St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-05-20

has seen fit to ignore. The four ques-
tions were as follows;
What is there about Congressman
Haskns' congressional record which
warrants your assertion that that
record is only ordinary!
What qualifications does Mr.. Plumley
possess which make it reasonable to
suppose that he will be more valuable,
or even as valuable, to the district at
the end of eight years as Colonel Has
kins is now?
What has Colonel Haskins failed to
accomplish in congress that Mr.. Plumley
can reasonably expect to accomplish
What reason is there in the claim that
an able and efficient public servant
should retire, when he is better qualified
by training, experience and ability to
serve his constituents than anyone men
toned as his successor Brattleboro
Reformer.
Treat Haskins Fairly.
We notice in some of the Plumley
papers a very decided attempt to punish
Congressman Haskins for his former
criticisms of President Roosevelt. We
cannot think that such an argument
will carry any weight or have any effect
upon the voters of the Second District.
Things have come to a degrading pass If
the representatives of the sovereign state
OF Vermont, at Washington, are barred
from any independence of thought or
speech upon questions where the Presi-
dent of the nation is concerned or dis
cussed. 1t will be gloomy day for this
state and for the Republic when a state
representative can successfully be pun
ished politically for any honest word he
may utter in the Congress, even if in
criticism of such high personality as
the President of the United States.
1t should be understood in Vermont
that no servant of the people of this
Republic ought to be, and we believe
never can be, held up as beyond criticism
or punishment for his conduct while in
office. If the representatives of Vermont
are hereafter to be arraigned before the
voters of the state for punishment be-
cause of reasonable criticism of the
President, it is time to have that fact
proclaimed throughout the state. If we
must hereafter send cuckoos and hero
worshipers TO represent us in Washing
ton we should begin at once plans to
surrender our constitution and abdicate
our sovereign right, as an independent
commonwealth
There is altogether too much toadvism
in this state to the servants whom we
place in power; too much servilitv to
temporary office; too much party fetish
worship. Our great exemplar over in
New York, while a party man and a
staunch upholder of republicanism, does
not hesitate to assail and criticise his
own party when it is wrong, and strike
through it straight for the right. No
man in Office is above criticism if he
deserves it none should escape it when
IT is needed. In the very case at issue
Mr.. Roosevelt, in our opinion, deserved
criticism. He has done many things
where criticism was justified Better
than that, he got it, and he got it from
republicans even more than from dem.
ocrats, for the one great and good
reason that it was for the benefit Of the
party.
None of your demigod business for us
here in Vermont We learned a long
time ago how to be men, Let us never
be false to our inheritance. Glory and
honor and praise and power to the voice
OF Mr., Haskins whenever he raises il in
just criticism of any public officer II
you want to defeat Haskins, defeat him
for some good reason, but don't defeat
him because he was a MAN. Burling.
ton News.
Congressman Haskins andHis Record.
The Haskins-P lumley contest on the
other side of the state appears to be one.
sided. Plumley is exhibiting all the &C.
tivity in the contest, while Haskins is
attending to his duties in Washington
and willing to leave the matter to the
delegates to decide at the convention.
Congressman Haskins has made a good
record for himself and his constituents
will be many who will favor his re.
election.--L Vergennes Enterprise and Yer.
monter
Mr.. Haskins and the President.
The Messenger is inclined to believe
that it is hardly a fair argument against
the denomination of Mr.. Haskins that
he does not favor the same candidate for
the nomination for president as is sup.
ported by the majority of the voters
in his district. Congressman are NOT
chosen on any platform involving their
support of candidates for the presidency
and the choice OF president or any con.
trlbuting act toward such a choice Is not
one OF the functions of their office. More.
over, It It were to come to pass that
man could hold seat in Congress only
so long as he reflected the majority
sentiment OF his constituents nj eyery
hour on every political issue, we should
soon reduce onr congressman to mere
GRAND boys, and stitle all that truly
desirable Independence of thought and
speech and action that we regard as a
good part of the ideals in the character
OF representative statesmen Albnns