The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-03-02
The Mead Platform

The Mead Platform
The mountain has labored and
brought forth-what? Here are the
planks of what Dr. Mead's advertis
ing bureau calls a platform.
"First-A business administration
of state affairs on the lines of econ.
omy and efficiency that have made
all business successful"
How long since has DR.. Mead been
identified with the economy and eff
ficiency of q business administration
Can DR.. Mead or any of his friends,
who were recognized as his lieuten-
ants in the state senate two years
ago and who are the most prominent
in his support today, point to one
single move by him or them when in
the legislature that would indicate
that his influence was eXerted on the
side of economy in state expenses or
to point to any act of his during the
sessions of 1906 and 1908 that would
identify him with business admin
istration of state affairs2
Second-Practical schools, with
a view to developing more efficient
workers-agricultural, industrial and
commercial"
Who isn't in favor of practical
schools and who hasn't been since
1892, when the town system sup
planted the district system, and since
which time every legislature has wit
messed the agitation for new laws to
increase the efficiency of the educa-
tional facilities Of the state.
'Third-The development of the
farming interests of Vermont by
means of an agricultural school and
model farm for introducing the most
modern methods"
What arrant nonsense TO talk about
developing Yermont's farming inter
ests on any other lines than those
now laid down, namely, utilizing the
$4,000 annually appropriated by the
national government and soon to be
increased to $4,000 Wouldn't it saw
or more of economy and efficiency
and be just as beneficial to the agri-
cultural interests of the state to
| readjust the income received from
the national government, already
ample for state the size of Vernon,
rather than to add to the burdens OF
the state treasury by large expendi
lures for other agricultural schools
"Fourth-A system of taxation that
will equalize the burden, minimize
double taxation and develop rather
than restriA opportunity"
q,
chestnut and looks as though the
doctor was trying to steal Brother
Hapgood's thunder. We are not
Conyersant with any public attenp
by DR.. Mead to solve this intricate
problem since the agitation began
some six years ago When and
where has he given expression to a
single thought indicating remedy
that would meet the divergent views
that this great question confronts?
"Fifth-Better roads for Vermont
by the introduction of improved
methods with state supervision and
aid wherever and whenever praetic
able
Well who doesn't want better
] lOuAN lOl NtiluOul Dul lOM AUUul
trunk lines? Why not put in con
crete form some plan that would Yin.
dictate a definite policy for Dr. Mead
to identify himself with?
"Sixth-The good offices of the
executive in settling disputes be
tween labor and capital by arbitra
ton"
rood ,,iop ,,ro,,idad tharo u,ars
any demand in this state for giving
prominence to such a plank While
Vermont has some labor problems
of this character that are trouble
some, they are few and far between
Probably the doctor copied this idea
from Roosevelts successful arbitra
ton OF the coal strike several years
ago.
Seventh-Fewer and more uni
form laws, with no special legislation
that can be covered by general sta
tutes."
Good heavens Manager Lewis
must have been responsible for this
as the doctor never would have had
the nerve 20 put such an archaic
plank into platform and try to
vitallze it into living issue. If any
one thinks this is an original idea
let him consult the editorial utter
ances of the state press during any
session of the legislature for the past
twenty years.
"Elghth-(O A system of courts
that will provide cheap and speedy
Justice to rich and poor
How much better is that than the
Constitution of Vermont under which
we have lived for the past century
and more and how many people In
Vermont have had any other idea
than that the system of courts provid