The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-04

ance. ] do not Ge m it necessary to null
tiply words upon this subject. The peo-
pie of Vermont are not ready to legalizc
the sale of Intoxicating liquors in public
saloons, and all legislation should be in
harmony with this idea. If you find the
present law defective, correct these de-
fects; if you find any part thereof a dead
letter on our statute books, repeal it; if
over-zealous friends of temperance have
secured the passage of such laws which
tend to impair the entire prohibitory sys
TEN of our state, modify such provisions
to the end that the law may more and
more command the respect and support of
all good citizens, never forgetting that the
policy of prohibition is too firmly intrench-
ed in the hearts of the great body of the
common people to allow our seriously en-
tertaining any propositions of repeal. My
predecessor has devoted to this subject Il
vast amount of thought, and has given you
i'll his retiring message the results of his
labors. | heartily endorse his recommend
ations, based as they are upon an extern
sive experience in liquor prosecutions and
coming as they do from one whose warm
interest in all matters pertaining to tenn
perance entities him to voice the senti-
ments of its friends in Vermont.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT SYSTEM.
The privilege of every voter to cast his
ballot without fear, and subject to no inn
proper influence or espionage, is one of the
most sacred rights of American citizen
ship. That the Australian system protects
this right of the voter more fully than any
other yet suggested, is conceded. Where
it has ucen tried it has become popular
L., IL, &c, L.,
ton, that | have heard expressed, is that
of expense. For the purpose of carefully
investigating this objection, have corre-
sponded with the smaller towns in Massa-
chusetts where the law is in operation and
learn that the cost is too small to be worthy
of consideration, being from five dollars to
twenty dollars in places corresponding i'll
population to the large majority of Yer
mont towns.
Vermont can not afford to be tardy in
the adoption of any system having for its
end purer ballot, AID believing that no
better method has yet been devised to ac
complish this, | earnestly urge its adoption.
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURAL AND
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
You will have before you the report of
the commissioner, in which is given an ex-
haustive survey of that most important
subject, the re-occupation of our unoccu-
pied farms.
Governor Dillingham; has given much
attention to the working of this commits
sion, and devotes a large part of his re-
firing message thereto. For the purpose of
informing myself as to the class of people
who are being brought to Vermont through
the exertions of the commissioner, and the
character of the farms they are occupying
] visited the Swedish settlements at Will
mington and Weston, and while anything
| might add to what has already been
given you on this topic, by the governor
and the commissioner, would be unneces-
sary repetition, | wish to emphasize what
they have said in two important particu-
! lars
First-There is in my opinion, no better
class of men coming to us from foreign
countries than the Swedes. They are in
telligent, fairly educated, frugal, indus
trious and honest. In word, they are
lust the material out of which desirable
citizens are made.
Second-It is clearly for the interest of
Vermont that we induce these people to
come to our state and locate upon our I'M
occupied farming lands, if it can be done
without unreasonable expense. | believe
the commissioner has given to the per-
Torrance of the important and arduous
duties devolving upon him a measure of
energy and conscientious devotion which
few men would have bestowed upon it.
He has been animated from the first, as it
seems to me, by desire to perform a
patriotic duty.
1t only remains to add, that the entire
scheme is an experiment, the success or
failure of which, it is yet to early to pre-
dict.
Whether these Swedes will cling to their
farms, and by their success thereon attract
others to our state, or, failing of success,
shall desert the lands they have purchased
and go to other fields, time only will de-
termine. | am inclined, after a somewhat
careful survey of the field, to recommend
moderate appropriation for the contin-
uance of the commission another two wears
CONCLUSION.
Again would impress upon you the i'm
portance of the work at hand, and urge the
necessity of taking up this work at once
and pursuing it diligently to the end We
come here as the representatives of the
people, whose servants we are, and who may
rightfully look to us to bring to the dis
charge of our duties here that same degree
of industry and careful consideration which
we would devote to our own private affairs
Carroll S. PAGE.
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