The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-06-23
a oTHuR ROPES General Editor
CHOOSE WISE LEGISLATORS.

pointed out that the State convention
should not try to encroach upon the
domain of the Legislature by pledging
the party to specific action as to given
legislation because the Legislature is
the proper body to attend to those
matters. The Journal believes that
it would be folly to attempt to do
more than to give the general policy
of the party in the resolutions adopted
by the convention and that the Sena-
tors and Representatives, elected with
q view to their wisdom and good judg-
ment, should be trusted to see to the
details.
To illustrate: 1t would be very
uuwise action for the convention to
say what should be done with the
present liquor law. Several courses of
procedure may be taken. The present
law may be retained in toto; it may
be repealed and the prohibitory law
put back in force; it may be repealed
and the State store system, or some
other system, put into being; or it
may be retained and amended, The
choice of the proper course requires
deliberation, comparison of results,
study of conditions, and study of
proposed changes both in principle and
in form. The convention has time nor
opportunity to do any of these things
properly. The Legislature can alone
deal adequately with the question and
then only after careful consideration.
The proper course for the convention
to take is to reiterate the Republican
sentiments in favor of legislation that
will best aid the cause of temperance,
and leave to the Legislature the
choice as to what laws will do that
best.
This State needs batter roads, but
this is a question to be worked out by
the Legislature and not by the conven-
ton 1t would be most unwise for
travagant and i'll directed expenditure
as was proposed in a recent meeting in
this city of men interested in good
roads. 1t was proposed then that the
State bond in a great sum for the pur-
pose of building State highways.
The Journal does not approve of such
indiscriminate action for good roads.
Better roads should-and will-come
gradually as the needs and demands of
the public in various sections increase.
State aid for bodybuilding will con-
tinually increase in amount, and the
efficiency with which this State aid is
applied will become greater, but all
in the natural course of events brought
about and FASTENED by continual drum
ming on the subject by the press OF
the State and through other agencies.
No such radical measure as that pro-
posed at the good roads convention is
wanted
Were the State to invest large
sum of money in any enterprise at the
present time, it could do it wiser row
in another direction. A railroad from
Newport to Rutland would do more
to develope the industries of the State
at the present time than any other
action which could be taken. The
advantage that would be given by such
a road to the industries of the State
would be very noticeable. The say
ing to the State In mileage alone
would be considerable. State aid in
the building Of such road might
we'll be considered by the Legislature.
But the convention should not try to
handle the subject except in general
way. State aid in the development
of internal industries and their pro-
lection has been given freely by Other
States New York spent immense sums
in the building of the Erie canal. The
investment paid, So we'll satisfied
was the State with the results that 6
few months ago she voted to expent
a further sum of SOL, 900, 900 in max
ing that canal navigable by steam
Some time ago Massachusetts spent {
great sum in tunnelling through thu
Hoosac mountains in order to give thu
State, and especially portion OF it, tn,
railroad connections that were needed
for the commercial warfare that wa
going on The Hoosac Tunnel wa
the saving of large portion of thu
State to profitable commercial activ
ity Vermont can afford to think o
these questions. The Legislature cal
we'll consider them, but it would b
foolish for the State convention to at
tempt TO treat with them.
A thorough, practical geological sur
vey of the State would be OF grea
value, 1t Is something the State ha
never had. The late reports of tn
State geologist do not vary material.
in actual facts given from thos
printed years ago. The recent report
aud geological maps do not contain
mention of various mineral deposit
OF the State that are of great valu
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