davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
Letting Down the Bars.

House bill No. SO proposes to allow
graduate of any college to receive
from the authorized examiner q first
grade certificate, and graduate of any
academy, seminary or high school in
this state, second.grade certificate, to
teach in the schools of this state with
out examination, provided the course of
study in the college or other schools is
approved by the state superintendent
of education.
There are many colleges in the land.
The term is used to cover wide va
riety of schools or institutions that are
supposed to impart an education to
their attendants. There are colleges
for boys and colleges for girls. Some
are good, some bad, some Indifferent.
The bill in question proposes to admit
the graduates of all these colleges, in
discriminatory, from all parts Of the
country, TO teach in the schools of Yer
mont without examination, provided
the course of study is approved by the
superintendent of education and the
applicant exhibits diploma as evidence
of graduation. 1t seems to be assumed
that an approved course of study and
diploma constitute such conclusive evi.
dence of fitness to teach that an ex-
animation may be waived.
But the fact that an applicant to
teach can show college or other
school diploma ought not to be accepted
as such evidence of ability TO teach as to
relieve him or her from an eXamina-
ton by the official the state has ap-
pointed for that purpose. The holder
of such diploma may lack the first
essentials of competent teacher.
There should be no such favoritism in
this matter of examinations. Put these
graduates to the test. If they are COM
petent, an examination cannot harm
them; if they are incompetent, the
ascertainment of that fact will save the
schools from harm. 1t is no hardship
for these graduates to submit to ex-
animation.
The examiners are the pickets OF
schools, and none should be allowed to
pass without giving the countersign
This system of examinations was one
of the prime objects sought in the re
cent school reform movement. TX
abate this precaution now is to expose
the schools to the old abuse of incom
potency in teachers. Keep the bars VI
that have been raised. Raise then
higher if any change is made.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
Comparisons as to Pensions.

T. j. Deavitt of Montpelier, a recognized
authority on pension matters, says the an
nual report of the commissioner of pen
sions for the year ending June 30, 1894,
covers the first complete year of Hoke
Smith and William Lochran's administra.
ton of pensions, and shows the utter disre'
gard for the rights of the Union soldiers
under the existing pension laws, when
compared with former administrations. 1t
shows that force of 1000 officials have
twenty for each Officially, and dropped 81 .957
old ones from the roll, and left in the hop
per at the end of the year 619,027 claims
waiting consideration.
The entire number Of pension certificates
issued during the year, including the in
crease cases of the Mexican war pensions,
was S0,213, and 1872, 1873 claims were rejected;
while the last year of the republican admin
istration, with substantially the same force
of clerks and examiners, with loyal purpose
to execute the same existing laws, issued
81 $50 pension certificates, and granted
DOS, 937 new pensions.
The last report saws, "New claims OF all
kinds have fallen off from 1863, 799 in 1891 to
40, 148 in 1894, " aud it concludes from this
I" that original claims for pensions under
existing laws are substantially all in
without even dreaming that the great fall
ing off in new applications is largely due to
the unfriendly policy that dominates the
bureau of pensions; and, believing a poor
excuse better than none, for the small num-
Der of pensions granted, the report states,
"most of the claims under the disability
act of June 81, 1890, were meritorous and
simple, the work easy, and an expert exam
liner could glance over the papers and allow
fifty or more in day, but now with the class
of work on hand, the utmost diligence on the
part of the Office force could not produce a
large output of certificates"
The small output of certificates, Mr.
Deavitt says was due more to the new
and strange policy inaugurated by the pres
ent management than TO any lack of easy
cases to adiudicate, for when the present
officials began their career their predeces-
sors in office had turned over to them over
| 700 900 claims, with more than 10000 of
them complete, with nothing in the world
to do but to issue the certificates.
Referring to President Cleveland's trst
term of office, Mr.. Deavitt said "Under
Secretaries of the Interior Lamar and Villas
and Commissioner of Pensions John @.
Black. Union soldiers were treated with
the same fair and friendly consideration
| that had previously characterized tho adju-
dication of their claims for pensions. They
attempted, with considerable success, to
beat the record OF their efforts of we'll
| doing in this respect, and allowed eighty
per cent of the invalid claims considered
while the present administration rejected
over eighty per cent of such claims.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

