The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-07
THE PLATFORM FIRST.

The Republican party of Vermont
during the summer of 1910, not only
will nominate candida :es for State
offices, but will also adopt plat
form setting forth the principles upon
which the party appeals for a con-
tinuance of that support which has
been given by the people of Vermont
without break for fifty-fve years,
or since the founding of the party, a
record which cannot be shown by
any other State in the Union.
1t is assumed that such declara>
ton is adopted, not because it is a
long established custom, political
style, but as a declaration in good
faith of the things for which Yer.
mont Repubiicanism stands. If this
fact is admitted it follows that the
choice of platform is more vital
than the selection of candidates, be-
cause public measures are Of great
er Importance than the public SER
wants who execute the laws.
1t is, therefore, the duty of YER
mont citizens and Vermont newspa-
pers to give at least as much thought
to the platform of 1910 as to the
nomination of candidates for Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor. 1t
cannot be successfully disputed that
State conventions in the past have not
given proper attention to the plat
form. The planks have been written
by able leaders and conscientious
work has been done, which has been
credit to the party, but the rank
and file of the delegates have con-
sidered it's adoption as rule, per-
functory matter. When the nomina'
tons have been completed very many
of them have left the convention hall
giving no thought to the platform.
AS a natural result we find many
Republican Legislators protesting
when brought face to face with party
pledges, that the platform does no
represent the sentiment of the party
This is a dangerous and an un
healthy state of affairs. For exam
pie, the failure of the last Legisla
ture to pass an employers liabilit.
act, favored in the platform of 1905
has brought forth the condemnation
of the Vermont branch of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor. This fail
ure to redeem our pledge places tn
party in a humiliating position, on
which it cannot afford to occupy
Let us discuss this subject befor
the next State convention meets
and adopt the kind of plank we pro
pose to live up to.
In order to give proper consider
alton to the declaration of principles
the platform should be considere
before nominations are made. Tha
: course of action will keep the dele
gates from leaving. The platforr
might very properly be taken u
plank by plank, giving the fullest OF
portunity for discussion. If suffici
: ent interest could be aroused to vot
on various planks and amendment
to them, it would show health
state of affairs. If two days ar
needed let us take the time, but
: any event let us give such carefl
1 consideration to our platform that n
!, man can say that 1t does not repre-
sent the Republican sentiment {
u Vermont.
We ought to consider our attitud
: toward the proposed income ia
i amendment to the national Constitl
ton. We may desire to express son
a opinion on the Payne tariff act. The
Q there are the important questions {
d State administration. better road
: reform in the administration of ju
: tice, and many other subjects of v
II tai interest, that should be thresht
y out before next summer
n Let us make up our minds that v
are going to have a platform mat
IS of sound planks. Then If men cal
q ing themselves Republicans refuse
e stand upon it, we will know how
e, classify them Let us insist that Il
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