Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13

sliding democrat Is liable to begin by cast
ing "shceps eyes" over the wall; later he
exchanges condolences with his republican
neighbor, and finally he lands on the other
side of the fence.
This infusion of new blood is not without
its good effects on the body polite, for
some of our most prominent and useful
citizens were once democrats. ghe Demo-
cratic party, however, is left in an emac-
lated condition, and its decline is &C.
casionally arrested only for four years or
so by some temporary infusion of federal
pap from Washington.
While We have some excellent and pub
lie spirited citizens who would like to be
democrats, if their national organization
would stand still long enough for them to
read its platform, nothing is more indica-
tive of the condition of the Vermont dem
ocratic organization than the wandering
of democratic newspapers from the fold
This tendency IS forcibly illustrated by the
recent announcement of the change of the
Poultney journal from the democratic to
the republican column, and the passing of
the Livingstone regime and the advent of
+. l., Howe as proprietor of the Benning-
ton Reformer Other riffs in the demo-
cratic lutte are emphasized by the follow
ing paragraph from the Randolph Herald:
There are only three democratic news
papers left in Ncrmont-the Montpelier
Argus. the Bratteboro Reformer and the
Lyndon Union. The Argus presents the
anomaly of n daily edition that is abso-
lutely neutral and weekly that tries to
preserve the old-time political traditions
of the office. both owned and edited by
democrats. The Reformcr has never been
in sympathy with Organism. The Union
says little or nothing editorially. Deprived
loi political opposition, republican editors
must of necessity turn their lances on each
other if they are to engage in the conten-
ton that sharpens wit.
1t seems, however, that we must reduce
the number of nominally democratic pa
pers in Vermont by ono, for while the
hand of Esau is still to be seen in the
Roformer it is the voice of Jacob that we
now hear. Editor Davenport of the Re
former says.
Brother Johnson is in error about
the Reformcr. yhc Brattleboro Re
former has been discontinued and the only
Reformer now published is the Wndham
County Retormer. Since it passed into the
hands OF tllery & Co. it has been pub
llished on Independent lines preferring to
he known as newspaper rather than a
political organ. 1t believes however that
Il House Cleaning in Vermont is ne",s-
sary for the future growth and prosperity
of the State, and it also believes in local
option-but is not particular AS to which
party brings these reforms about
THAT far cry for n House Cleaning in
Vermont" would he recognized anywhere
but it is difficult to sec how the demand can
be carried out. so long a. democrats wilt
not remain democrats. If any scheme of
colonization could he devised whereby re-
publicans would be induced to locate tenn
porarly in the democratic camp, there
might be some hope, but the democratic
camp is so constantly being moved its To-
cation is often in doubt But if democrats
will not stay on their own side of the
fence, how can republicans reasonably he
expected to change places with them? On
the whole it looks as though Vermont
would be obliged to struggle along under
republican administrations for some time
to come.