Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-01-01
AdyertIsIng Ratea on ApplIoatlou.
The Banner and RefOrmer.


With the first issue of The Banner
and Reformer the readers of the united
papers will doubtless expect some out
line of the policy to be pursued. The
policy of the new management is sim
ply this-to give Bennington and Ben
nington County the best newspaper
possible, and one that will be credit
to this, one of the finest sections of
New England
The Banner and Reformer has no
pet plan of reforming the world in six
months. It's first and essential effort
will be to furnish the legitimate news
of the county and state and serve it as
attractively as possible and with such
editorial comment as conditions and
situations, as they arise, shall suggest.
The editor cannot say in advance
what policy the paper will pursue on
issues yet TO be raised, but as they
come they will be met as consistently
and fairly, and at the same time, as
vigorously as the mental capacity of
the editor renders possible.
The editorial columns of news
paper are but reflection of the mind
of the editor and therefore the opinion
of the editor OF this paper on some of
the important questions OF the day
may be of interest TO the readers.
As to national issues, he is a be-
lever in expansion and the acquire
ment of new territory wherever such
expansion can be brought about con-
sistently with American honor. He
believes in tariff reform by the wiping
out OF all duties of which advantage is
taken TO control production and enable
the monopolists to make exorbitant
profits at the expense of the consum-
ers; he believes in government owner
ship of lines OF transportation and
communication and of natural pro-
duets designed by the Creator for the
good of all rather than for the enrich
ment Of few; in an army and navy
commensurate with the dignity and
Importance of the United States as a
world power; and above all, he be-
lieves in the encouragement of that
splendid type of Americanism inherent
in such men as President Roosevelt
and the late Governor William +.
T,,,.-11 80 NF,.., s.I,,,s.,,tt, .,,,1 tI,o 49,,
told thousands who emulate their ex-
ample and who are peculiar TO no one
section and confined to no one party.
In state matters the editor believes
in the new license law-not as by any
means perfect-but as the only avail
able remedy and substitute for dis
credited and obnoxious system in
an increase of state expenses for the
purpose of providing state system
Of permanent highways that will prove
a blessing and an economy for ages to
come: in direct nominations by all
parties; IN a reform of our cumbersome
and expensive grand jury system by
which the state pays out a hundred
thousand dollars year to find out
something already known; in radical
change 10 the system Of taxation; in
u more strict law against child labor;
in weekly payment of wages by cor
porations; in municipal ownership of
franchises and privileges, the value Of
which arise from the communities in
which they exist.
BE believes that Vermont is one Of
the best states in the Union and
capable of being made one Of the most
prosperous and progressive, if the
people will stop whining and get up
and at the real problems OF life. He
believes that Bennington county is tho
best county in Vermont and that Ben
nington is the best town in the county,
but that there is plenty Of chance for
improvement and that it is just as
feasible to 60 forward as backward
and much easier in the long run.
He does not expect to please every
body and does not want to. He makes
no promises for the future except the
one at the beginning of this article, to
endeavor tn give the town and county
real newspaper.
a newspaper cannot properly reflect
the life OF the community without the
support and cooperation Of the people
and this the editor sincerely requests.
FRANK Il. HOWE, Editor.