Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-05-23
lATTLEBoR0, VT, FRIDAY, MAY %, 1902
Attend the Caucuses.

1t is all wrong and the source of the
decentralization, the shiftlessness IL
government and the pettiness in poll
tics that atflicts Vermont, that hel
public questions are decided, not be-
fore the tribunal of the whole people
at the polls, but in party caucuses.
This is possibly not the first time that
the Reforlner has noted this fact ano
doubtless will not be the last.
This, however, is a year, such as
comes but once in a generation, when
this evil is reduced to its minimum by
the fact that at last there is an issue OF
principle involved, theRepublican votes
are going to be out in unprecedented
fullness and the decision may be eX-
pected to contain the utmost of wis
dom that is possible, after so much and
long stagnaton, within the lines of any
one party. This, on the principle
upon which American institutions rest,
that the wisdom of the whole people is
greater than that of any part, is not
so good as a real decision, following
real consideration, at the polls but it
is infinitely better than the usual
thing of caucuses that are only ques-
ton of hired men and loafers that are
gathered from the streets.
All that is needed to realize the ut
most of good the situation offers, is
for every voter to come out to the eau
cuses and vote his convictions, with
out fear or favor of any man or interest,
and with an eye single to what he be-
lieves to be the best good of the state.
If he believes that Gen. Mccullough,
who in brain power certainly has not
been equalled by more than three gov
errors the state has had in the past 30
years, or that Col. Proctor, from what
we have had a chance to know of him
in public life, in his good service as
speaker, in view of the conditions of
their candidates., and of the ideas
and issues they stand for, so far as
these have been allowed to be known,
is either of them the best man for the
state, the duty is to vote for him. If
on the other hand the belief, after
careful weighing of the matter is that
Mr.. Clement and the policy he stands
for are on the whole desirable to adopt,
the vote should be for Clement dele
gates.
The man who threatens with loss of
trade or future ostracism from party
councils or calls names or anything of
the kind, should simply be treated as
the contemplate pup he shows him
self He has no more conception of
what belongs to a self governing peo-
pie than the pup.
Likewise the man who tries to con-
vince you that you are bound to some
candidate because you declared for him
before Proctor or Clement came into
the field, or before they expressed |
themselves on the one question of
the canvass. this man, though |
there may be a sort of sentiment I
of honor back of his idea, is try
ing to make political slave, instead |
of freeman, of you. Your vote be-
longs not to any man, faction or par
ty, not even to yourself as a personal
matter, but to your state and your coun-
try. Any declaration-and pledges"
should never go beyond this-should
always carry with them an implied
condition to this effect-and should be
SO understood and treated.
If every vote tomorrow and at the
coming caucuses could be cast under
such a solemn sense of obligation,
there would be no need of fear of the
results, even under the system OF caii-
Gus rule +