does not necessarily mean the re-
auactment of the Mckinley law. Times
have changed since 1890 Changed
conditions require changes in legisla-
ton, and such changes the republicans
would undoubtedly make. Governor Nc
Knley probably recognizes this fact as
plainly as Mr.. Reed does, or as plainly as
their worships, the ineffable mugwumps.
The republican pirty is the party of
progress, in tariff matters as well as in
other departments of administration.
This fact distinguishes the republican
party from its opponents and critics.
The latter imagine that change is
progress, that chaos is progress, and
so have thrown the nations economic
affairs into a wild chaotic condition.
The democracy, elected TO frame tariff
for revenue only, have raked together
some of the odds and ends of protection
into a law that is without shape or
principle or consistency. The republic
cans, recognizing existing conditions,
will frame a protection measure
that embodes the principles of pro-
lection, applied, not in spots, like the
democratic measure, but to all indus
tries, in all parts of the country. BY
reason of this capacity to change, this
faculty of Intelligent and rational adap'
tation to the changing conditions and
requiem ents of the country, which has
been one of the distinguishing charac-
teristics of republican craftsmanship
and administration, the enemy, and
particularly the grouty mugwump, is
preparing to revile the republican party
The party has been the object of such
reviling and despiteful usage for gen.
Grafton. During all that period it has
been the party of progress and patriot
ism, and has to its credit whatever oil
importance the nation has accom-
plished. The republican party, in thu
future as in the past, will be all RICH
on the tariff and protection. Tit
mug gump owl is hooting early.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
The State Flower.

In the following, from the Boston
Transcript, we think we recognize the
hand of Mr.. j. E. Chamberlin, genial
gentleman and an entertaining writer
for the press of the Hub. A key to the
interest this writer takes in the matter
Of Vermont's emblematic flower may
be found in the fact that he is native
of Newbury, Green Mountain Boy
" to the manner born that is to say,
if we have correctly exercised the
Yankee faculty of guessing at the per-
sonality who, as the Listener" writes
in the Transcript so delightfully."- of the
things that come to his discriminating
auricles. Here is what he has to say
about Vermont's state flower:
"Whie the Listener was up country
lately, he found the people, somewhat
stimulated thereto no doubt by some arti-
cles in the state papers, discussing the ques-
ton of a state flower 1t may be remem-
bered that during the Worlds Fair at
Chicago committees of women were chosen
| by meeting OF women to manage the mat
ter of choosing an emblematic flower for
each state of the Union. All these flowers
| woven into CARL and, are-when they are
| chosen if they are ever chosen-to consti.
tute sort of floral bond OF UNION, an
| T. pllribuS unum of the flowers of the field
and the wood This was a very interesting
plan, and certainly practicable in u Is mega
| tive way, that 1t seemed to mark the aban-
donment OF the totally impractcabl9 scheme
for constituting single flower our national
emblem. The states may accept and even
officially recognize certain emblematlc
| flowers as indeed two or three OF them have
already. And If one state has such a
flower all of them may have; for there is
no state or territory in the Union where
beautiful flowers do not grow
"In Vermont the chairman or chair
woman of the committee on state flower
| has appointed an assistant in each OF the
congressional districts to ascertain the
choice of the women in her district for such
an emblem, and the ladies appointed to
this duty are trying ID determine what their
sisters want, or whether they really want
anything. 1t seems that they want good
many flowers; but chiefly they want the
! trailing arbutus, or the daisy, or the white
clover. And it is a curious thing that,
though the men have not been consulted in
the matter, they begin to step in and offer
very vigorous advice as soon as any weed
like the daisy is mentioned That excellent
state Journal the Montpelier Wdtchndn
has an editorial article, which, whether OF
not it is written by man, is certainly
written from the point OF view of the male
agriculturist. 1t dismisses the trailing ar
butus (Which, by the way, the Vermonters
couldn't have anyway, as their grand
mother, Massachusetts,, has claim on IT,
and then goes on to say, Down with the
daisy, above all others. That won't go will
the farmers, and they are in the majority
in this land of butter and cheese. of Nor
gan horses and merino sheep. Insult thu
farmers and the farmers wives by making
their worst enemy the state flower be
cause a few schoolgirls and morbid,
aesthetic people admire its odorless beauty
Neverl Beauty is only skin deep. Tn
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
Lincoln and the Tariff.

