Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-09-02
Independent Rally.

didate for city representative, addressed
an audience in Miles Hall last evening.
He said he wanted to have a social
talk with the voters of Barre upon ques-
tons of local interest. He spoke of the
great progress Barre is making and con-
sidered that its busy toilers were of an
intelligent class and fully capable of unr-
derstandiag the questions at issue which
are of great moment and must be an
sw cred how the voters will decide at
the polls lie had invited the other
candidates to enter into debate but
they had seen fit to ignore his sugges-
tion and were trying to throw cold
water on his efforts to bring these ques
tions directly before the public. There
were five important issues to be discuss
ed.
First. The proposed change in the
city charter which would result in the
city judge being elected by tho people.
Second. The proposal to have the
people elect the assessors.
Third. High license VS.. prohibition.
Fourth. The water question,
Fifth. A low tax rate instead of the
present high rate.
He talked on the three first issues
only last evening and will speak on the
remaining two Saturday evening at 7
o'clock
In the first place everything in the
world is dominated by some great un-
derlying law. Gravitation is the great
law of the universe, evolution is the
great law of all living things and equal
ity is the great principle upon which
this country's prosperity depends.
All men are created with certain un-
alienable rights. The President of the
United States can upon certain occasions
cast one vote; so can the poorest laborer
in Barre if properly registered.
When the United States was born ii
was the second greatest event in the
worlds history because the principles of
equality were incorporated into its very
foundation. All these local questions
must be decided with regard to this
same great principle. The people of
Barre should think twice before decid
ing to have the city Judge elected by
the people. Just look at the supreme
court. The judges there are not chosen
by any political party or faction and
have no party prejudices to warp their
judgment. Just SO our city court
should be above local party prejudices,
and who is better qualified than the gov
ernor to appoint its judge9
One Of the other candidates for repre-
sentative said in his speech Of accept
ance that the assessors should be elected
by tho people. Why are they not judges
in way, and why should they not be
appointed in similar manner? This
should be strictly non partisan office
There is no perfection in the world, but
our system of electing them is good
enough.
In considering the question of high
license vs.. prohibition we should first
consider what prohibition is in this
state and what it means.
1t is not an assumptuary law and does
not apply to man in his private house.
1t allows man all the liquor he wants
for his own use in his own house, and
says it may ho sold at one place in each
town. We have tried again and again
to get high license in Vermont, but this
is rural state and the people do not
want such laws as arc called for in New
York City. The method of elccting re-
representatives. in this state is not founded
on the principle OF equity. The little
town of Halifax with less than 200 in
hahitants has just as many representa-
tives as Burlington There one voter
equals 120 in Burlington.
In the same way CameIs Hump with a
population of some 80 hedge-hogs
would have as much representation as
the City Of Barre. and one hedgehog
would equal 100 men. The way to do
is to first make a law to have the rep
resentatives apportioncd according to
population and not according to acreage.
Then if the Legislature votes to have
high license it will be the will OF the
people, but as it is the law cannot be
changed; and it is simply a vote-catch-
ing device to advocate high license.
Mr.. Jersey would not send either city
attorney or a city judge to the Legisla-
ture. They haye enough to attend to
now.
If they wish the office of repres, nta-
tive let them first resign their present
position. lie then went on to tell Of the
bad results that might follow if these
two offices were vacated and filled by
new men who were not fitted for the
position 1t will be better to keep the
present members in office and send
some man to the Legislature who has
not already got all he can attend to.
lie spoke of his having voted both the
Republican and Democratic tickets and
stated his reasons for doing so. Did
not think that a man need attend any
caucus to have qualifications for office
and right to be elected to it by the
people. Mr.. Herscy will speak on the
water question and the rate of taxation
in Miles Hall at I o'clock Saturday
evening.