Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-02-19
PLAIN TALK FOR PLAIN PEOPLE
Crisp Comment and Chat Of Men and
Topics in the Public Eye.

| am stranger to Reformer read
ers; later ON, we shall be better ac-
aualnted. Meanwhile there is no good
reason why we should not have O
pleasant time together
We are going TO consider few eie-
mental truths. You may not recog-
nize them as such. but II you look
closely, the familiar ear-marks ana
tarred initials can be noticed. Truth
is SO precious that most people are
stingy with It. don't intend to waste
the costly stun, but lovers of the
plain unvarnished" will have no
cause for woe.
| like George Washington Morrow
about as well as an Irishman likes or
ange ribbon, but his no-license cam
paign is all right. This is local OPP
ton state and the anti-saloon league
has a right to carry every town IL can.
No-license means business and ] be-
lieve in every decent effort to Keep
men from drinking rum. But George
is altogether too stingy about telling
the truth. Some of his statements
would be common every day lies II
told by newspaper man.
II pleases me to notice an occasional
bit from Sam Jones In the prohibitory
papers. Wonder II Sam remembers
the night an intoxicated janitor talk
ed back" to him In Vergennes. Sam
was pretty well heeled himself and the
committee was horror struck-at the
janitor. They apologized to Sam. Sam
said it was all right. then proceeded TO
tank up" himself. Sans sense OF
humor must frequently lead to a gem
tie inward giggle when he thinks OF
that apology.
The devil doesn't worry about the
man who is always making noble re-
solves. He doesn't have to.
A man absolutely sound on every
other subject sometimes uses political
methods that would bankrupt the
Standard oil company If applied to
business
Vermont is great state, but all
Vermont knows that man can buy
political preferment, social prestige
and newspaper praise in Vermont We
are pious. but our Adam descended
breaks out in spots. Let
us holler for Vermont then do little
internal disinfecting and resolve to
rinse off our meanness, Let us be
worthy of our state.
l have seen voters stand in line
like sheep and receive $500 for their
God bestowed liberty of choice. have
heard tun-bellied politicians trade
mems franchises like NANCY ours,
have seen Lieutenant governor of
Vermont stammer and halt In
sheepsh request for political send
off" and yet believe in Vermont.
Why? Because | believe In the Uni
,ersal Good, that every man, no mat
Ter how mean and putrid, possesses In
some degree. And that bit OF Good
viii sometime leaven all the mean
ness. That's chemistry.
That strenuous ring buster. r. w.
Clement, hasn't kindled any confiagra-
ions on the frozen surface Of Vermont
streams with his Windsor speech. II
vas a good speech, but, compared with
he vigorous stun that scared the poll
ical birth marks off the Republican
,arty in '02, it made me think of the
equel to a two-volume novel.
OF course it was only n feeler and
nay be good enough to hold the scare
'ver the leaders and get the regular
nomination. Republicans have so long
uled Vermont that this business OF
apping sacred knuckles and spanking
POLITICAL idols has created the worst
outbreak of chilled extremities on rec
I'D I honestly believe IL Clement
anne out boldly and announced the
BOLTON OF every state Office but gov
rnor, secretary, treasurer and auditor
nd every state commission but agri-
ulture and the board of health as his
latform. the old-liners would simply
ollapse and murmur helplessly
what's to be done?"
Vermont Republicans need nerve /
onic. Here's presidential election up
n us and the G. o. P. sitting feebly |
y its altar-fires and asking In queru-
,us tones, who's afraid of Clement"
10 candidate worth mentioning, no /
Ian of campaign, no chairman of the |
tate committee and nobody looking
,r the Job. Like the Russian fleet,
ding in stupid insecurity at Port Ar
,ur. it needs only the rending stab
( a lively political torpedo-boat to
lie II out on the Implying shore.
There's nothing quite SO useless and
liable as the political boss who's lost
is grip.
Speaking of war, those Fort Ethan
lien cavalrymen, whose enlistment
spires this week, want to join the
apanese army en- bloc. The boys know
leir business. They want to fight
,me one The weary round Of parade
spection, sentry-go and barrack- du-
gets the healthy American into a
actious state Of mind whose best re-
IF is war. And SO he occasionally
lifts into Burlington and thrashes
~ or two, puts OH the mitts and re-
lilds a bunkie's features or, in the
resent case, takes his discharge and
lnts the seat of trouble and bloody ,
ar. Small wonder the U. s. cavalry
an can fight; he's driven to It. /.
Fortune knocks at every mans door.
1T she doesn't climb the stairs and
-ag him out Of bed.
M. ..4.. IL Al. .- auua |