Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-11-07
The Onc-TcIm Rule.

The response Of the republican papers
of NermOnt-eXtracts from several of
which are copied, as specimen bricks, in
another column-to Ex-Governor Stewards
earnest advice to change the onc-term
rule is not the heartiest possible. All
or almost all, mildly admit that the rule
is "A bad thing as applied to the State SEN
ators and representatives: but not so bad
If bad at all, as applied to governors
That. of course, is so. Gov. Stewart would
admit it, as the Free Press certainly does.
The great evil to be cured is inexperence
in our legislators. IT was this that GOV.
Stewart Combattc and it was purely as
incidental TO a reform of this that he
urged the eXpediency of renomnating the
governor.
The advantage of such a denomination
would be simply this. 1t would he notice
to the people of the State that Il change of
policy had been inaugurated, and it would
be followed as it is reasonable to expect,
by the return to the legislature of a good
number of senators and representatives,
by the voters Of the counties and towns.
Governor Stewards argument upon the
subject was a serious one. It looked to-
ward an attempt to remedy a serious
public evil 1t was presented with an eye
solely to the public good, and with no
reference, direct or indirect, in thought
or purpose, to any personal ambition or
advantage of any past, present, or future
candidate for public office. AS such it
Is entitled to serious consideration, and
some of the fippant comments of the
Waterman and one or two other papers
upon it, are unworthy of any journalist.
As for this paper, the Free Press takes
to itself no share of responsibility for the
one-term rule. We opposed it with all the
earnestness and strength We could bring
to the discussion, when it was first adopt
ed. We have often set forth the bad re-
suits which have followed from it. We
have often urged "A return to the old rule
of recollection of worthy representatives.
There has not been a governor in twenty
five years that we would not have been
glad TO see renominated and reelected, for
tie sake of the influence of such a renom-
ination in the direction of a repeal OF
the one-term rule as regards senators and
representatives,. If the fact that the gov
ernor at this time happens to be a Bur-
lington man, had had any weight with
with us. it would simply have been to
discourage us from endorsing the pro-
posal to renominate him. But it has not
uttered into our consideration of the case
in the slightest degree, We should take
the same position if the governorship were
held at this time by any worthy mar
from the East side.
We are looking at some thing broader thar
| the interests or aspirations of any man
and whenever any Nermonter brings for
ward an earnest proposition to change
the present rule, he can count on the sup,
port of the Free Press, every time, wheth.
or the people will hear or forbear, it is
for the voters to say how it shall be, and
| If they choose to continue a practic,
which prevails in like degree in no other
State and is so demonstrably and admit
tedly unwise, We can stand it, under pro.
test, as long as they can.