Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-05-25
BRArrLEBoRo. FRIDAY, MAY aS, 1909
Questioning Candidates.

questioning Canuiuhtes'
The action of the Vermont branch Of
the American federation Of labor, in
questioning candidates for state and
federal Offices, is something new TO Yer
mont but is only part of n general pol
ley which the national federation is
pursuing in its effort to secure legisla'
ton deemed desirable TO the cause Of
labor.
II is not unnatural that among the
Vermont candidates approached, some
have ignored the questions, some have
resented the questioning or answered
non.eommittally and that only one has
responded fully, frankly and unfavor.
ably. Political methods by which can
didates have been in the habit of Sc.
curing positions have not been such as
to encourage free and independent ut.
terance or to support the theory of pop
ular control of public legislation, II
is natural that the public Office holder
should not accept instruction meekly
from any source except that from
which his authority comes.
Yet if the prospective office holder
will pause for reflection he must admit
that the power to give and to withhold
authority belongs to the people and
that they can exercise it if they choose.
They have right TO know how the
different candidates stand on questions
of public interest and TO choose there.
from the man who best represents
their ideas-otherwise he would not be
their true representative and could not
faithfully carry out the principles of
this government. The people,'or a por-
ton of the people, have no right to
dictate or to threaten candidate, but
they have a right to know him and to
accept or reject him as he is.
The right kind of candidate should
be willing to make such honest answer
as he can to the questions of any class
of voters. He can hope to gain moth
ing by refusing, for he thus loses not
only the questioners vote but perhaps
others through disgust at his churlish-
ness; while an honest answer, though
it might not satisfy his questioners
demands, engenders respect and conf
dence and may win support elsewhere.
If one is looking to the citizens of his
state for support to the office he seeks,
there is no better endorsement for him
than the expression of his own sincere
in connection with matters |
which concern the interests of those |
citizens. He can not please them all |
and should not try to do so; he should |
simply be honest.
On the other hand, questioners of |
candidates should beware of the man
who agrees with them in every particu-
lar If man has good, clean record
Of able work and expresses views
which in the main are sound and prac-
teal, it is better to support him and
take chances with his honest judgment
than to send pledged candidate who
mas no decided opinions Of his own but
S willing to act the puppet and let you
oull the string by which he works.
The general adoption of the ques-
Joining of candidates as a custom by
he people would undoubtedly purify
political methods and improve the
tandard of popular representation.
Candidates would find it necessary to
ave logical opinions and knowledge
# public questions and this would in
luce observation and thought. Hypoc-
isy would be weeded out, when works
lid not follow words, and under this
ustom honesty would be found to be !,
he only safe policy; while honesty !,
acked up by good judgment, would be
sure winner.
The questioning of candidates is but t
mother application of the publicity e
heory which has done so much in I'M Y
overing and correcting fraud and in p
lstice throughout the country during c
be past year. There is no objection t
} it except by those who love dark il
ess better than light for Biblical rea b
ms. A man who is afraid to stand on t;
is own convictions is not fit to stand Il
all a