Abraham Lincoln's first speech on
the tariff question was short and to the
point. He said he did not pretend to
be learned in political economy, but he
thought that he knew enough to know
that when an American paid twenty
dollars for steel to an English manu-
facturer, America had the steel AMI
England had the twenty dollars. But
when he paid twenty dollars for steel to
an American manufacturer, America
had both the steel and the twenty dol
lars" That was the sum and substance
of the tariff question as he viewed it,
Erchdn0e.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
A Mob Quelled.

Mob rule came in contact with the
strong arm of the law, sustained by the
states mailed hand, at Washington
Court House, county seat of Fayette
county, Ohio, last Wednesday, and got
very black eye. A negro, who had as
saulted white woman, was arrested and
placed in Jail. A mob of farmers assem-
bled to lynch the prisoner. A company
of militia, and subsequently several
other companies under command of
Colonel Colt, were called out to sustain
the civil authorities. The mob in
creased to several thousands. The
prisoner was taken to the court house
under the protection of the soldiers,
who were barely able to defend him
from the attempts of the euragad pop
ulace to capture and lynch him. The
negro was immediately placed on trial
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to
twenty years confinement in the peni-
Tertiary. The mob, swollen in num-
bers, besleged the court house, hurled
stones at the soldiery, and battered
the doors down with clubs and stones,
They had been warned by the officer
in command to desist from their vio-
lence and to dispense. No attention
was paid to his appeals, and, when the
doors of the court house were battered
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

down and the mob was preparing TO
enter, the command was given to fire.
Three we're killed and many wounded.
Reinforcements we're sent from Column
bus, Cincinnati, and other points. I'm.
der the protec ion of bayonets, loaded
nuskets and eating gun, the prisoner
vas taken to the railway station and
thence to the penitentiary at Columbus.
Law has triumphed. 1t was a terrible
affair, but its most deplorable feature
was the unwillngness of the people to
submit to the orderly punishment of
the criminal under the laws of the state.
Two of the wounded rioters have died,
making five lives sacrificed in frenzied
attempt to exalt mob law above the
law of the state. The sheriff and the
officer in command of the militia have
been charged with murder by the father
of one of the victims of lawlessness.
On the other hand these officials are
justly commended by the press in all
parts of the country for their courage
and resolution, and, when all else had
failed, when it became a question
whether the laws of the state should be
upheld or trampled under foot by mob
raging with murderou3 intent, for their
employment of the one only means of
maintaining the law and the good fame
of their state. Their only alte native
was to surrender or shoot. The only
alternative was the sinking of respect
for law in the Buckeye state to the low
level of barbarism in the co nmunities
on the frontiers of civilization and in
the states of the south, or to blptize il
in blood: Men were not slain and
wounded to preserve the life of a mis-
cradle negro but to maintain the maj
esty of the law. Aud the end achieved
was worth the sacrifice. Ohio, griev
ing for the terrible episode, is, un
doubLedly, better content to-day witt
her standing as law-abiding commu
nifty than she would have been had tht
sheriff and the military commando
surrendered to the mob.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24
The Size of Legislative Bodies.
The New York Evening Post says of
a pending amendment to the constitu-
ton of the state of New York:

