The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-04-02
FRANK g. HOWE. Editor and Publisher
Hard or Soft Wood7

Hard or Soft Wood7
Well, The Messenger has already
suggested to It's newspaper friends
that are championing Mr.. Stanton's
platform one plank In Mr.. Pr0uty's
platform that means more In the pop.
ular mind In the way of a substantial
promise of administration policy than
all the planks In the Roxbury candi-
dates platform put together. Here 1t
Is again:
III elected governor should favor
continuing the policies which have
been so well begun and should favor
placing all public corporations, includ.
Ing telephone and telegraph CON-
panles, under the control and super.
vision OF the state TO such degree
as would insure and safeguard the In.
terests and rights OF the people"
And The Messenger asked point
blank whether Mr.. Stanton would
stand on such a plank as that.
II also asked the newspapers and
men that have been making so much
OF Mr.. Stant0ns platform and init.
mating so sarcastically that Mr..
Prouty did not have the courage to
bring out platform himself, whether
they would now come forward and oc-
cupy the same advanced ground that
Mr.. Prouty dOes.--St Adams Messen.
ger.
Not being prejudiced very strongly
In favor Of either Mr.. Prouty or Mr..
Stanton. but recognizing that the state
is exposed to the danger OF one OF them
becoming governor the Banner is will
ing to be shown. We are not exactly
con vinced however b. the parade the
Messenger makes OF this one stick OF
alleged hardwood In Proutys pile.
After watching affairs in Vermont
for the past two years anybody no,
wholly imbecile would be In favor OF
continuing the policies so well begun
by Governor Proctor. Mr.. Prouty car
gain no glory from assimilating this
doctrine. The humblest voter IN the
state is just as far advanced Is he Il
on that Score and there are dozer
men in any town In the state biz
enough to show on the map who could
at least add one live issue to the re
forms already accomplished.
Hold minute though. The Messen
ger considers the other part OF that
plank 1t quotes as the really and
truly strong point OF the Prouty pro
nouncement. II reads like this: III
elected governor should favor placing
all public corporations, including tele
phone and telegraph companies under
the control and supervision OF the state
TO such a degree as would insure and
safeguard the interests and rights OF
the people," In the words OF a late
lamented patriot Gosh. How fine II
sounds" but does It mean anything
Is there anybody running for COVER
nor who Is not in favor of safeguarding
the interests Of the people. II there
Is, trot him out and we will admit the
Importance OF this bit OF sounding
brass. II not, offer something really
alive in the interest OF the people or al
least tell us how the gentleman from
Newport proposes to regulate the
wicked corporations for the benefit Of
us poor downtrodden humps OF clay.
Is he in favor of statute compelling
a public service corporation to show VI
It's books and records and reduce III
charges II 1t is found to be making AZ
exorbitant profit? Is he In favor o.
laws that will prevent telegraph Of
telephone company from collecting
money for service and then failing t.
perform that service as they do ever!
day In Vermont? Is he In favor o
laws that will allow a citizen waitinl
for train to find out how late tn,
train is without being insulted an,
then not getting the information? Il
he in favor OF laws that will compe
railroad and other public corporation
to settle claims promptly or show res
son why settlement should be de
ferred?
But why ennumerate further. w
did not expect very strong statemen
from Mr.. Prouty but we did expect al
offer of few real things. The publ
is sick Of glittering generalities. W.
have seen a few things accomplishe'
in these United States and we kno,
that more can be II the right men ar
elected to Office.
Mr.. Proutys platform is fully a
strong as that Of Zed Stanton. In fac
we think 1t Is shaving or so tn
better of the two but neither Of then
Is heavy enough to furnish breakfas
food for a race of mountaineers lik
the Vermonters. Nor do We believ
that the platforms they have an
nounced are as good as the gentlemen
themselves. Both Lieutenant Cover
nor Prouty and Judge Stanton ar
ADLER and more capable men than any
body would dream from the timidl,
tentative documents to which thei
names are signed.