The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-11-18
Editorial NOtings.

n WRITER, WnlIe aumlIllng Jnau lne
New England railroads ale not doing
their duty to the producers in these
states, adds: "Bit lower freights and
better accommodations would not revo-
lutionize farming at once, were they Sc
cured" Certainly not; but that is no
reason why we should not have them.
And it is sure that we shall not have
them until some effective legislation is
had. Th5 free pass system makes it
impossible to have such legislation.
We allow these corporations, which are
il theory the servants of the state, to
be its masters, through a system of
bribery which is open and unblushing-
and yet is permitted by the people who
suffer by it.
SOMETHING or other, or perhaps
many things, seem to have changed the
American people, and especially the
people of New England, from the wide
awake, watchful temper of their ances-
tors, who knew thoroughly that eternal
vigilance is necessary in order to pre-
serve popular liberty. Recent revela-
tons, made by Senator Chandler Of
New Hampshire, show clearly how this
network of railroad bribery through
free passes to men of influence has per-
meated the entire structure o. society,
so that even the judges are carrying
free passes and paying for them by de-
cisions in courts; while almost every
Editor, minister, and leading ciliz-n of
every class who might do harm TO the
corporations is quoted by pass. And
yet the people, knowing the fact well,
sit quietly submissive where their an
cosLors would have "made r 5me no vi"
with their indignant protests and vigo-
rous actions. As it is, the purchased ST.
lence of those who were wont to be our
watch-dogs leaves the people dazed, an i
apparently quite unable to protect them
selves.
In regard to New England, especially,
tAere is no doubt that the chief reason
why a proper system of direct inter-
course between the producer on the
farm and the consumer elsewhere
is not established, is found in
the so-called expresses - corpora
tons which stand between the peo-
pie and the railroads, and in which
the railroad magnates find an easy and
apparently safe way Of quadrupling
their profits. There was time, early
in the history of steam transportation,
that these express companies were
useful intermediary in many cases.
But under the present condition of
things they are 10 the public useless
fifth wheel, while to their owners they
are means of decentralization TO the
railroads and of extortion to the public.
All the work that they do can and
ought to be done without them, and
the system so extended and perfected
as to bring every producer into close
business relation to the consumers of
his products. -
THOUGH so desirable-nay, so COM
pletely necessary-is such change in
this matter, yet there is no way of real
izing the desired advantages, simply
because our watch-dogs are muzzled by
free passes and underhand influence"
The existence, not only of these ex-
press companies, but of dozens of other
wheels within wheels, which are making
the rich richer and the poor poorer, is
SO secured that there seems to be no
help for it, unless it be by something
which will amount to nothing short of
revolution. The old issues upon which
party lines were drawn have now per.
lshed, and the pressing requirements of
society and business are waiting for
representation by faithful public SER
vants-if such can be found. In our
Judgment, these must be sought for, not
as heretofore in the professional classes.
but among educated and honest indus.
trialists. There is a demand for pat
rlotlc action, strong, resolute and per-
severing, among the representatives of
labor-and where shall such representa-
tives be found unless among the workers
themselves?
THERE was sufficient occasion for re-
cent protests against things as they are
among the farmers, and good crop
now is not going to end the matter.
They have made many mistakes in the
choice of leaders, and have hastily
taken up with some false theories as to
the cause of their troubles; but such
errors are not fatal. 1t is quite likely
that In many cases these misleading
leaders have been in the pay of those
who were seeking self-protection by the
miscarriage of any popular movement
that endangered the great existing mo-