The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-28
burlington Free Press.)


The Free Press mas received let
ter from a citizen in the central part
of the State of which the following
is an extract:
Il have noticed your editorial re-
garding railroad influence in this
State, and / want to congratulate you
on taking this matter up in iris way
because / have no question whatever
that you are right and that a serious
effort is being made to gain control
of matters in this State as they were
controlled in some former years. Dur
ing the last session of the Legislature
number of the members of the Sen
ate in my judgment were controlled
by the chief attorney of the Boston
and Maine railroad"
We have received letters of a sim
liar nature from different parts of the
State, showing that the people are be-
coming aroused to the true situation.
1t is no secret with members of our
Legislature and others who are thor
oughly acquainted with legislative
matters at Montpelier, that the rail-
road influence always aims to get
men in the Senate in its good graces,
because sixteen men can there block
any legislation the people may demand
through the more popular branch.
The lobbyists of the Boston and
Maine railroad in Vermont have be-
come conspicuous at Montpelier. Here
as elsewhere they are about as smooth
gentlemen as can be found anywhere,
and their forte is working without ap-
pearing to be anxious to bring about
any desired end. They seldom openly
favor any project because they want
it or oppose any measure because
their interests will be injured, but are
almost invariably able to make it ap-
pear some interest of the public would
be adversely affected.
Sometimes they are able to secure
the incorporation in measure of a
provision they know is unconstitu-
tional, and then they are loud in their
professions that they are not opposed
to the bill
In these and countless other ways,
the Boston and Maine influence
against which the people of New
Hampshire have struggled for years,
often without avail is trying
to fasten its grasp on the people of
Vermont, and present indications tend
to show concllsively it is receiving
the support of allied interests in the
Green Mountain State. The combina-
ton is what makes the present men
ace so dangerous.
This is not party question in Ver-
mont If the Boston and Maine politi-
cal machine gets control of the legis-
lation at Montpelier, it will make lit
tie difference what party is in control.
The real power behind the throne will
III Itoiity ut IItSluShL Mtlleu Ol new
Haven, Conn, man who gained his
first lessons in railroad politics at st.
Adams.
The real question is shall the people
of Vermont regardless of party con-
tinue to be their own political mas
tiers, or will they allow the insidious
octopus that has so much of New
England in its grasp politically, re-
duce the Green Mountain State to a
mere pocket borough of the money
kings back of the New Haven't Boston
and Maine combination?
Our people from the time of Ethan
Allen to the present have stood for
home rule of Vermont and if we are
wise in this generation we shall in
sist upon the election of Senators and
Representatives who will stand open
ly on this platform of the continued
rule of the people.