The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-09
DON'T AGREE WITH BANNER
John W. Kellette Writes Letter tc
the Rutland Herald.

urday appeared the following letter
signed by John W. Kellette of Rut-
land in this mornings edition of the
Herald under the title Legislature
SDefended, the editor of the Beniing-
ton Banner, in referring to the action
Of the House Of Representatives in
/ disregarding the platform. the ex-
press wish OF the people who voted
them. or the majority OF them into
Office. he says. 1t is said tina, the
Legislature failed TO redeem platform
pledges OF the republican party Of
the democratic party and the prohibit
ton party and the socialist party It
may be an unfortunate thing for the
republican party organization that it
failed to induce the Legislature to re.
deem it's pledges, but in the long run
we believe that it is a good thing
that party lines are not drawn in the
Vermont Legislature and that a par
| ty whip cannot be used to overcome
the convictions Of a majority of the
members"
l would like to ask Mr.. Howe who
gave the majority of the members OF
the Legislature the authority to disre-
gard the wishes of the peoples plat
form upon which he and others in the
party stood when they sought nom
ination, and which they bolted when
they were elected?
would like to ask the member
from Bennington if he considers a
platform. ratified by the majority OF
voters in the state, a party whip
when the majority of voters in the
state ratified the platform at the
polls? | would like to ns'I the mem
Der from Bennington il, in asking
for the votes of his constituents, he
can honestly assume license to disre
gard their wishes for changes in tht
laws Of the request for new laws
when he and others in the party seek
ing election declares that they viii
abide by the convention which nom
mates them as candidates?
would like to ask the gentleman
from Bennington why he intimate,
that it is a good thing for the Legis
lature to disregard a party whip, ant
then upholds the action of the mem
Der from Plainheld in voting as hii
constituents desired him?
He also half-hearted it is true, up
holds the action Of the Legislature il
raising it's own salary 1t seems to m,
that when these members stood 70
the highest honor in the gift OF
people" they understood that thei
pay was to be SO a day The voter
of Vermont did not give them the au
thority to change the rate. The plat
form did not, and no matter whethe
, they thought they were to be ava,
two months or four, that fact las
September would not have change,
their desire to be elected to represen
( their town at the stated per dien
; rate
is it not true that a majority o
the pa members looked upon tn
matter Of representing their towns a
! a chance TO fat up during the lea
) weeks" instead of a duty they owe
their state and towns?
Doesn't it seem strange to the men
Der from Bennington that the patr
otto 90 citizens the majority of tn
IA that composed the jury, could no
see So worth of compensation and $
worth OF honor in representing thei
state?
viii the member from Benningto
tell us what good conventions are, n
matter what the platform carries 4
the shape Of planks, II the nominee
OF the convention disregard it. VIII
wouldn't a primary law, similar to tn
one that Legislature disregarded,
Of more Importance to the state Q
Vermont than any convention he'll
within or without the state, wher
the wishes of the people, throug
their delegates, ratified at the poll
is disregarded? But of more momen
just now, is the question: Has tn
nominee Of a party the moral RICH
even though he disbelieves in it, I
vote against any plank in a platforl
upon which he stood for election, an
which the people Of a state want el
acted, as proved by the majority
votes cast?"