Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-06-22
PLATFORM
Principles Enunciated at State
Convention Wednesday
Higher Educational Standards Advocated
Reform the judicial System-Further
Trial Of Local option.

Trial Of Local option.
The Republicans of Vermont. by their
delegates in convention assembled at
Montpelier, June 20, 1906, is open conven-
ton do declare:
First: That we heartily and cordially |
endorse the splendid administration of |
President Theodore Roosevelt, and We |
commend the President as a fearless |
champion of the welfare Of the people. |
He has. without fear or favor, uncovered |
and punished those guilty of malfeasance |
i'm public service; he has zealously assailed |
the violators of the federal statutes; he |
has promoted friendly relations with other |
nations of the earth and gained for us a |
front rank in the worlds diplomacy; he |
has encouraged wise and helpful legisla- |
ton and has shown his determination 10 |
continue to promote protection of home |
Industries, commercial expansion and other
national policies that have helped the
American people to enjoy prosperity and
progress without parallel in the annals
of national development.
Second: We commend the administra-
ton of Governor Charles j. Bell, and re-
new our expression of hearty appreciation
of the highly creditable services in Con-
gress of United States Senators Redfeld
| Proctor and William p Dillingham;, and
Congressman Kittredge Haskins and David
| j. Foster.
Third: We note with satisfaction the
|
since the adoption of our last platform, by
| the Legislature of 1904. 1t provided for a
| thorough and non-partisan investigation
| of all our public institutions, and adopted
| efficient and economical methods of adj
ministration of the states affairs; it pro-
vided that accounts for public service
should be itemized; authorized the state
auditor to prevent unreasonable disburse-
ments; restricted state institutions to the
use of one-twelfth of their appropriations
monthly; provided penalties for the ac-
ceptance of a commission on any pur-
chases of supplies. required quarterly
financial statements by the officers of our
public institutions; required county clerks
| to make statements of all fees received;
regulated child labor; limited municipal
| Indebtedness; and otherwise legislated
| wisely and we'll We pledge ourselves to
continue our efforts to safeguard the ex-
penditure Of the states funds in every
| way that ii can be done consistently with
the liberal care of the weak the oppressed
and the unfortunate whose careful pro-
lection is our first duty.
Fourth We congra tulate the state that
the last session of the Legislature took
forward step in behalf of the education
of our children by laying the foundation
for a permanent common school fund by
setting apart $780, 900, which is now in
vested and the income thereof forever
dedicated to the use of the common
schools. We recommend still further adj
vancement in the education Of our child
rem, and especially urge the coming Leg
islature to use its best efforts to adopt
some means whereby the percentage of
illiJeracy shall be materially reduced.
| We recommend that the teachers of the
more rural portions of the state, at least,
! be better qualified and better paid.
Let there be more rigid enforcement of
existing laws and a general raising of the
| standard of education. We advise that
of establishing a system of manual train
ing schools.
Fifth: We endorse the action of the
Legislature in doubling the appropriation
for the deaf, blind and feeble minded.
We congratulate the investigating COM
I mittee for having made its first considera-
ton the moral and physical welfare of the
I inmates of our state institutions, and we
! urge that the Legislature in dealing with
these institutions make that consideration
paramount. While we urge that economy
: in expenditure be second only to the good
OF the wards of the state, we do not con-
/, | cur in the political propaganda which
\ makes dollars and cents it's sole cry, and
has so far neither offered nor suggested
$ anything for the welfare of those who, by
the laws of the state and of humanity. are
!. ! objects Of our special care.
Sixth: The searching investigation tc
which our state institutions have beer
4 subjected shows efficient administration
n | Of our state affairs. Whatever there was
= of weakness and error in the management
[ of those Institutions has been laid open
!. | to the public and remedied, and We know
$ that at the present time there is no hos
pital for the care OF all classes of insane
e where the inmates are better cared fol
than at Waterbury: that in no state
prison is the discipline better than al
Windsor; and that in no secondary pena
institution no better conditions prevail
3 than at Rutland; while the return received
| by the state for its convict labor is moi
s eQualed, class for class, in any othel
state.
Seventh: We recognize the evils in the
/ fee system, particularly in the admins.
: | tration of the penal laws in the minol
: courts. We believe it is not prudent
entirely to abolish the system for the
reason that to meet the requirements o.
all towns and cities in the state 1t would
necessitate the establishment Of a large
=, number of new courts with salaried ofi.
II GERS. We urge the attention OF the Legis.
lature to the detail of these matters tina
= remedy of the evils and Improvement II
procedure may be brought about w,
:, recommend that the law relating t.
misdemeanors be so changed that tn,
term of imprisonment for misdemeanori
shall not be affected by the distance O
a the committing court from the house o
: correction.
Eighth: We believe that the purity o
- the caucus should be fully protected b!
= simple legislative measures, and we rec
ommend such endorsements to the presen
law as win modify the manner In which
y the voter may announce his political pref
: erence.
Ninth: We deplore both unequal anC
: double taxation as being unjust and IL
: violation of the spirit of the constitution
al requirement that each person and cor
poration shall contribute his proportion
toward the expense of government. W.
u recommend that such measures be adopted
by the next Legislature as will relieve
!, us of these evils
Tenth: We rejoice that under, tn,
n local option law the great majority OF tn,
n people OF Vermont have continued t
g demonstrate their enduring devotion t
II the sound principles of temperance anC
Il sobriety. This law should not be repealed
r bun should be given further trial.
Il Eleventh: We recognize that our high
4 ways are primarily for the conduct OF thu
). business affairs of the people of the state
e and we pledge our adherence to progress
r in their improvement, in their methods o
Is construction and in the continuance
o of state appropriation therefor. w
s recognize that under the present Law
d some Of the funds Of the state ar
n wasted in ill-directed temporary re
) pairs and upon portions Of highway
i that are not Ihoroughfares; we, there