Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-09-22
PLEDGES MIST he REDEEMED

one of the most striking features of
began IT.; session in october. 1905, bar
ring the prolongation of lawmaking
into the following year, was the open
refusal Of number Of republican
legislators to accept the state republi-
can platform rs having any binding
power so far as their own votes on a
leading ISSUE might be involved. A
spectacle Of this kind had never be-
fore been presented In the Green
Mountain state. ana the situation was
so astounding that republicans in gen
cral did not find their voices until
n welcome end.
When the republicans of vermont
came to a consideration of the party's
declaration of principles in prepare
ton for the state campaign of the
present year. the feeling was general
that no man ought to have reason
able excuse for not helping to carry
out tho promises Of the party made by
the body duly authorized to speak in
its behalf. namely. the state conven-
ton 1t was accordingly arranged
that tentative platform should be
selected by the members of their state
committee from their respective coun-
ties and published In the newspapers
of the state so that the entire people
Of the State and particularly the re-
publican voters. might have an oppor-
tunity to consider tho various blanks
In the platform and suggest any
changes that were desirable. This
was done ard tho Platform after being
revised to meet with suggestions Of
fered previous to the convention was
adopted as the party platform and
would be brave republican who
would have the hardihood to stand in
his place in tho next Legislatures ses-
sion ana declare that the party plat
form did not bind him. As tho Mont
pelier Journal we'll says:
"Thcre has been tendency on tho
part of Vermont Legislators to treat
the party platform with scant cour-
tesy and to reject its authority. This
Is cot n good year in which to throw
pledges to tho winds. The results OF
the Maine election are of nature 10
make Vermont republicans think 'ong
and rohcrly on the perils that confront
the party greater ana graver than any
that have been faced in q generation
Tho people ere in no mood for the
breaking OF promises or for any smart
tricks in legislation. IF the party re
fuses to keep its word, and to keep
pace with progressive measures that
are honest. safe, and sane, then Yer
mont, too, may be swept from her re-
publican moorings that have held since
there was a Republican party to tie
to. 1t Is time of political unrest
when no one may safely predict what
will happen next. II the -arty keeps
Its pledges and remains true to the
best traditions Of Its founders, then it
may safely leave results to the future,
confident that Vermont. at least, has
done her duty, and that the republi-
cans OF the Green Mountain State need
not apologize for their administration
OF affairs
Threat Of party defeat would be light
punishment for n republican who un-
der all tho circumstances narrated
would stand up in the state house and
say he was not prepared to accept the
state platform as his own. Indeed any
republican who ventures to take this
position will write himself down as
either Ounce or deceiver, and in
either event the party will beware OF
him ever after.