The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-08-11

passed since the organization of the
Republican party, great and remark
able changes have taken place in our
Nation. Our population has increased
by about sixty millions, or to about
three times what it was in 1856, and
much of that increase is made up of
Social conditions have changed radi-
cally in all the centers of population,
and in short. everywhere throughout
our land. The scale of living with
everybody is far different from what
it used to be. Elements of unrest
have always been with us, but never
before were they so menacing as they
are today Let us remember that the
Vermont election still comes two
months before the general election
throughout the country, and that
Vermont's barometer, whatever 1t may
be worth, is quite as much a needed
influence in the coming September as
it ever has been in the history of the
Republican party. If our election
next September shall result in large
Republican majority such as we may
reasonably hope for, it will serve no.
tice upon our sister States that Ver-
mont is still true, still loyal to Re-
publican principles"
Notwithstanding disturbing signs in
the Nation at large, there is no ques-
ton involving the effective work upon
progressive lines accomplished in the
present Congress, nor can any just
criticism attach itself to the motives
and integrity of the national admin
istration under the presidency of Will
liam Howard Taft. BY means of eff
fective cooperation of the administra-
tion and Congress. accomplishment
perhaps has never been equalled in
any similar period of two years since
the Civil War. This accomplishment
on progressive lines involves the fol-
lowing most important measures or
executive acts:
Prosecution and conviction of those,
implicated in the sugar frauds against
the government and other violaters
of the Federal statutes; prompt and
successful Intervention to prevent ar
bitrary increases in rairoaS freight
rates; effective enforcement of the law
against illegal dealing in stocks; in
dictment of those involved in cotton
pools formed to raise the price of one
of the necessities of life in every
American family; impartial enforce
ment of antitrust laws. substantial
reduction in government expenses,
saving million dollars a month in
the post office department with fair
promise of wiping out the annual pos
tai deficit; such remarkable progress
in the construction of the Panama Ca
nal as insures its early completion;
withdrawal from private entry in
order to preserve for the public ben
eft valuable coal and other mineral
deposits, timber lands and water pow
err sites of over seventy-two million
acres of the public domain The adj
ministration has strengthened our
prestige with foreigns nations and
has treated with vigor and wisdom
important and delicate international
questions. Such is the record prac-
tically unequalled in the history of
the American government in any peri
cd so short.
The Republican platform upon
which the present campaign is being
conducted has outlined party policy
with, great precision. Upon the tariff
issue it demands continued recogni-
ton of the protective principles with
such an amendment of schedules as
shall be best adapted to the demands
Of varying conditions of trade and
economies and with administration of
| them upon business principles, rather
than upon partisan exigencies The
platform further commits the party to
needed amendments to our State con-
stitution; to simple and effective pri-
mary election procedure; to the best
administration of our tax laws that
can be had; to legislation involving
a better protection for the working