The pending proposition to increase the
size of the state senate from 80 to 80 men,
bers, and the number of representatives
from 1913 to 100, which is one of the features
of the appor 5ionment amendment to be
voted on next month, renders of interest
any opinions as to the proper size OF legisla-
tive bodies which may be expressed in
other states. 1t is curious fact that the
lar gest house of representatives in the
whole union is found in one of the smallest
states, New Hampshire having $50 repre-
sentatives for population of only about
1872 600, while New York has only 1913 for
more tn An 100000 people. Vermont Is
not far behind New Hampshire in this re.
spect, havin 2i0 representatives for 1888, 900
people. This Is due TO the system OF giving
each town representative, with its gross
injustice OF allowing no larger share in leg
islaton TO the city of Burlington, with
5000 voters, than to petty township near
by which has only II. The ne yspapers are
beginning to denounce the system As al
together too large, cumbersome, and expen-
sive,' but a. no town will want to surrender
its present power, it il going to be hard
matter TO bring about change"
II does not appear, 81 far as we
have observed, that the newspapers
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

The Vermont Sunday-school convention
has elected the following officers: Presi-
dent, Rev. G. w. Morrow OF West RAN
dolph vice. presidents, Rev. w. G., Scho-
field of Richford and Franklin Fairbanks of
St. Johnsbury general secretary, Rev.
George l.. Story of Bakersfield; statistical
secretary, Rev. j. III. Babbitt OF West Brat
tleboro, assistant secretary, Linus Leavens
of Enosburgh Falls; treasurer, l.. w. Haw-
lev of Brattleboro; executive committee
Messrs. Loren b. Lord of Burlington, Il, p.
Adams of S wanton, Oren Newcomb OF New
port, Rev. j. W. Burgin of Enosburgh
Falls, Rev. j. j. Hall of South Ryegate,
Rev. L, O. Sherburne of Enosburgh Falls
and n. X. Brown OF Burlington.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

Two of the severest charges Sena-
tor Hill brings against Mr.. Levi P.
Morton are Qs) that he was born in
Prohibition Vermont" (2D that he
lived many years in New Hampshire
proscriptive that only a Protestant
could aspire to be governor or member
of the legislature Thus does the SEN
ator appeal to the saloon element, and
to the religious prejudice, in preference
to threshing old straw. What a hum.
bug he is.-Ne,c York Independent.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

here In vermont are DeRlnnlng 10 de-
nounce this entirely irrational system
of representation, 80 inconsistent with
the foundation principle of state and
national government in this American
Union. Vermont has laid her consii-
tuition away behind time lock, set for
ten years. run. 1t was taken out for
an airing in 1880, and again in 1890.
AT each of those periods, when proposals
of amendment were permissible and
an attempt was made to correct this vio-
lation of the representative principle, one
or two newspapers, including the
WATcHMAN, did then have the
hardihood to denounce the system for
its unrepublcan basis. In the orderly
course of the initiatory proceedings for
amending the fundamental law of the
state, proposition was submitted to the
senate in 1880 for placing the repre-
sentation in the house on the basis OF
population, and reducing the number
of representatives. 1t was rejected.
In 1890 no pro position of amendment,
having any significance, was allowed
to pass the quarantine with which
the senate committee on constitutions al
amendments guarded its omniscience.
Against any proposal of this particular
amendment, and others of like import
ance, the senate has hitherto set its
face like flint. Another trial cannot
be made until 1900
The refusal of the senate in 1880 and
1890 to permit even the initiatory steps
relating to amendments to be taken was
all the more remarkable in view of the
fact that the step was merely initiatory,
and that another opportunity for SET
ting the ball a rolling wonld not occur
till ten years had passed.
The senate's approval must have the
sanction of the house. The proposed
amendment then goes to the people for
discussion. AT the next regular legis,
lative session it must pass both
branches of the newly elected legisla-
ture and, finally, must be accepted by
the people, at the next ensuing election
before it can become part of the con
stitution. In view of the checks anC
counterchecks upon trifling with thu
states organic law, it has been a cause
of mingled regret and surprise that
too conservative senate has persistently
stifled at its inception every propose
= of amendment having for its purpos
the establishment of truly republican
form OF government. In representa-
t tive body of the size of the house il
New Hampshire or Vermont, the ex
. pense of law. making is largely in
: creased, as the Post says, and larg
percentage of the membership is dea
D weight. But no remedy for the varou
9 evils resulting from this state of things
3 and the violence it works to the basi
. principle of our government, is i
t sight. They are in constitutio
framed for state of things exis sting
e century ago, and, being in, seem likel
: to stay for another century. So grea
d is the conservatism of selfish interests
e Burlington's 5000 voters must cor
e tinue to have no greater voting powe
g in the legislature than its neighbor
i seventeen.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

