Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-11-25
"A Revolution IN Vermont.

n xtCVOluLlUu III VC1mJuL.
The Springfield Republican in
talking breezily of "a revolution in
Vermont" seems to be honestly con-
cerned for the welfare of the state.
Certainly the change it entertaining
ly notes is an actual fact, and taking
"cognizance of the relation of things
as they are today" as Gov. Smith
would say, the situation is about as
the Republican expresses it. 1t says
in part:
"A revolution has been in progress
in the state of Vermont that the out
side world wots not of. Since the
Grand Trunk people came into
control of the Central Vermont rail-
road, free passes have been curtailed
to an extent that is the surprise of
the state. Those halcyon days when
everybody in the Green Mountain
state of consequence enough to be
placed under obligations to this road
held its pass, have passed away, 1t is
to be hoped never to return. How
ever admirable this move as bust
ness proposition, and however di-
rectly it concerns the rights of the
public, this action of the Grand
Trunk management is vastly unpop-
ular with those who have for SO
many years paid no fares on its
trains. The word of doom came
like stroke of lightning out of Il
cloudless sky. Renewal was asked
for the passes, and word came back
that these favors had run out and
would not be renewed. Blank
Amusement overcame the victims,
from the Canadian border to the
Massachusetts, line. The old order
OF things had passed away ina night
and men knew it not until this reve-
lation came. Even editors were in
cluded in the edict, not to speak
about lawyers, judges, legislators,
office-holders and so ON. The rail-
road would do business with the
press as business, granting transport
tation in return tor advertising, but
no more free passes. This is an i'm
portant and righteous development"
The Grand Trunk finds no use for
the Central's longtime legislative
agent:
"Such is the amazing story. The
salary stopped, and the office, never
an officially recognized one, lapsed.
I. can probably be safely assumed,
in the light of these developments.
that the era when every lawyer of
standing in Vermont, with the rar-
est exceptions, was in the hire of the
Central road, "to look after lost
baggage" has also passed away.
Perhaps it was ended before the adj
vent of the Grand Trunk people,
but it is inconceivable that bust
ness management would permit
such an outgo as once existed to re-
main unlopped. This Central Yer
mont, once the Vermont Central, is
a road with a past-capital p"
"But the attempt to run the Cen
trail Vermont as business enter
prise pure and simple is of interest
beyond the borders of Vermont. 1t
is even asserted that Gov. Smith,
the president of the road, has been
shorn of much of the power that
has hitherto been vested in that Of
Gee, and that practical authority has
passed into the hands of lower Of
ficials more directly allied with the
Canadian powers that be. 1t need
ed an invasion from the outside to
place this great Vermont railroad
upon a basis anything like other
railroads, and such an incursion has
come and has prevailed for the gen.
eral good. This is something that
the people Of Vermont can we'll be
thankful for"