The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-07-03
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.

ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
B. Fl. ALBEE has bought the Hard
wick Gazette and assumed the publca-
ton and editorship of the paper. Mr..
Albee is Vermonter "to the manner
born" He has had somewhat varied
and extended experience in newspaper
work and should come to his new field
of labor finely equipped for its duties.
We should expect from him news.
paper of dignity and character, in
telligence and progressiveness. The
WATERMAN wishes him success and
prosperity. g
In an editorial article, the Free Press
declares that Vermonters have been
in clover ever since the state was able
to walk Geographically materially
snd periodically" Immediately fol-
lowing, republished with apparent APP
provsl, is long and very absurd article
from the West Randolph Herald and
Ne,os, the keynote of which is the
lurd statement that Vermonters I" are
martyrs to a system of oppression that
would be condemned in Russia" APP.
parently there is some mistake about
the clover" or "the system of OPP
preston" The two do not consist.
THE Kentucky democrats met in
state convention last week. The men,
bers appear to have prepared for the
fray by deep rotations of the states
most noted product War was in the
air. From start to finish, the conven-
ton was scene of rioting. On the
currency question the resolutions re-
affirmed the democratic doctrine of
1892, using both gold and silver as
money, at parity, and favoring inter-
national bimetalism. Such action by
republican convention would be de-
nounced by democrat and mugwump as
an evasion, straddle, a dodge. AS the
resolutions roundly endorsed the presi-
dent, the mugwump, whose belief in
the infallibility of Cleveland is the
alpha and omega of his political faith,
finds in the financial plank square,
stand-up declaration for "sound
money" But the convention nomi-
mated for governor, on this "uncom-
promising sound money" platform, an
equally incorporating advocate of
the free and unlimited coinage of silver.
"Sound money" got the shadow, free
silver the substance.
HON. H. H. POWERS, in his address
to the alumni of the University of Yer
mont, at the recent commencement,
took ground for the election of senators
directly by the people. One of his
reasons for the change was that ono
electorate should be provided that by
any chance gives to a minority the
choice of a senator" Taking the case
of Vermont, he showed that 139 MEM
bers constitute majority of the joint
assembly of the legislature, and that
139 small towns, containing but one
third of the voters, can elect senator.
If this were the only reason for the
change he favors, the obvious way to
remove the danger of minor con-
troll would be by an amendment of the
Vermont constitution, rather than the
constitution of the United States. Here
in Vermont, the danger of minority
70 hn oil
ton of senator, but to the election of
every other officer chosen by the legis-
lature, and to every law enacted by that
body. One hundred thirty-nine votes,
representing one third the voters of
the state, will elect the judges of the
supreme court. In the house of repre-
sentatives, the abiding place of this
minority electorate, 1913 members, rep
resenting less than one third of the
voters, may pass or defeat the passage
of any law, matter of vital import
ance in the consideration of the great
questions of education, taxation, the
public health, and kindred subjects.
The remedy in Vermont for this dam
ger of minority control is to constitute
the house of representatives on a re-
publican misrepresentation by popu-
lation rather than by towns. NO
electorate should be provided that, by
any chance, gives to the minority the
choice of a SENATOR" or the control of
legislation. What is Judge Powers
opinion in the matter Of reforming the
electorate here in Vermont 80 as to
remove this danger of minority control
VERMONT, It's FERTILE FARMS
AND SUMMER HOMES is the title of a
pamphlet just issued from the WATCH
MAN office under the direction of Hon