Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-11-19

for Legislators to kill good bills simply
because some earnest member wants them
passed. In fact, it's silly, whether the
victim Ia Hitchcock or the seasoned mem
bers Of the judiciary committee"
A Vermont Legislature is perhaps the
most interesting body, from psychologi-
cal standpoint, that congregstes bienni-
ally on the face OF the globe. Its COM
ponent parts are, in almost every case.
men Of honesty, of unselfish purpose, Of
good motive, and Of fair ability. But the
mass of them are handicapped by a few
elements that frequently disgust their
friends, even. Honest themselves, they
are watchfuIly suspicious OF everybody
else. Their Independence and individu-
atty are 80 pronounced that they resent
the slightest direction, or leadership, or
even advice, from those whom they readi-
~ admit--in secret-know more than
they do about matters in hand. They
lose no occasion to manifest their dis
pleasure whenever any member of promi-
hence assumes the slightest tendency to
handle the reins. This is so, sometimes.
even if he is right, and they are wrong,
and they know it. They delight in hum
bling the mighty and making power of
no avail. They win even 90 out Of their
way and take action indefsnsible in their
own sight to do this.
! Nine-tenths OF the members are strang-
ers to each other. About that proportion
are men Of small affairs who have had lit
tie to do with large public matters. They
are intensely conscious OF their own de-
fects and sensitive Of the fear OF its dis
covery. They have the strongest dislike
for the few members of wider vision and
experiences, especially If the latter make
the slightest assumption thereof. Ac-
cordingly, the leaders who crowd ahead
early almost always get their bumps be-
fore very long, not because what they es-
pouse is bad or wrong but ssjest to show
'em." The wise leader is the one who
sits back and lets this feeling kill OF his
more venturesome rivals, or, perchance,
If be is designing, waits till the killing
time and lends a hand himself. It's q
process of hazing, fully as elective as the
smart freshman gets at the hands Of the
upper-clsssmen. And once it has been
worked on g member, that member sub
sides, and usually for the remainder OF
the session.
OF course this is cheap work and poor
policy. The hazers are quite often ths
freshmen. and so fresh that it is theil
very freshness that prompts them. They
want the ship to go, don't know how tC
steer ii themselves and are so ashamed OIL
their inability that they prefer to see il
drift rather than to have an over-wiIIina
hand take the tiller.
A majority Of every House are farmers
Now II there is anybody that a farmer
is insaneIy jealous Of it is another farmer
whom be thinks Is pushing ahead of him
He fears and suspects the lawyers, but b,
hates the farmer leader who aspires to in
6uence legislation, and he takes the iirst
opportunity to trip him, Just for the sat
isfaction Of seeing him fall.
: The result of this peculiar and weII-un
derstood condition is natural disincIina
tion Of strong men to invite the rebuff
: and humiliation that surely await al
who take a very active part in the worI
! of legislation, especially on the floor
! They hang back with a modesty no
/ Altogether sincere and LET thines slid
rather than run the chance Of getting
brick on the head for their temerity. On
! effect, therefore, is slow progress. Tn
leaders won't lead; the members won
be led, and nothing is done, since some
body must take the rein in hand.
Some legislatures are worse than other
in these respects. and it now appears tina
: the present one has about the largest ele
I ment of personal distrust and jealousy il
its makeup of any recent one. At least
! we Judge so from the testimony Of thos
! on the spot, and the record thus far. /
: is detrimental to the work in hand, IN
pleasant to participants, discreditable t
80 high-minded -otherwise-anl
3 ought to be spanked out OF them. /
: may work out aud work on, as the mem
! bers get better acquainted and fnalI
: comprehend that their fellows are no
. thieves and cut throats, but just as hon
= est and honorable as themselves.