The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-07-23
FROM OUR EXCHANGES.
Mortified News

LII dHOlH6T column Oh lnlS issue
the News is glad to give space to
communication from an esteem
ed WaitsVille friend, who has
spoken before. The subject is an
important one, and while the News
does not view the matter in quite
the same light as Mr.. Neill, it be-
lieves the proposition to reduce
the representation in Vermont's
legislature is one that will bear
considerable discussion from ev-
cry standpoint.
OF course the News would not
like to have any town of 1900 in
habitants tied to one of few vot-
ers, to be represented by the lat
ter one-half the time in the legis-
lature. 1t is hardly able to see
how this or anything like it would
peatedly stated that it would not
favor any change whereby the
small towns would lose the bal
ance of power in the legislature. 1t
is for this reason that it favors a
combination of towns on popula-
ton basi limiting the large towns
to one representative in all cases
rather than a district representa-
| ton.
1t is possible that there might
occur some little inequalities, but,
as stated above, it does not think
they would be so great as to be
Objectionable as a whole. The
News believes that the legislature
can be reduced in numbers to the
general good of the state, if it is
done under a plan which will pre-
~ h
the small towns.
Under such conditions the News
fails to see how the small towns
are surrendering any of their
rights and why they cannot con-
tinue to insist upon and enforce
the interest of the, people as
ton.
montpelier JournaD
To urge a citizen to be loyal to
his city or to mis- state may seem
upon first thought to be as much
of platitude as to urge him to
be kind to his family or to be true
to himself. Not all men, however,
are kind to their families, or true
to their own best interests, and
many a citizen apparently finds it
easier to belittle his own town, de-
nounce its officials, and rail at its
lack of progress, than to sound
the praises of the place he calls his
home. 1t is hardly necessary to
assert that criticism at times be-
comes a manifest duty and that
to keep silence in the face of abuse
and error is to betray the cause
of goUd citizenship.
AS a rule, however, the man who
declares that he lives inthe rot
tenest town in the state" that the
municipal officers are a pack of
"fools and knaves," and that the
business interests of his COM
munity are $50 dead that Gabriels
trumpet couldn't rouse them" is a
man who never lifts a finger to
better existing conditions. He is
"knocker" pure and simple.
Between the extravaganza of the
western boomer who makes ridic-
ulous claims for his little hamlet
as a great and beautiful metropo-
lis, and the "knocker" who can see
no good anywhere in his own town
there lies broad field where pa
trlotic and intelligent citizenship
may exert itself. Our municipali-
ties, particularly in the East, need
FEWER knockers and more boom
ers;" more men who will try to
oulld up and not tear down; more
men who are willing to work hard
early and late and long. to better
conditions that need correction.
Montpelier is fortunate in hav-
ing great body of loyal citizens
who are proud of their beautiful
and prosperous city and who have
confidence in her future. The Jour
nal believes that knocking is
business for an individual or for
newspaper. This paper will not
hesitate TO criticise when it con-
siders criticism its duty, but il pre-
iers to speak good rather than
Ill, and its ambition is to aid in
every proper way the growth of
state.