St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-08-12
Candidate PrOuty interviewed.
He outlines Some of the Issues of the
Campaign.

non. OSOISe II. IIOuty, NepuDilCdn
candidate for the governorship, having
been interviewed in regard to statements
more or less general in the public press
that there are no important issues in
volved in the state campaign, gives out
the following interview concerning the
way things appear to him.
IL have seen some of the statements
going the rounds of the papers to the
effect that there are no important
issues in the state campaign, and | con
TESS that in effect have said about the
same thing myself. Any such statements
are subject to modification and there
should be a thorough understanding as
to their real meaning.
$50 far SIS the platform of the Republi-
can and Democratic parties in this state
indicate, there are no great differences
that may be expected to create much
discussion Even the Democratic can
didate for governor has stamped with
his approval the record OF the present
administration, and in his public ad-
dresses has called for a continuance
along the same lines. OF course, with
such harmony OF agreement in the two
parties as regards state issues, there is
danger of more apathy than should lie
in presidential year 1t is likely to
Indicate feeling that things are going
all right and that it will make no differ
ence whether a full vote gets out or not.
Nothing could be a greater mistake than
this.
IF issues are somewhat absent, as
between the parties, there are many
great and important questions that will
come before the next legislature and up
on which the most lucid discussion
should be heard during the progress of
the campaign. For instance, there is the
question of taxation. The report of the
special commission that has been engag-
ed in making an exhaustive investigation
of taxation conditions in this state, has
been made public That report should be
studied with great care and made a
matter of further discussion that its full
meaning may be understood as soon as
possible, Some settlement of this vexa-
tious question should be secured during
the next session of the legislature.
Another question is continued i'm
provement Of the common schools along
lines where it has been already started
Some Democrats have been making I'M
pleasant remarks in reference to ilhteracy
/ ir Vermont This is less matter Of pol
itics than of good government irrespec-
! tive OF parties, but it is a subject in which
| all the people are interested. And if Yer
mont's rank in lteracy is lower than it
( should be. it is our business to take every
step possible to raise it.
! Provision for the Improvement of
| our highway is still far from being COM
! plete, and this is proper subject for all
voters to consider If the way can be
seen to make larger appropriations by
| the state for the advancement Of this
work it should be done.
In past utterances, have urged the
need of placing public service corpora
tons under state control Now, only
the railroads are subject to this supervi-
sion. Other utilities like telephone, tele-
| graph and express companies, should not
be overlooked in this respect. While
would not be understood as arguing for
an increase in the number of state COM
missions to accomplish this complete
supervision, believe that steps should
be taken along the lines indicated. If all
public service corporations can be placed
under the control of one commission,
backed by strengthening of the power
now given the railroad commission, that
perhaps would be a solution of the mat
ter. In any event, the control should be
provided for and in order that the best
way to accomplish this may beindicated
as early as possible it seems to me a
proper subject for discussion during the
campaign.
Another subject is the changing of our
laws regarding the administration of
Justice in our lower courts | have pre-
viously remarked upon the ACCESSIBILITY
of the establishment of district courts
for all cases of minor consequence. Some
of our neighboring New England states
have had such courts in successful oper-
alton for a number of years, and so far
as | am informed. the system is highly
satisfactory in those states. The idea
contemplates a competent lawyer to
preside over such petty courts and con-
sequent acceleration of the course of JUS
tice without consuming the time and at
tention of the higher courts.
"Still another topic that the state
should be talking aboutis the advertising
of its resources and natural beauty. Our
neighboring state of New Hampshire
has been doing this persistently for a
number of years with results that COM
pare unfavorably with our own efforts
in the same direction. Ex, Governor
Bachelor of New Hampshire, who per-
haps has been as active in promoting his
state along these lines as any of her cit
liens, has recently said:
More than fifty million dollars have
been expended in New Hampshire, nearly
all of which came from without the
state, in summer homes and summer
hotels, and summer tourists leave an
nually in the state about ten million dol
lars. Owing to this business the valua-
ton in some towns has doubled in the
past ten years, and in some cases build
ing sites of one acre in area have brought
more than the whole farm of which they
were part was worth ten years ago.
The three thousand summer hotels in the
state and the five thousand summer
homes have opened eight thousand
markets for the products of farms near
by at better prices than the Boston
market.
1T is safe to say that Vermont is de-
| IS hoo 60, har