The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-02-26
INsuReENrs or rHE EAsr.
Ray stannard Baker Says New Hamp-
shire Nearest Political Freedom.

shire Nearest Political Freedom.
"Is the East Also Insugeutf" is the
title Of Ray Stannard Bakers article
in the March American Magazine. "Of
all the eastern states the one nearest
political freedom in my opinion is New
Hampshire writes Mr. Baker Con.
timing be says.
"Ihe revolt began IN 1906 - the re.
suit Of meeting of thirteen men who
organized a Lincoln Republican club
Among the leading men in the move
ment was Winston Churchill, the
author.
Churchill was named as q candidate
for governor and made remarkable
campaign for the nomination. He De.
nounced the railroad. be aroused the
people. and, To the CONSERVATION % the
machine, came 10 the convention with
so many delegates supporting him that
be- was defeated only by trick
Though the Progressiyes were beat
en-, they bad succeeded in Che stirring
New Hampshire to Is political depths
The people began 10 soc 4 glimmer 81
hope for real popular governments
young men began to dock into the
fight
'The steps IN the revolution since
1906 have been Characteristic Of the
struggle in every state where the in
slirgent movement has won q f00th0ld
First, che tricky old machine. while
alarmed by the revolt underestimated.
as the bosses always have. the serious
ness 81 the situation They thought Il
a mere effort % the outs to get In;
3 mere personal couaict and not IS il
really WIS. the beginning 81 revolu
ton Under Tie foxy leadership of
United States Senator Gaiinger aud
THE state railroad bosses they allowed
eeftaia reform planls ~ he pun into tile
party platform for o07 never Intend.
ing q course % carry them pnt nor
dia they carry them cat The old ma
chine elected rs governor and lneisla
ture end expected tie spasm 81 reform
t0 blow over But d didn't in 1905
the Pr0gresslves were stronger Than
ever, and the tricky machine then took
THE nsgal course Of CRYING loudly for
party harmony and COMPROMISE and
the reformer rs usual weakened
imagining that the leopard bed some
how changed hIa spots a compromise
was effected and the result was the
election Of another machine Governor
Of conrse But bv THE time number
81 progressive voting men the leaaer
Of whom was Bobert Bass 81 Peter
boro bad cot into the legislature And
last winter a009l they made hard
6Qlt to carrv ont tie reforms demanded
III the platform az 1907 They called
themselves Platform Republicans Dc
that the party should carry
ont Is promises 70 tie people
"The old machine. lea b. Gallineer
and operated from behind the scenes bv
tie railroad lobbyists had ne intention.
Of course. Of enaatine any progressive
measures They easily organized The
legislature and appointed their com
mittces For more Than half Of tho
session the railroad crowd was conf
dent that its control was as perfect as
ever
But things did not 20 al right FOR
the railroad The insurgents had been .
holding meeting after meeting IN Sen
itor Bass room, getting acquainted,
laying their plan Of campaign More
over, the state WAS aroused and the .
people were behind ther And To the
establishment Of every one. when the
session closed. the insurgents though
they did not call themselves BY that
name had obtained sweeping direct
primary law, n drastic law forbidding
.he railroad to give away passes. and
N antilobhy law They signaly De-
'eated the railroads scheme Of tax re
vision and made the beginning Of
more equitable system Of taxation by
iqualiging the rate on which the pub
ic service corporations and other prop
.rty IN the state IS taxed