The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-10-23

time, all the same, and If they do we'll
they will have the honor of a re-
election" But If they won't wait of
their own free will, then the people !"
must take the control "and, like faith
full policemen, see that no flank move
ment lie made for place at the head of
the line. In respect of the matter of
beginning the proposed reform at the
top" the contemporary heartily Sec
onds the suggestion" but "does 80
without consultation with Governor
Woodbury., and with no knowledge of
his views upon the question:" except
that, upon general principles, it assumes
that Barkis is willin'." The state
press is exhorted "to take up this SUBJ
ject candidly and in earnest"
Preparatory to beginning the " fair
and free discussion which the Free
Press invites, perhaps the contempt
rary ought to define the limits of the re-
form " at the top" For example, is it
to extend to the governors staff The
production of colonies is leading Yer
mont industry, in which the state has
recently become competitor of other
states " in the markets of the world"
This question has bearing, also, upon
another industry, the production of
military clothing and equipments. If
the governor is to have a reelection,
the logical inference would be that the
colonies, domestic and foreign, would
have a reappointment. The conse-
quences might be more disastrous to
embroidered politics in Vermont than
was the passage of the perfdious aud
dishonorable tariff to the national in
dustres. The crop of colonies would
be cut down fifty per cent, and the bust
ness of the military tailors and brass
founders in the same ratio. The "Sons
of Vermont in other lands, and other
foreign and festive organizations, must
also be regarded. Variety is the spice
of life, and life at these gatherings be-
yond the states confines would lose
much of its pungency by doubling the
repetition of the same old stories and
the praises of maple sugar. The me-
cessity for a delimitation of the pro-
posed "reform at the top" will become
still more apparent the further the con-
sideration of the subject is pursued.
Reasoning from analogy, some doubts
might arise as to the wisdom of begin
ming this reform where the evil be-
gan, at the top" Good surgery begins
the healing process at the bottom, al
though the disease began at the top.
The political reformers may learn wis
dom from the doctors. Governor Stew
arts remedy at best was somewhat en-
pirical When ne proposes to initiate
cure of deep-seated evil by a super
fetal application of a mellifuous oint-
ment, confidence in his skill as prac-
titioner may be shaken, however strong
the respect for his judgment in dag
nosis. The argument for the re-elec
ton of competent members of the leg
islature, of experienced Lawmakers,
does not apply with the same force, or
anything like the same force, to the
case of the chief executive officer His
duties are chiefly technical or perfume
tory; the lawmakers function is orig,
inal and vital. We fear that DR.. Stew
arts prescription is top-heavy, and the
fact is recalled that his associate physi-
clan, the Free Press, was dumb as an
oyster dozen years ago when this
feature of legislative reform was incor-
porated into the state platform, except,
however, that it did not propose the
reelection of the governor. The cir
cumstances are somewhat changed.