Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-26
FISTIC HOUSECLEANING.
. (From the Ludlow Tribune.)

aSrlculturhl purposes.
FISTIC HOUSECLEANING
(From the Ludlow Tribune.)
The Lyndonvillc journal thinks 1t is
time for the people of Vermont to do
little house cleaning in the way of putting
a stop to the so-callcd boxing exhibitions
which take place frequently at Bellows
Falls and which the Journal implies are
nothing more or less than brutal prize
fights. If We are correctly informed, the
house cleaning has already been done so
far as Vermont is concerned. The bouts
are pulled off in North Walpole, n. IL,
under the auspices Of the Bellows Falls
Athletic club. There were one or two eX-
hibitions given in Bellows Falls, but tho
people of that place soon put a stop to
them. 1t is up to the people of Walpole
to squclch them there.
The Rule That Correspondents Must
Sign Their own Names.
From the Landmark
Tho Vermont Phoenix relates in the
following paragraph how ii has escaped
an annoyance to which every editor has
been moro or less subjected:
The Phoenix has been saved from
one of the worst annoyanccs of news
paper life since it adopted, years ago.
the infexiblc rule, Sign what you
write And incidentally 1T has had
good deal of fun, now and again, in
seeing correspondents loaded with wit,
wisdom, indignation or sarcasm sud
denly subside when confronted with
the choice of coming out into the open
over their own names or remaining
silent.
The experience of Tho Landmark ITALICS
with that given in the latter part Of the
above quotation. Every now and then
do h, 10 oh
assume the responsibility Of ''roasting'
some person or persons for acts of which
the editor knows nothing except through
rumor on of calling attention to some al
legged dcrcliCtion of duty on the part or
one in official position. When the reply
IS made: yes. We will publish = com
nunicltion on this subject signed b. a
responsible person" the matter is drop
ped. If a grievance is of q public char
dC ter. If a public wrong should be re-
dressed. then it is the place of the local
paper to call attention to It, But no paper
has Il legitimate RIGHT to mcddie III
purely personal matter or to roast one
person merely to crafty another.
WHAT 1T MEANS FOR DEMOCRACY.
O'rom the Bellows Falls Times)
Vermont democrats are rejoicing over
the license victory of February. They
call the result an endorsement of democ-
racy. and well they may. Tho policy for
which the democrats have clamored, the
policy which was spurned and spit upon
for decades Is now the accepted policy
of the state. The Republican party is
split in twain and internal dissenson will
add to the ranks of the democracy. The
democratic Montpelier Argus. while per-
haps a little too optimistic, tells consid
cradle truth in the following paragraph:
From this time forward we look to see
the Democratic party in Vermont increase
and develop. The majority of the voters
of Vermont are in favor of democratic
ideas on this issue They will be found
so on others. In the matter of changing
the system of representation in the mat
ter of reducing State expenses. in the
matter of aboshing machine rule and
giving citizens of all classes and parties
representation in the management of pub
lie institutions now that people can look
on them without being blinded by preju-
dice, without believing that man is
necessarily wicked and unfit for public
place because he is Il democrat, We en-
rect to see "A steadily increasing number
of men flock to the standard Of democ-
racv. The unquestioned rule of the re-
publican party is broken. Democracy
appeals to the people on other questions,
as it has ON the liquor question in their
inte' csts. and presents arguments based
on good sense and justice
Labor Unions Urged to Avoid the Dan
gers of Political Shipwreck
(l'rum the Randolph Ierald)
A parasite Is an organism that attaches
itself TO. feeds upon and finally destroys.
u larger organism. 1t looks as if the
political parasite had secured II threaten
| ing hold on labor unionism in Vermont.
An effort is being made in burlington and
Montpelier and some stir has been caused
in Rutland toward the election of Il labor
candidate for mayor. Now there Is no
law against this. of course, but why the
/ lines Should be drawn ON this issue passeth
our understanding. What advantages can
accrue tn the cause of unionism that Will
! at all compensate for the animosities that
| will he aroused; Organized labor Is an
economic movement and has no more place
| in politics than social and fraternal move
ments like those of the Odd Fellows and
! MaSons. How will wages be increased OF
hours shortened by the election of a union
mayor? Instead bitterness and Jealousy
will crop out. Politics is II troubled sea
and any secret order that wilfully en-
banks thereon is most unwise. At present
unioniSm is looked upon with liberation
and encouragement. Let it enter politics
and it will at once encounter elements
the most insidious and desperate for its
undoing. If it is wise it will stay out.
|
AFFORD,
('rom the Barre Tlmes)
There has been IL call from some parts
of tho State Tor an investigation into the
administration of the State asylum fol
the insane at Waterbury, the call growing
out OF the recent soalding of Mrs. Bennett
"a lady - years of age. 1t was reported
at the time OF the accident that IL result
ed from the "CarelcSSncss' of the nurses
who attended her. Without attempting tC
defend the administration of the institu'
| ton it is difficult for us to see wherein the
mana cement is especially culpable in this
Lease. The ban" lies entirely with the
| two nurses, who We are told, received 4
summary notice OF Dismissal after tn.
proof of their "carclcssncsS" had been re
ported. AS most institutions of that ma
| ture have, the State asylum has II system
| OF bathing the patients, and we must ad
NIT that the system Is most neces.
Sary one 1t was while engaged in tn,
performance of this duty that the care.
lessness occurred. Now wherein is the adj
ministration of the institution ut fault;
| The only fault that can be laid on the ad.
|ministration is in the fact that ii retained
employees who might be guilty of careless
ness. Those employees We're Immediately
dismissed when the instance OF their un-
| fitness for their positions was made
known. An investigation may be made
| but it will lead to the usual conclusion.
THE MARBLE CITY'S LIBRARY.
| (From the Rutland News)
1 Al I