
frugal people, honestly and cheerfully
earning their bread Gin the sweat of the
brow, to whom extravaganza of any sort is
rank oience' WIN tnem simplicity, in
tegrity, rigid economy and self-denial are
everyday experiences. They have no
money for self-indulgence and certainly
none to throw away on unnecessary taxa
ton. Such people are not likely to discard
past traditions and the wisdom that comes
of experience. Their government must
continue to reflect themselves in its sim
plicity, economy and conservatism. They
will tolerate no wild schemes of Law
sh expenditure for objects of doubtful
utility or propriety; and our over
gushing and generous solons will find it
much easier voting away the peoples
money at Montpelier than satisfactorily ex-
planning away their recklessness to the peo-
pie themselves when they return home.
FAIR WARNING.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
Our School System.

Editor of Waterman An intense inter-
est in the schools of Vermont leads me to
say word in reference to house bill No. s.
The time has fully come for large hearted
work to place our system of education on an
equal footing with that of other states. We
have no system to-day worthy of name or
the times. The old district system is essen
TALLY what our grandparents enjoyed;
while the town system is not desirable with
its uncertainties. Evidently we need to in
stitute new and broader system. The pro-
posed bill presents advanced ideas on the
subject. But it seems to me that we might
carry one or two points farther. In the
matter of textbooks: there will arise much
difficulty in the change of textbooks by the
change of residence from one county 10
another; besides the adoption of certain
books throughout a county for period of
five years might not in each town be of the
utmost advantage. Why could not each
town own whatever books they wished to
put into the schools, and loan them to the
scholars on the condition that If they were
not well used they We're to be purchased?
Why not make the tax for school-books as
uniform and small as possible? The Mas
sachusetts School Report states the cost of
books in Boston for ten years under the
system of free textbooks, has been sixty
four cents per scholar; and in the town
where | teach an average for four years
gives Sl04. But the cost is only one factor.
1t gives the teacher an opportunity TO clas-
sify better; IL removes the difficulty of
changing books at the expense of the par
ent by change of residence; and best of
all, il furnishes no excuse for any of suitable
age for remaining out of school. And right
here | would ask, Why should not the new
system (for l trust we are to have somethng)
have a stringent clause for the attendance
of those of school age, with a special officer
in each town for its enforcement? A word
in regard to certificates 1t is of course
necessary to have some test of proficiency
for those who have never taught; but with
reference to this the Judgment of the super
intendent, based on his knowledge of act
ual work in the school-room, is surer cri-
terion than stated questions and scale of
Massachusetts and have compared the
scholars privileges. l am forced to believe
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24

THE population of Dakota is ascer-
tanned to be GAG, S23-a gain of go 1913 in
the past year. 1t has nearly double
the population of Vermont, which has
now four votes in the electoral college
while Dakota has not one. And why?
Because of the obstructive tactics of
the democratic house of representa-
tives, which will consent to the admis-
sion of Dakota as a state only on con-
dition that New Mexico shall also be
admitted. The animus is evident.
The population of Dakota is almost en-
tirely made up of immigrants from the
Northern states, nine-tenths of whom
are republicans. BY going to Dakota
they consigned themselves to Botany
Bay, so far as political power is con-
cerned. The population of New
Mexico is made up of Mexican greas-
ers," supplemented and reinforced by
desperadoes from the Southern states,
and in no section is the percentage of il
literacy so great. 1t is hardly necessary
to add that Dakota is strongly republic
can, while New Mexico is quite as
strongly democratic.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24

