The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-12-07
PLATFORM PLEDGES
St. Adams Messenger Recalls Revolu
tion OF 1902.

OF AlDdOS messenger heCdt.S heNOlu-
tion Of 1902.
And now the senate has killed the
bill providing for the exemption from
in trustee process OF
wages to the amount of Sc, says the
st. Adams Messenger and this in
spite OF the plank of the Republi-
can state platform that virtually
amounted to pledge that such a law
would be passed. This is the glittering
promise that platform held out to the
laboring men:
The government Of this state I'M
der our party has always been ready
to adopt such measures for the pro
lection and help of the working men
as are fair and just. 1t has supported
brought to pass, and enforced the
weekly payment law. II has taken an
advanced stand for the protection OF
child labor
In accordance with the best iudg.
ment OF the present day, we recon
mend the passage of such legislation
as will put the public under the same
liability TO working men ia its service
as obtains in the case Of private EN-.
ployers. We pledge our support for
the passage of liability law which
will accomplish that purpose.
And we favor an absolute ex.
emption from attachment by trustee
process Of wages to the amount OF
SO.
I'VE also recommend TO the legis-
lature an equitable employers liabili-
~ law, drawn along the lines OF the
national law, thus insuring the work
ing men of Vermont the same meas
ure Of protection now given by federal
law to men engaged in interstate com.
merce."
There is no eyading the manifest
intent and purpose OF those planks.
10 Is useless to argue that they are
not the deliberate expression OF the
great body of the members of the Re-
publican party because they We're ex-
pressed by the only official vehicle
by those members for that
very purpose. Moreover. the commit
tee that framed these planks did not
perform its Office in this regard In a
mere perfunctory automatic kind %
way by simply o. king an already
prepared draft OF a platform. On the
morning of the convention the com.
mittee admitted TO its sessions several
well known representatives OF organ.
lied labor In Vermont who asked that
the promises covered by these planks
should be included in the platform. so
that the subject was brought home
TO the platform makers with parti'
cular directness ana emphasis and the
planks were made 20 mean what they
said In consequence.
There are also limitations That nc
public utilities bill will be passed. II
must be remembered that Governor
Prouty made this a strong feature Of
his campaign and that the Republican
party is pledged to some such mea
sure
Now II is easy enough for a Repuo
lican legislature In state so over
whelmingly Republican as Vermont Il
to repudiate platform pledges for {
while and smile at threats of the cor
sequences but there comes a day o
reckoning sooner or later. Once The
cry was raised here that Republican
state platforms did not amount 4
much because they did not discus
Vermont affairs and promise any i'm
provement In Vermonts laws AN
government. Then we hal the pOlltica
revolution OF 1902. Now since We hay
experienced some reform In platform
making and actually discuss Vernon
issues In our platforms, We are cor
fronted with the proposition that r.,
/ publican state platforms do not mea
what they say. And that will nea
another political revolution.
The Messenger does not mean {
talk scare about this busineess,
simply means TO talk sense. II IN
Republican party cannot send men {
Montpelier that will keep the prom
SEES on the strength OF which thou
ands OF men supported It's ticket. the
another organization will control N
state government In rs stead, Tn
Is simply In obedience to the naurI
law OF cause and effect. The publ
IS lust tired enough OF one-sided pol
tics In Vermont To be In good fran
of mind to make change. a1ywa
And In the present unsettled state
American politics generally 4 chanl
of political alignment here In roc
ribbed Republican Vermont may con
sooner than some men expect.
But for that matter, mere party q
ppdlcncy should be the least Of co
alterations In such a matter. The
Is higher ground upon which IN
contention may be argued. II IL cas-
10 put together in editorials mena
ing phrases and strong words thl
threaten political bugaboos. The Me
scngcr does not intend to play loos
Iiv with serious matters In this wa
4 promise IL a promise, aud u
pledge OF any party's good faith In
. campaign platform should be as 500
. as the bond Of any honest individu
citizen. Any collection OF men styll'
Themselves political party cam
AFFORD TO be any less scrupulous
keepinr their word than they Won
he In their separate capacities az
, dlviduals.
Take Dewitrs kidney and Bladd
pills They are antiseptlc and SCOT
/ ..f.t.t.. fwataF nunn nnMiN