Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-01-05
TERMS
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

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An editorial from the Brattleboro
Reformer copied elsewhere in this pa
per speaks of the berating of Can
non and Aljrich by the people and
properly calls attention to the fact
that in reality the people them
selves are to blame for the condition
of things as they exist in connection
with governmental affairs at Wash
ington. 1t is pointed out that Speak
er Cannon and Senator Aldrich are
both supported by the Vermont dele
cation in many of their laws favoriug
monopoly. There appears to be no
doubt about the way Vermont feels
about "Cannonism. 1t is con-
demned, we believe, almost to a vote,
yet We allow our representatives to act
against our individual best judgment
and moral taste.
The Monitor woull not have it IN
derstood that any one of Vermont's
delegation in Warrington was be-
lieved to be acting with anything but
honest motives, but influences brought
to bear on certain points at certain
times, and not knowing the full and
exact desire and belief of their con-
stituents, it is easy to understand how
they might enthusiastically support
measures that "Cannonism" desired,
but not because "Cannonism" sup
ported the measure. 1t is perfectly
safe to stay that any member of the
Vermont delegation would carry out
the desire of the majority of their
constituents, or at least their ode
cided choice"
But bow does q representative inCon-
gress learn the choice of his clients,
for such the people are, or should be.
We believe it true that Senators Page
and Dillingham; and representatives
Plumley and Foster try to learn the
desires of their people at home. They
cannot interview everyone Individual
ly, nor can they write their people to
learn their desires on every issue that
comes up. The next thing most ex-
pressive of the desires of the people
is undoubtedly the newspapers, and
so far as known our members of Con
gress peruse almost ali the papers
from their district with honest en-
deavor to discover the wishes of the
people at large. 1t often cannot be
found here and he then falls back or
his own judgment, Influenced by pow.
erful forces in Washington.
Back on the individual then, falls
the responsibility. He seldom eX
presses his mind on these questions
in a manner and a place where his
representative learns about it. He be
rates but does not act. Petitions anC
etters are the points of contact be
tween the source and the power anc
contrary to the general belief that
our rppr esentatives despise and ignore
petitions and personal letters, the
Monitor believes they are often vel
coined and needed. Surely no mem
Der of Congress from Vermont woulC
JuEU dSlIG lTOID USClQeu c0OlCo o.
his constituents. Providing {
certain vital measure came up and h.
received 80 letters from his district
(Which we venture is large numbe
for Vermont representative to get OF
a vital issue), and large majority o
these favor that legislation, and infu
ences in Washington tend to swin
him that way also, what can we ex
pect but his support of the issue? Thi
is exactly what happens. The repre-
sentative received letters from thos
vitality interested in its success, b.
those as vitality interested in its fai
ure shirk the responsibility. The
are too busy berating the very col
I ditions they themselves are 'respons
BILE for.
When the individual realizes that
is the real government, and awak
from his apathy in political matte
and demands his rights we shall kno
no "Cannonism.