Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-12-24
c. ]. BELLS PLATFORM
(Trom the Brattleboro Rcformcr)


Some press futterings have followed
the report Of the meeting of the State
Grange at Rutland last week Worthy
Master c. J. Bell of Walden spoke plain
lv as to what the order wants and after
formulating these desires he reminded
the Erangers that farmers have a ma
jority in the State Legislature ana that
it Is their own fault If they do not have
their will In legislative matters. His Wig
orous challenge will undoubtedly have
its influence in the next Legislature and
we may confidently expect a strong agri-
cultural flavor in the cream Of its pro-
ceedngs. May 1t be manifested next
year in something more generally bcnc-
fetal and pleasing than hedgehog boun-
ties. The farmers OF Vermont are among
the best and most dependable of her
citizens; but II is true OF them as 1t is
of any industrial class that they are apt
to see only their own side OF public quos-
tons Laws should not be made to favor
ono class at tho expense OF any other;
all interests should be considered and n
compromise made between conflicting
claims so as to do the most possible good
and the least possible injustice to all
concerned.
The Grange aspirations take quito n
wide range but they are not so alarm
ingly original and masterful as they
seem Perusal of the Massachusetts
counterparts in Worthy Master Ladd' g
summary of what the Massachusetts
Grange accomplished last year. Vermont
grangers may be bright enough to know
a good thing when they see it, or they
may simply have a parrot-like gift OF
imitation. This is Mr.. Bells formula:
LIST Antitrust law and for provision
for State inspection of all corporations.
3D. Secure law on taxation that will
compel all property to bear its just pro-
portion OF taxation.
3D. Pure food law.
4th. Provide State railway commission
with full power OF fixing maximum rate
of freight and passenger service on all
railways subject to their jurisdiction
5th. Such revision of the fees and sal
aries as Will place them on an equitable
basis.
The next Legislature will evidently
have 10 get busy If IT performs half the
work suggested for it. There is the
local option law which all the state
critics have been tearing to piece
that will have to be tinkered up; eau
Gus law is demanded; the dimensions OF
the noXious animal bounty must be con-
sidered and, as has been before noted,
the building OF State roads and the re-
duction of state expenses are issues to
be met. Add to these the usual routine
work. the unfailing petitions OF the wo-
its erocialtv of coIa1 taxation and we
10 d,,iaanco +bo+ vermont ana Vor-
49,, 800 nro thoro,,gtiv infrecd r.itb
,4'1, ,a'.e;,.o s,jrit 90 80 ttr,os ana
I'm =. - o,roi ~ oonto,,, ,,.ith trc
o,d on,,eoryattve ,iros of thourht and
action.
Mr. Bell. whose ideas on the power
that a state railway commission should
nave are uonsi'e' ca Pie,,S .,,o '.o,,
| tionod" for the republican nomination
! to,. 1-o,.or,,o,. n,v, I,oar ,rba ttordvicl
| cn,atto ttinls Mr. Rol, viii ho q hard
! ,,a,, ~ dofnat If eave "Tte IS known
| .,,, io,,,.tl .,,a hroadth ~ no ste md
3.,',,'.r i,,o, ~ dtrri6od ana vol
rioa,tn,, rorsonoIit,. of abao1ute intcr.
H., nnd nor.cr fai1irg Iovaitv r. his
~ ara 20 ri, frieode IIts followinc
l,';5 az, ~ ~ oorn1ed 20 an,, ono Local.
'..' 49,, ,,l,,,. ,,.,, ~, NJ poiiI