St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-06-08


appropriation of eleven million dollars
annually, to be divided among the states
in assisting in instruction in agriculture,
the trades and industries, home econom-
les in secondary schools, for branch agri-
cultural experiment stations connected
with these secondary schools and for pre-
pairing teachers in state normal schools.
When Congress passes this bill, what we
have been advocating for years will be-
come reality.
1t the farmers are not adequately repre-
sented in the legislature this year whose
fault will it be? The last legislature APP
prOpriated, to be sent annually, $40, 900
to help make doctors, Sc, 900 for one col
lege and SIS 900 tor manual training in
our larger villages and cities, and not
one cent for agricultural education. If
that is repeated this year whose fault
will it be?
The Referendum.
Argument is not need to show that the
liquor traffic peoples our almshouseS. fills
our prisons and begets insanity. That
it imposes upon its victims mental ruin,
spiritual blight and moral degeneration.
That it causes crimes to be committed,
homes to be destroyed, and hearts to be
broken. That it is the greatest curse we
have. The question is, how shall we
COAli OI IT, NO SdhS pSISOu WOulu du-
vocate going back to our old town
agency" system. We believe large ma
jority of the people of our state believe in
temperance, and the abolition of the
liquor traffic. Local option is a n1isno-
mer. One town in a county can nullify
it's effect. One bad feature of our pres
ent law is the annual struggle which
paralyzes business, in some towns, for
several days. We would not try to legal
ize an evil. We believe a better law
could be devised. We would have only
one or two places in acounty, understate
control where it could be procure for
medical purposes only. Only the purest
liquors obtainable to be kept, and sold
at price to barely pay the state for
doing the business. We would have no
individual, or the state, make any money
from the transaction. Sales to be only
upon doctors orders, each order to be
numbered and duplicate order posted,
or filed, in a public place, with such
publicity, penalties and provisions as
would tend to keep men honest and trust
worthy, We would have our next legis-
lature frame some such bill to become a
law, when ratified by a majority of the
votes cast, at some specified time before
March 1, 1911.
Good Roads
The establishment of complete system
of improved public highways is a very
important subject that is confronting
people of our state. All will agree that
they make the country more attractive,
bring it in touch with the village and
city; and aid the social, the religious, the
educational and the industrial progress
of the people. The farmer needs them to
market his products. the government
needs them for its mail routes, and the
towns need them to transport their
scholars to rural and central schools.
The autoists need them for pleasure and
the hotels for their summer business. We
shall differ in opinion only as to the How
and WHERE. Shall we bond for one or
two trunk lines? Shall we mortgage all
our farms for trunk line, from which
90 per cent of the taxpayers will get no
direct bene6t? Shall we continue our
present system? Our roads are growing
better, but not fast enough. Means
should be devised to raise more money
annually for road improvement, and it
should be so expended that all the tax
payers may get their share of the benefits
to be derived.
Forestry.
One of the redeeming features of our
last legislature was the foundation they
laid for forestry policy. Forest reserves
should be secured, as fast as practical,
until we have them in every county.
With sixty per cent of our state better
adapted to forestry than agriculture, it's
Importance is manifest. The larger
state forest reserves we can secure, the
greater our safety and future assets.
The Direct Primary.
Quite large proportion of the states
have adopted direct primary law. Men
of the caliber of Gov. Hughes, who have
given the subject careful study, are
strong advocates of such a measure.
Some of the advantages claimed for it
are: 1st. 1t means responsibilities of the
official to the voter, instead OF the
responsibility to the political worker.
2nd. 1t is the simpler method. 3rd. 1t
makes the exercise of corrupt influence
over nominations more difficult. 4th.
Under the direct primary more interest is
taken in nominating. 1t brings out
regularly, on an average, three times
more voting strength of the party than
under the caucus system. 5th. 1t in
sures more nearly the rule of the people.
Constitutional Amendments.
Doubtless our next legislature will
make several amendments to our consti-
tuition. The most of those recommended
by the Special Commission seem to be adj
visable We%would not change our
representation as advocated by some.
The small towns are our safety valves.
We need them to prevent extravaganza,
and safeguard our public morals and in
situations.
We wish the several subordinate and
Pomona Oranges to discuss these ques-
tions which are of vital interest to the
members of our Order. Resolutions
have their place, but there comes a time
1x,Le41 action &c needed IF will he foo late
to lock the barn after the horse has been
stolen. More can be accomplished to-
ward needed legislation before the mem
bers are elected than after.
With more than two hundred and
twenty-five subordinate and Pomona
Oranges, working to accomplish 1.-THE
greatest good to the greatest number"
our Order should be an important factor
in our state. Fraternally,