Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-06-24
Campaign Enthusiasm.

There has been much newspaper
discussion concerning the relative i'm
portance to the people of the state o.
platform and candidate; 1t would
seem, from these discussions, thai
every thing of state good or disadvan-
tage hinged on these two questions
Whom shall we name for governor
and what shall the platform be?
The great trouble with the people
of Vermont in securing the advan-
tages for which they are intermittent
" clamoring, is that they rest their
case too confidently on these two
points-large and important points, it
is true, but which depend so utterly
for utility on a broad foundation OF
lust the right kind of little things
that in themselves alone they are
broken reeds for state progress TO
lean upon.
Build the party platform so and so,
and put such man upon it, the
erumblers and know-it-alls say, and
let's straighten out this liquor law
and the caucus abuses and the taxa
tion Injustice and run things gener-
al,v on different plan. Things are
going to the dogs in Vermont Ana
these very men stay away from the
caucuses and town meetings ana
don't think it matters very much any
way who the delegates are; their rep
resentatives and senators are indifer-
emily chosen and carelessly dispatched
on their great and important mission
of making the laws of the state There
is no enthusiasm over the choice oil
these legislative servants-the en-
thusiasm is reserved for the executive
who has little real power.
This year even that enthusiasm Is
evidently lacking. In 1902 Vermont
had a trio of millionaires as candi-
dates for the gubernatorial honor;
this year she has none, but she has
three as good, honorable and able
men in view for the nomination as
ever trod the earth. Yet lack OF
enthusiasm is complained of. Can 1t
be true, as an old politician is quoted
as saying, that this is because there's
no money in it for the boys?" If SO,
then we would better resolve to dis
pense with enthusiasm altogether in
future campaigns and stop spouting
about candidates and platforms iong
enough to attend to the other end OF
the proposition where all real prog
ress and reform must begin-in indi-
yidual honesty and common sense.
The candidates. Messrs. Bell, De-
Boer and Stanton, are all right; they
are good enough for the position, any
one of them, without paying a cent
for it. and would doubtless do their
best in their limited capacity, for the
good of the state. Now if the men of
Vermont will get together in their
proper places with IAN eye single to
the glory of Vermont and send the
very best men among them to the leg
islature carefully instructed as to
what the people want and conscious
y of the responsibility and confidence
that are reposed in them, the plat
form will be all right, too
Let's cultivate an enthusiasm for
something more than money Let's
learn the power and glory that lie in
beginning right with the little bricks
in the underpinning of the things OF
state and seeing the grand and beautl-
full structure of good government rise
TO shelter us, through the careful
work of our own hands. Let's not
neglect the primary elements below in
things political for the glitter of the
tinsel crown on top.