Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12

tics Every governmental scheme fnds |
its ultimate ties, in the character or the |
men who may be brought to It's execu-
ton Men who in trade will resort to- |
dishonest methods and unfair practices |
in competition will attempt to fatten |
themselves at the expense of the pubic |
if they are elected TO office. Men who |
will prey upon minority stockholders or
abuse the trusts that are committed to
them in our great financial enterprises.
will prey upon the people If they have
a chance, whether powers Of sipervi-
sion and regulation will he wisely excr-
cised depends. not upon the character OF
the supervisors and regulators; and you
must have higher quality Of citizenship
in those who administer the laws than
in those whose conduct makes the laws
and their administration necessary.
"If In administration we reflect chic
anery and double dealing, the perversion
of intellectual acumcn. and shrewdncss
in manipulation, we gain nothing in our
efforts to provide governmental cures
but a profusion of trickery and betrayal.
Between the man who attempts to
fool the people in order to get rich, and
the man who attempts to fool the pco-
p'c in order 20 got office; between him
who seeks his personal profit through an
abuse Of his trust as n director. and the
man who uses public office To serve him
self or his personal friends, there is
nothing to choose.
SUPREME TEST OF OUR SYSTEM.
"rhc supreme test OF our system in
the insistencc and success of the de-
mand that public officers shall render
| 49,.
| obligations t. the people according to the
intent Of tho statutes All other Ques-
| lions are " slight importance in COM
parison with this fundamental one.
"Fortunatelv our people are more
awake than ever to its importance. The
multiplication Of civic bodies having it
for their object attests growing in
| tercst
The people are tired Of bossisn: %
the use Of political machinery TO place
men in office for the purpose OF sorv-
ing special interests; OF tho use Of puN
| lie prero.ativcs for private gain; and Of
the prostitution OF grants of power 70
| selfish advantagc Thcy recognize the
necessity for political organization and
leadership. but they would have both
organization and leadership represent
principles and square with tho require
! ,,.,,. -. ,,,lIic sorvjcc And thore will
. 49, -, ,ha,or,,,, !, tbis demand Tha
, ,.iu i,.,,s+ ,,o+ ,bo ,.,+chuords
| - .,,,.o.,,ro,,, ,,,,,s.
| 30 fidelity and efficiency.
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ana our natural yes "a VA "''
anu uoN''o''u 'A''"S'I''N !" '"' r'''''
interest puohc franchises ana privileges
granted only upon coma ''ohS "''rn Sc
cure adequate return ana protect tNe
puhIlc from Ih0oS''l"n' puoh' op''Hi-
tons risidly enforced ana the oppor-
tunitN OF oach so measured ana re-
strained that others may nave equal op-
portunitY-these are the principles OF
our government and the essentials of
our liberties
| Nr-c.r KNOW TUE, FACTS
"In dealing with the problems that are
! presented IN" hrst duty Is TO Know. we
are an intelligent people ana our danger
almost always lies IN iack or kho"ledSc
or imperfect UNDERSTANDING OF 'h' factS'
Inc majority RUE ana inc MAJORITY
must he informed thoN would RUE
wisely. therefore II is OIL inc Hrst Nmpor-
lance that' Wherever II Is FOUND TO be
lacking machinery ShouId be PROVIDED 50
that speclhc grievances may De inquired
into and matters OF pubic concern may
he dec'oed upon thelr neflts, 'for exam
pie with regard 10 ra'roaos IL IS not &c
be denied mat theN arepnbhc'ht'rpr's'S
conducted under puphc authority. TheN
enjoy their important functions because
they nave obtained puohc privileges ano
nave exercised thro"Sh dei"eation INC
sovereign right ol eminent DOMAIN 1h"H
are sup)ect 10 regulation ana on account
or Woli-knowh ABUSES the power 10 re-
gu!ate ls pclns exercised ana Will con-
tlnuc 10 ne exercised IN" American PEG
pie WILL not Tolerate UNJUST discrimination
or improper service ana thoN VIII lnslS'
upon demonstrating that 'hN Will OF th'
people is supreme ana 'Nat IN" creatures
OF the state shaI not dominate us gov