THE New York Herald estimates that,
in comparison with 1854, there will be
$4,000 new voters in New York and
Brooklyn and that the greater part of
these will vote the democratic ticket.
Roswell P. Flower predicts 10000 plu-
rality for Cleveland in New York city
and 10000 in Brooklyn, making the
democratic plurality below High bridge
$4,000. There is evidently great deal
of buncombe in this prediction. In
1880 Hancock's plurality in the two
cities was 50,574; in 1884 Cleveland's
plurality was 5S,793. There is only
natural increase of voters since 1884,
and there is no good reason for antici-
pating greater plurality than in 1854
and there are good reasons for the pre-
'diction that it will not be so great; that
in fact the considerations of business
nature that reduced the democratic plu-
rality in New York and Kings coun-
ties from 72,459 in 1876 to 5O,594 in
1880 will also shrink the plurality of
1884. Furthermore the increased reg
istration in New York city and Brook
lyn is counterbalanced by greater
increase of voters in the country,
and the assumption that the new
voters of the cities will generally
vote the democratic ticket, by the
equally fair assumption that the new
voters of rural New York will vote the
republican ticket. If the country does
its duty-and all reports indicate that
the plurality outside of New York and
Kings counties will be tremendous
the cities of New York and Brooklyn
may need Mr.. Flowers predicted plu-
rality of $4,000 to save the democracy,
not from defeat, but from utter engulf-
ment.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
State Expenditures--.Actual and
Proposed.

The appropriations sought from the
present legislature for the next bien-
NAL term aggregate $S00,000. These
figures, for a state like Vermont, are
appalling. Appropriations varying in
amount from $4,000 to S25 900 have
been or will be asked for Burlington
University, the militia, Bennington
celebration, soldiers home, South Hero
bridge, the various state institutions,
and larger sums, probably, for an
asylum for the insane and other pub
lie purposes. The debentures of the
general assembly will also call for some
$4,000. 1t is important to know, be-
fore voting it, from what source the
money is coming to pay customary state
expenses and to meet these extraor-
binary demands on the state treasury.
The governor stated that there is $167,-
405 in the treasury in excess of current
liabilities. Two years ago there was
$3.50, 900. The treasurer reports that
the securities belonging to the Hun
tington fund have been "mostly dis
posed of and the money used for
the general purposes of the state"
The amount so sold and used is
$196,72S. The surplus in the treasury
is therefore due to the conversion of
this fund to general state purposes"
not to an increase in the regular reve-
nue.. BY reason of the use of the
Huntington fund, the present favorable
status of the finances is somewhat de-
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
Western Investments.

The bank commissioner of New
Hampshire, in his annual report, gives
prominent place to this matter of gen.
eral public interest. He regrets that
the last legislature was so engrossed
with other matters that no action was
taken to bring within state control and
regulation the large number of Western
Investment agencies that are now doing
business with the savings banks and
the people of the state" In 1887,
Connecticut, by legislative enactment,
brought all foreign investment compa-
MES operating in that state under the
supervision of its bank commissioners.
The New Hampshire commissioner
has no doubt of the necessity for some
supervision of the foreign investment
companies and agencies that are alb
sorbing so much of the capital of the
Granite State. No foreign insurance
company is permitted to do business in
the state until it has made a satisfac-
tory showing of its affairs to the insur-
ance commissioner, but foreign invest
ment companies can sell their securities
unrestricted by regulation or license.
The New Hampshire commissioners
statement will apply to Vermont. He
confirms the views expressed by In
spector Page in respect of this western
investment business. The almost uni
form success that has attended these
western ventures, he says, has led
people to look upon all western invest
ments as secure and to covet those bear
ing the higher rates of interest. An
unhealthy stimulus has been given to
the business, and western investment
agencies have multiplied beyond any
legitimate call for their existence. Not
few of them are conducted by men
who have little capital invested and
who are without business experience,
whose sole aim is to gain large dividends
for stockholders, regardless of future
consequences to the company or the in
weston. Loans are urged upon borrow
ers by agents working on a commission,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24

ceptive. That fund is equivalent to
state tax of more than eleven cents on
the grand list of the state. A tax of
twelve cents was assessed on the grand
list of 1887, and the corporation tax
amounts TO some $3.50 900 annually. To
produce the existing financial condition,
a direct tax of about twenty-five cents on
the grand list, over and above the cor
poration tax for the last biennial term,
would have been required. The use
of the Huntington bequest cannot be
repeated; so, if even the existing scale
of expenditures is maintained, un-
less more fat shall be fried out
of the corporations or some other
grease-rendering source, the Legislature
must put the taxpayers themselves
into the frying-pan-and the pan will
need to be heated about as hot as it
had been before the enactment of the
corporation tax law. If this legislature
goes beyond its immediate predecessors
in appropriating money-as it has
started out to do-the end will be a
revival of the war rate of taxation or re-
course to a permanent loan. These, we
believe, are few of the leading facts
about the financial situation, and in
the light they shed on the course of
legislation Governor Proctor's call for
brakes is none too early or loud to ar
rest smash-up.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
Political Notes.

