Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-12-10
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1909.
Decision of Public Questions.


We notice in recent number of The
Burlington Free Press quite a remark
able editorial upon the road question,
in which the editor asks odd not the
editors of Vermont so far as they went,
settle this whole road problem in fifteen
minutes the other day." Several other
similar foolish paragraphs are added, to
all of which we would say, that neither
the editors of Vermont nor any other
parties, acting as individuals, will settle
any question of State policy. The peo-
pie of the State, through delegates
chosen by them, will settle all of these
questions and sooner or later will do
this in accordance with the best inter
ests of the greatest number. In all
such questions our Legislature will re-
spond efficiently and intelligently, as
soon as they understand the feeling and
wishes of the citizens of Vermont.
All that is necessary is intelligent dis
cussion of the question at issue before
the whole people as jury.
In regard to building highways at
large expense, for automobiles, the
people will have decided opinions, which
will not be especially influenced by the
action of papers that are known to be
constantly feed by automobiles through
advertisements and otherwise. The
paper, which acts independently and
honestly for the best interests Of the
State, will be warmly received and
exert an excellent influence so far as 1t
circulates, and we believe that soon the
great majority of the Vermont press
will stand on these lines.
AS to this question of building trunk
lines for automobiles, which as is under
stood by all will be far more expensive
than building for all other travel, it Is
well to consider what will be the final
status of the automobile, that is, the
laws universally established to regulate
their operation Just at this time it
looks very much as if they would be
banished from all roads except those
built by themselves for themselves.
The recent bill introduced into the
English Parliament to accomplish this
throughout the Kingdom, certainly
points most strongly in that direction, as
do also the new stringent laws of Mas
sachusetts that go into operation Jan.
LIST. next. And still more so the great
ly aroused public opinion on this sub
ject in the great city of New York.
The editor of The Free Press might be
very willing Ito sacrifice all his wife 5
relations" in the interests of extensive
road building for automobiles. But
the great body of the American people,
and indeed practically the people of the
whole world, are greatly shocked at the
large numbers of persons killed or in
jured by these vehicles, and especially
by many horrible murders perpetrateC
by those running them. where they
leave the manned and the dying upor
the highway, escaping themselves as
rapidly as possible.
Again in regard to through lines fol
travel, the public, especially the citi-
zens of Vermont, have little use fOl
them. They are as a whole far more
interested in the side lines. And we
think it is safe to say that no Vermont
Legislature will vote any large sum OF
money for such purpose. 1t is under
stood by all that the use of automobile
in travel is entirely matter of pleas
ure, and on no occasion is there neces-
sity; for, throughout our whole country
railroads exist, constructed by private
capital, by which all citizens who are
DESTROYS of making long trips in short
time can be accommodated. There Is
then no decent reason why the people
should be called upon to build expensive
roads for autcmobilists. But there ar,
the very strongest reasons why the
safety and interests of the great body
of the people in this matter, as in al
others, should be subserved.