Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-04-01
DID Wig MIsLeAo7


first paragraph Of our last weeks editori-
al referring to its own comparison Of the
records Of the 1906 and 1908 legislative
sessions, whereby, as we said, and still
claim, sit was made to appear that tie
later session was q very industrious and
efficient body, and that it really accom-
plished enough more than its immediate
predecessor to justify the additional ex-
pense to the state" The Banner vehe-
mently protests that it "hss neither
printed, said, intimated, suggested nor
even thought anything of the kind" and
complains that this paper has woefully
misrepresente1 it in saying that it did.
The Banner also complains because we
did not reprint what it did say that our
readers might judge of its purport.
Let Us reply that the reason we did not
reproduce the Banner article was because
Of its considerable length and the statisti-
cal feature, which would not, in our opin-
ion. warrant giving it the space required.
We certainly had no other purpose. We
believe we caught the drift OF the Ban
ner's article, and that we fairly summar-
lied it for our readers. The manifest de-
sign was to ''write up'' the assembly of
1908, and to compare, in as uniavorable q
light as possible, the work of the preced
ing session. The Banner is super-sensi-
tive, as everybody knows. over the criti-
cism that has been leveIled at the last as
sembly, and has done its very best, at
some expense OF nerve tissue, to defend
its record. Situated as the Banner is, we
do not blame it for that, but it must have
forgotten some things it has printed
when it alleges that this paper has wiliul-
ly .misIed its own readers in order to
make out q case.
For instance, in the Banner article re-
ferred to, it gives list or acts passed By
the last assembly, which it denominates
"the more important laws" in which it
includes several that cannot by any
stretch of compliment be so classed.
Some Of them are Of minor bearing and
others Of questionable value. In all, the
list includes q reference to some sixty
different acts, which the Banner summar-
izes, 18th good word for each. Then
the Banner says
Through two or three Of the most
asinine errors OF commission and omis-
sion, it obscured record OF actual good
; accomplished second TO none in the his
! tory OF the state"
, Giving to the Legislative session of 1905
credit for these 1.-TWO or three asinine err
! rors," we do not believe that its record
! would otherwise stand second to none il
the history of the state for actual good &C
co,nplished. This may be wholly a mat
3 ter of opinion, but we imagine the stat
/ at large shares this opinion.
3 The Banner further says
"The detractors Of the last Iegislatur
/ are fond of holding up the legislature o
1906 as a paragon of virtue in perform
ance. What are the facts7 Here is a lis
OF the more important acts OF the legisla
ture OF 1866
Then follows an alleged list of the law
e passed by the legislature OF 1906, witt
I only nfteen acts included. 1t is not
: fair or complete summary of the work o
e 1906, to be placed in iuxtaposition wit
n that presented in parallel column of tn
, work OF 1908. Many OF the very import
ant and highly successful laws OF 1906 ar
: omitted altogether. For several Of thos
= included. the Banner has words Of detraC
II ton, at that.
A We submit that the whole drift an
o tenor OF the article that We took up las
week and replied to with the officis
a figures, showing from the printed an
/. bound records Just what the two Assem-
blies did, was along the line we state
+ with absolute fairness to the Banner. W
lie are pleased to append what the Banner
:, after seeing these figures and thinkin
!, the matter over, now says
= Gan the Banner has said in this cor
. nection is that the legislature Of 1905 di
\ quite few wise and creditable things
n probably as many as the average legisll
IN ture-along with its sins and blunderi
e This we believe is capable OF proof.
II did not do enough good to justify q SCI
y sion OF 80 days and the cost it entaiIet
Of and the Banner has never said it did. Til
je legislature OF 1906 did very well indee'
n assisted as it was By the wise couhsels
ID Governor Proctor, and it was fortunate
ID being able to transfer its most vexin
=. problems to its successor. 1t was ali
us wise or lucky in not letting two or thr
II gross blunders obscure its good name."
OF
ed aan- ..,~- ,,.