THE Boston Record very opportunely
inquiries: why doesn't the president
fix the date upon which the country
is to offer general thanksgiving over the
approaching end of the democratic
dynasty's occupation of the White
House?"
VERIFY this is a campaign of strange
devices. The New York Herald says:
"There is a good deal of comment in
political circles about laboring men
receiving their wages in envelopes upon
which are printed political texts and
invectives."
IN previous presidential election
years there may have been as much
betting as this year; but, if so, it was
not so widely known. Now the
newspapers TEEN with accounts of
election bets. 1t is a foolish and dis
reputable practice. The state of New
York DISTINGUISHES all who have wagers
on the result of elections. What do
you say, Vermont sOlons, to passing a
similar act?
J. G.. HARVEY e. Co., makers of bob
bins, Groton, are storing bobbins which
were ordered from Lowell last winter
for use the past summer. They have
not been shipped because of the de-
preston in wool manufactures result
ing from the free-trade agitation. If
the Mills bill should become law,
this firm will have on hand bobbins
enough for several years. So much for
the effect of democratic policy on local
industry.
IT has of late been charged that
wicked democrats have forged George
F. Edmunds' frank. 1t is malicious
falsehood. The thing can't be done.
Did you ever see his frank? No? Let
us describe it. The G looks like bal
loon with a parachute attached; the F
like rude cut of two boys playing
leap-frog. The Il very much resembles
an angle-worm at the moment a small
boy is impaling it upon his pin hook.
The dnund can only be compared to
the flight of sky-rocket, while the
final is mathematical of the final end
of the rocket.
GOVERNOR HILL has been stumping
Indiana, New Jersey and Connecticut
during the past fortnight. Meanwhile
his republican opponent, Warner Mil
Ter, has been combining his efforts to the
New York stump exclusively. 1t looks
as if Miller was considerably more ner-
vous than Hill.-BOSton Herald Not
at all. 1t looks, rather, as if New York
had had enough of Hill and was quite
willing to allow him to air himself in
another cline. 1t looks, too, as if the
democrats had already given up New
York, and were now making despair
ing effort to lay hold on the electoral
vote of Hoosierdom. The nervousness
is all on the other side.
WEBB sends from Washington the
following despatch to the Boston Jour-
nal: "The Supreme Council of the
thirty-third degree and the Provincial
Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of
Scotland are in session here. Mr..
Frank H. Bascom of Montpelier is
delegate from Vermont. He is the
treasurer of the General Grand Council
of Royal and Select Masters for the
United States. Mr.. Bascom is one of
the illustrations of the fatal effect of
free trade in the democratic ranks. He
was for sixteen years prominent
democrat in his state, and was Han
cock elector in 1880, and delegate-at-
large to the democratic national con-
vention in 1884; but he is now an ar
dent supporter of Harrison and pro-
tectiOn -
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
The School Bill.

Editor Of Waterman BY the courtesy of
the representative from my town, l have
been favored with copy of House bill No.
3, being the revision of the school laws
recommended by the commission appointed
for that purpose. Having had somewhat
extended experience as teacher and superin-
tendent, and being still in active service in
the school-room, venture to ask space for
few comments on the bill, suggested by
somewhat careful study of its provisions,
In the first place, let me say that while
feel deeply the defects of our school system,
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24

CONGRESS formally adjourned on
Saturday, though quorum has not
been in attendance at any of the ses-
sions for a number of weeks. About a
half dozen senators and dozen repre-
sentatives were present at the close in
their respective bodies.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24

GOVERNOR PRoCToR's speech on the
matter of appropriations will wake a
responsive echo from every quarter of
the state.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-24
Republican Nominations.
FOR PRESIDENT,
BENJAMIN Harrison of Indiana.
FOR v1CE-PREsIDENT,
Levi P. Morton of New York.


FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS,
HENDERSON G. WILSON of North Troy,
HENRY r.. START of Bakersfield
HENRY c. McDUFFIE of Bradford,
DARIUS j. Stafford of Morristown.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-15

MONDAY mornings New York Tribune
CONTAINS the following editorial on the
subject Of Mr.. Blaine's declination to be
a candidate for the Republican nomina-
tion for President;
A letter from Mr. Blaine, published
This morning withdaws his name-so
far az il Is in his power TO do so-from
the consideration Of Republicans for the
nomination at their approaching Nation
al Convention. This letter is no surprise
60 those friends of his who have known
bow reluctant he has been frSm the out
.-ef 10 give the sanction even Of silence to
.sNo3 consideration. IL is the simple fact
that Dir. Blaine was almost dragooBed by
Ibis friends into the candidates. Of 1850
and 1884. and that he has constantly as-
sGred thesa that he would not be put
asIfG the position of even seeming TO seek
rsEs8mination again. IL has long been
evident that nothing but his own positive
action coaid prevent nsoonination this
scar. and 80 he has finally feit forced TO
-ay 10 the public what he has been say
ing in private. We regret the decision
profoundly, since we h2re believed 0bat
he wSOld command more Votes in the
doubted States than any other Eepubh-
can yet proposed. But various caBel-
slsfes, all excellent men and deserving
-gcu of the Republican party, are actively
q fise field and Iiss next few weeks NAV
lac cNPeezed TO preseat some unusually
Lively pGlklcs, and may the best man
win
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-15
The Earth Trembied.

WEREsBARRE, Pa, Feb. AT 10 o'clock
city. shortly afierward it was learned that
violent explosion had occurred at Dupont's
powder works at Wapwallopen twenty miles
from here. and that four men were instantly
KIshbaugh. George Stout, John Hoffman
and b. Betz. The explosion took place in
the packing house where several tons OF
powder had been stored The cause of the
accident is not known as yet;
The explosion was tie most violent that
ever occurred it the Wyoming Valley. II
occurred at 9;55 O'Clock this morning. The
force Of the shock was distinctly felt here.
The windows in all the buildings ratified and
the officials III dc Court here though there
was an earthquake. as ti,e Lpilding shool;
violently. At Nanticoke and wanamic
chimneys toppled from the roofs of build
..irss aEd school children ran in ter
ror frogp tLe school houses. Men aud
women aocked toward The rines, where
they thought the explosion happenes, and
where the membefs Of their families vere al
work. At shieksainny the glass in almost
every window was broken aud many per-
sons Were thrown to the ground. AZ Wap,
wallopen nearly every building was damaged
or wrecked.
Beside the killed over forty persons were
injured, fourteen of whom. # is said. will
die. The correct names of the killed are
Peter Kishbaugh, George Stout, 0lcan Tcets
and John Rossman. They were blown to
pieces and only small portions of their bodies
have been found.
The cause Of the accident is not known, as
all those who were in the building are dead
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-15

THE repor, that tie south Penn kaai-
road is 10 be pushed 10 completion has
come from Pittsburgh will s4eii regular
Ety and frequency, ever since work OF its
eonstructisp was abandoned some three
wears ago, THAI our people have eommenc-
ed TO s-sssewhat Lose faith in the scheme
and refuse 60 manifest much enthusiasm
antil some subAantial beginning has been
cna.le by the promoters .Sf the project
The south Penn has beeh lssslt oftener
chan snv other great work in fbesepntry
-cn paper The latest report, fsii ~
rzs&nt of whieil viii be found in our iseai
columns. states tiiat the projectors have
come TO aR understanding and have
agreed upon a plan OF operations that
VIII eventuate in the eonap.esjon of the
road. The HERALD has always ts2en de-
-;;idedly ef the opinion that ti.e easexssise
'S0xid .eSezfually be carried through.
The large ansSgnt of money already ex-
,Oended upon II, abe immense pecuniary
apterest at stake aAd the prospect that
fie road would yield satisfactory re-
tuna, were all arguments In favor of its
saltimsse completion. The outlook at
G'resern for the road is certainly more "a
scrablc thaa ever before since work on Il
was stopped. tsst there are many who
will refuse to bank very largely on the
enterprise antil the labss of construction
hss once more been actualis resumed.