The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-21
THE PARTY PLATFORM.

1t is evident that more than ordin-
airy interest is being taken in the Re-
publican platform to be adopted by the
State convention next year. The
Journal cannot agree with all its
Vermont contemporaries in their po-
sition on the subject, but it is glad to
see the subject discussed. The Poult-
ney Journal, in it's current issue, says
THE (Rutland) Herald respectfully
declines to waste any time talking
about platforms, which subject, has
been dwelt on too much to add any
particular prestige to Legislative
members who were ushered into seats
on platform which has not redeem
ed its pledges. L did not write the
platform. or vote for the platform.
Why in-should be bound by it?'
is the sort of thing that scandalized
Republicans in Montpelier last fall
says the Herald. Yet the same condi-
ton generally prevails, and probably
will continue. So, really what does
the platform amount to-"
Along the same line the Middlebury
Register remarks: The Hardwick Ga
zette says it is all well enough to talk
about platform, but first of all why
not talk up the matter of living up to
the promises made in them? Very
good. The newspapers and the people
are wont to howl vociferously about
the platform before the State cleo
ton, but in some cases the Legisla-
ture ignores the promises utterly.
What's the use of having a platform,
anyhow"
If Republican legislators refuse to
be bound by party declarations the
platform amounts to nothing but
shame and reproach to the party that
refuses to keep it's pledges This pa
per, however, believes thoroughly in
the adoption of a platform that means
something and It believes in living up
to that platform after it is adopted
The Enosburg Standard quotes
from recent editorial of this paper
on the same general subject of plat-
forms and adds:
Theoretically the idea of the Jour
nal may be all right and in fact the
contemporary will find that we are
in hearty accord on the general
proposition that the party platform
should be plain and straightforward,
with no ambiguity regarding vital
issues and that the vital principles,
which have the endorsement and de-
Lucrative approval and reflect the
sentiment of a majority of the par
ty, should be binding upon the party
as a whole.
This the Standard believes is as
the extreme folly of loading the par
ty platform up with undigested and
indigestible matters has been strik-
ingly illustrated in this State.
THE Standard cannot more clearly
emphasize its position than by quot
ing from an editorial of slightly less
than year ago, when, in discussing
this same subject in connection with
the work of the State Legislature, the
Standard said:
LET us consider the methods by
which the platform was formulated /
and promulgated. The chairman of |
the committee on resolutions is Sc
lected by the chairman of the State |
committee and one member from |
each county is designated by the |
of the State committee from |
that county. Invariably the chair
man of the committee writes the !
platform. This is done as rule by |
putting into the platform whatever
subject may occur to him as being of |
Importance, as we'll as suggestions
made by an interested party, but, !
generally speaking, without any dis
cussion or careful consideration of the |