Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-02-17
Lac TWO PLATFORMS.


Candidate Msad's platform sppezrsd in
last Eesk's issue and Candidate Fleet
Eood's is Published elsewbere on this
page. The art Of producing platforms
that read reii, tickle the popular fancy
and uhen studied carefully mean very lit
tie and definitely bind the candidate to
almost no positive action is fast beoon-
ing actual science in Vermont Take Or.
Mesd's IS az example.
tie fayors IL 3 general Esy What il i
clearly apparent practically eyeryOns IA
yors. In specific detail be i dslig htfGIly
vague. II elected be could cut loose from
bic platform without troubled con-
science, for be has promised nothing thss
need b5ther him He fav0rs business
Administration on lines OF economy and
efficiency" which mean Spending much
or little; practical schools" sthe devsl-
opment OF farming interests by means Of
an agricultural school aud model farm"
which we have already, xith little act
ual result to shoE for il; "a system Of
taxation that viii equslize The burden,
minimize double taxation and develop
rather than restrict opportuni,y"-whicb
means anything or nothing; better roads
for Vermont By the Introduction Of in
proved methods, with state supervision
and aid wherever and whenever practscz-
ble"-anybo would agree TO that, in
effect il is meaningless; ''the good Offices
Of the executive in settling labor dis
putss'-hoW extended and applied oepo-
nent sayeth not; court reform, 80 radical
reduction Of court expenses by business
methods Of administration EXPIRES
sion, but how carried out claws that
will encourage and foster Vermont indus
tries with the view OF providing home
market for our agricultural products"-
calculated to tickle the producing inter
ests, bat void OF meaning; measures cal
eulated to boom Vermont Is 3 summer re-
sort.
That is the sum of the Mead platform
il is almost destitute OF substance. II is
craftily designed to catch votes BY offend
ing no one. 1t has no more backbone
than fshvorm. It hits straight at no
abuses and points no definite way to re-
form. In effect it means-s'I want to be
governor. am compelled by custom to
offer something in the way OF platform,
so here goes. / have made it mild
enough to suit the most fastidious. Real
ly, 1t ought to please everybody and I
hope it will, for want to be governor.
Your votes, please"
Mr.. Fleetwood's platform Is much more
TO the point. He comes out for direct
primaries, corrupt practices act, district
courts, trunk line system Of highways,
county forest preserves, q state taxation
commission, and = referendum on mann
issues Of state policy, though be no more
than hints at resubmission OF the liquor
question. Comparing the platforms, it
must be conceded that Mr.. FIeetwood's 10
definite on most points touched, while
Or. Meals Is altogether vague Neither
is quite so comprehensive as one might
wish. Many questions certain to come
up are deity sidestepped by both. But
Of those taken up Fleet woods pronounce
ments are the more practical, while Mead
contents himself with general declara-
tions on themes either academic 10 their
nature or where the tide has plainly set
in. He il taking no chances---is Dr.. Mead.