The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-14
State Issues.


chad reference to State issues as suf-
fering from the domination of one par
ty and the factional disput es within
that party"
The contemporary cites particularly
''such issues as the apportionment
of town representation in the General
Assembly as one that Republican plat
forms do not recognize" The difficulty
in this matter is two-fold. Change in the
basis of representation from unrepubli-
can dirt to the fundamental republican
principle of popular government, is
hardly party issue; and, again, it is
not an issue at all, partisan or general.
An attempt was made to make the
question of reforming the Constitution
an issue in the last general election.
The JOURNAL early called attention to
the fact that 1900 was the year in which
proposals of amendment could be made,
that amendments could not again be
proposed till 1910, and the subject was
therefore of primary Importance. The
issue was not accepted. The newspa-
pers did not discuss the matter. Even
the Messenger seemed oblivious.
When the amendment of initial and
vital consequence which Gov. Stickney
had commended to the favorable con-
sideration OF the Senate and House Of
representatives., permitting the pro-
posal of amendments at any regular ses-
sion OF the Legislature, with the exist
ing checks on final adoption, came be-
fore the General Assembly, even then
neither the Messenger nor the other
contemporaries assisted in enforcing
the subject upon the attention of the
law makers. The editor of the MeSsen-
ger was constantly in attendance upon
the sessions of the Legislature, but, if
the JOURNAL is right in its recollec-
tions, his pen was not enlisted in its adj
vocacy till the game was up, the fatal
vote taken, and the subject adjourned
for ten years. After the horse was
stolen there was great hue and cry. A
loud call was raised for reopening the
question at an impossible extra session.
A cause that can next be presented to
lawfully chosen jury only in 1910,
after the court of 1900 has made
its decision and dispersed, is
now argued with zeal and vehe-
mence which, employed in season,
might have contributed to initial tri-
umph. The men who may be con-
WINGED today may be all dead in 1910.
A new generation will have in its
hands then the issues of life and death.
"Bequeathed from bleeding sire to
son" this battle of freedom may be
won in some future decennial period
when the Shekinah of our liberties is
removed from the ark to be busted and
furnished. Today it is the deadest
kind of dead issue. No breathing
bellows" can blow the breath of life into
it's corpse.
The history of political contests in
other States, in which parties are quite
evenly divided, does not seem to sus-
tain the Messengers view of the late
senatorial contest in Vermont. In New
York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, siren
uous contests for election to the Sen.
ate of the United States have been
made, within one or the other or both
OF the dominating parties, and the
methods have not been essentially diff
ferent from those in States of one
sided party majorities.
The Messenger is right in its appeal
for the precedence of State issues. The
list is only begun by the two it has
named. There are questions which
should become burning issues-ques.
tions which relate Immediately to vital
material interests, on which the reten-
ton of it's inhabitants depends, on
which it's growth in population and ma
terial affairs, on which depend its per-
manent prosperity, its increase in ma
terial wealth. One trouble with Yer
mont is she is strangely unmindful of
her own highest interests, or utterly
dead to those interests. Appeal to
the freemen OF the State on any
issue of national importance, indus
trial, economic or financial, and they
will astonish the world with the zeal
and fervor of their response. They will
surpass Clan Alpine's warriors in their
readiness and eagerness to respond to
the signal of national danger. Every
battle field on which they are present or
can reach by forced marches they will
make Bennington or Cedar Creek
When the State Legislature convenes
in time Of national peril, and a patriotic
law maker proposes to raise half mil
lien dollars for the national defense
some Stephen Thomas, of prophetic Wis.
ion, will move to make it million dol