Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-08-25
A SMALLER LEGISLATURE.


The discussion for smaller legisla-
ture has taken form and size enough
to warrant serious consideration from
the voters of Vermont. The small
towns. holding the balance of power,
cannot dodge the issue and be honest
with themselves. and must come to the
front and discuss the matter from
every quarter, personal interests aside.
The Monitor realizes that Orleans
county is composed of small towns en-
tirely, and that public sentiment today
is undoubtedly in favor of retaining
the present method of sending rep
resentatives to the Legislature. that
is. by townships. This is only natural,
inasmuch as this has been the method
of representation for generations, and
what father thought especially IN
politics) is usually good enough for the
son. This honest belief that the
present system is the only right system
is due from the fact that little thought
has been given the matter. 1t has
not been necessary. There has been
no demand for change. Now that
the discussion has begun we believe
bhe voter Of the small towns will think
the matter out with fairness and when
the times comes instruct their rep
resentative to vote as they honestly
believe.
Some Vermont dailies have denoted
surprise that few smaller towns have
already declared themselves In favor
of district representation. thus deprlv-
ing themselves possibly of direct req
resentation. This establishment from
the larger places would indicate that
the honesty of the small place in say
ing what it thought, regardless OF per-
sonal interests, was not understood
beyond the comprehension of the larger
Mace which would vote for district and
population representation for selfish
reasons possibly. Not single large
place making public expression favors
the present system, but 1t must be
admitted there are two sides to the
question.
By long continued reasoning with it.
self the Monitor believes the present
system of representation is not as gooc
as the right form of population rep
resentation could be made. In what
form and just how this representation
should be made the Monitor is moi
ready to say.
The reasoning that has brought the
Monitor to the belief that the present
system was not proper. is about as
follows:
The government of this state is, OF
ought to be, by the whole people anc
for the whole people. Under the
present system in Vermont this is not
true. In Orleans county they average
1900 people to each representative il
the legislature but Newport with $500
people has exactly the same say il
state government as Westmore with
only 400 people. This Illustration
might be carried much further but this
is enough to convince the Monitor thai
we do not now have equal representa-
tion-government by the whole people
and it is very likely not to be govern
ment for the whole people. Because
man happens to live few rods ONT
way or another over town line is NJ
logical reason for his having greatel
or less influence in state affairs. Thu
geography of the state tells the stor!
of state government today and not tn
whole people. Today rs per cent o
the geography of the state-which in
cludes only Is per cent Of the people
is governing rs per cent of the peopl
who live on Is per cent of the geog
raphy of the state. This is not tru
democratic government. We wan
government BY THE PEOPLE.