THE vice-president is not appalled,
by the austere virtue of the president.
He is displaying great deal of "per-
nicious activity" in the cause of de-
mocracy, and will soon pick up Hips
trailing banner and bear it before the
unterrifed in the Empire State. Adlai
is good democrat of the old school
If victory does not perch on the dem
ocratic standard it will not be his fault
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

IN the death of James Anthony
Froude disappears one of the few sur
viving members of highlands old guard
of literature. Called a historian, he
will be remembered as powerful and
ia cinating writer ra her than as peer
of highlands acknowledged historians
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

REPRESENTATIVE LORD of Mont
pelier has introduced bill VIII ich, if it
becomes a law, will remove practice
that has become an abuse in legislation
and scandal affecting the legislator re
itself. A man has fixed his eye on an
office of honor or emolument, or both,
W thin the gift of the Legislature. His
first step is to secure his election to the
general assembly and from that van
tage ground make sure his calling and
election to the ultimate object of his
desire. This matter has been, in times
past, the subject of much discussion.
The abuse and the scandal have been
apparent, but until now no member of
the general assembly has had the
courage to stand as sponsor of bill to
correct the abuse and wipe out the
scandal A man is elected to the house
or senate to serve the state. 1t is his
duty to give his undivided time to the
people of that part of the state he is
chosen to represent. That is the
theory, the principle, of his election.
But he has gone to the general assem-
bly, for another purpose, his own per-
sonal advancement. He wants an
office which is filed by legislative cleo
ton, and he devotes his time and ener-
gies to making the legislature solid for
him. His legislative duties are neg
lected. Button holing is his chief &C.
cupation. Any person familiar with
legislative history during the past score
of years, including the session preced-
ing the present one, can recall instances
that will justify this indictment of a
practice against which Mr.. Lords bill
is aimed. The time is opportune fol
its consideration and enactment. Hap
PLY no member of this legislature, up
to date, has been found housing round
for any of the offices this bill taboos
and it can be discussed and made law
without the appearance, even, of in
vidious distinction. The report of the
judiciary committee on this measure
should be that the bill ought to pass.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-10-24

GOVERNOR MCKINLEY's appearance
in New Orleans to discuss there the po-
litical issues of the day, and his enthu-
siastic welcome in the hall in which he
spoke, by $4,000 citizens of the Pelican
State, marks new era in American
politics. Besides the vast concourse
that greeted the apostle of protection
within the building, thousands more
sought admission in vain. 1t was the
most remarkable political demonstra-
ton of modern times. Republican or
ators from the North have not always
been welcomed thus. Their place Of
greatest safety and personal comfort
was north of Mason and Dixon's line.
Besides the people of the Crescent City,
delegations we're present from many
parishes and from points within ra-
dius of two hundred miles of the city.
Crowds of people lined the streets along
which the governor was driven to his
quarters, and cheered him Justify.
When he entered the auditorium the
building shook with deafening applause.
He spoke over two hours. Nearly
every sentence was cheered, and at
times the audience fairly went wild.
His address was strong plea for pro-
lection. The speaker will be next
heard in West Virginia.