Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-07-12
ONE OF CLEMENTS PLANks.

1
which Mr.. Clement rests one foot, as.
sails the way in which the Vermont
House Of Representatives is made mp,
whereby all cities and towns, large
and small, are represented alike by
one member. Il cites extreme cases
by which several small towns are
shown to have an equal voice and vote
with the city OF Burlington, popula-
I ton 10000. II condemns such a sys-
TEN as unfair, and demands change
as soon as the constitution can be
amended, so that representation shall
be on a basis oil population.
We have long been OF the opinion
that the Democratic position is the
correct one-in theory. Any other
view presupposes that the citizens OF
the small, remote towns are better
qualified. in proportion to their num-
beers, to administer the state govern
ment than those OF the large towns,
and this nobody seriously contends.
But there is rather more to this than
mere theory. We are confronted by
condition. Each town now has, under
the constitution, the right to choose
one member of the House. To depart
from this method in any way will re
quire that the small towns voluntarily
surrender their rights in this regard
and become parts OF larger districts
consisting of several towns, compar-
ing in size with other districts
throughout the state. There is no
way OF compelling the small towns to
do this save by amending the consti-
tuition, which requires the favorable
action, in two successive sessions OF
the legislature, OF the members OF each
house, and a final acceptance by the
people, at a popular vote. As the
small towns are greatly in the majority
in number, their representatives,
whether Democrats. Fusionists or Re
publicans, would be extremely I'M
likely to diminish the strength of their
own towns in later assemblies by a
favorable vote tor such a proposition.
Then there is just enough argument
in favor OF the present system to give
its defenders something more than
mere selfshness to stand upon. Yer
mont is state OF small towns, with
many diverse conditions and interests. !
There are a few, only few. large cen
tiers. To give them predominating
influence might lead to results not the |
best for the entire state. The natural 1
tendency is toward the tearing down |
of the back towns and the building up
of the populous centers. To hasten
this by giving the reins over to the /
cities and big towns miglt lead to the
absolute ruin OF the remote farming |
sections, some of which could stand .
but little added burden.
Again it is not yet fully demon
the admission of
theory to the contrary-that states
whose popular lawmaking bodies are
made up on basis OF population are
any better governed in actual practice
than Vermont is. Certainly, there has
been tar less OF scandal and corruption 4
at Montpelier than in most state capi-
tails. Action is not always wise, it is
true, but there are other compromising
virtues. On the whole, it might be
determined to let a system which, con-
fessedly odious in theory, has worked
well generally in practice, remain
longer
Then the Senate is made up now on
a basis of population, so that it is not
altogether true that land. instead of
men, rules in Vermont. II the House
IS to be placed on a basis OF population
instead Of the Senate. then the Senat
should be made up on the same basis
rs the federal Senate, two members
from each county All legislative
bodies are thus a compromise between
the two ideas
Il is a matter OF some doubt whether
after the proposed change we're car
ried out, the state would be in any
better way to realize its hopes Ii the
purpose Of the Democratic demand is
to make votes for the ticket in the
large towns this gain will be more than
offset by the losses in small towns that
view with alarm this effort to take
away their strength in the House.
A sweet breath adds to the joys OF a kiss.
You wouldn't want 10 kiss your wife,
mother or sweetheart with a bad breath
You can't have sweet breath without a
healthy stomach. You can't have a
healthy stomach without perfect diges-