Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-06-24

held in Montpelier Thursday June 30:
We the Republicans of Vermont, b!
our representatives and delegates in STATE
convention assembled, do most heartily
renew our allegiance to the primary prin-
ciples and tenets Of the only political or
ganization that has been successful in the
government Of the nation from the days
when the party sprang into being with
patriotic vision and craftsmanship to save
a nation to be governed at all. Even as
Vermonters were pioneers in the estab-
lshment of the Republican party more
than half a century ago, at time when
it took the courage of convictions to ad-
vocate its new doctrines and purposes,
so they have ever since been and are to-
day the consistent advocates of a party
policy that will rise to the new duties Of
all new occasions with the sober-minded
ambition of men whose discretion only
makes for the better choice Of progress
and not for faltering or doubt, delay and
do-nothing. We believe that, If the Re-
publican party of today is to conduct the
government of the nation tomorrow, 1t
must not cease to take account OF the
awakened and reinvigorated aspiration of
the people for the realization of higher
ideals Of civic righteousness, business
honesty, equality of economic opportunity
and political freedom and we unhesitat-
ingly declare ourselves in sympathy with
that public sentiment that makes for un-
ceasing progress along the lines bazed
by the patriotic leadership of Theodore
Roosevelt and followed by his illustrious
successor in the presidency, William How
ard Taft. We are proud to express our
hearty sympathy with the high purposes
and admiration of the devoted labors of
President Taft in his conduct of the ma
tional government.
The Tariff.
We desire to emphasize our belief that
,r-1,n he aAi nj tf11p
of tariff schedules should be taken out of
politics The revenue act of this great
government should no longer be subjected
to the caprice of local or sectional inter-
ests or other undue influences in gen
eral revision by Congress, but its sched-
ules should be amended, detail by detail,
from time to time under the suggestion
and counsel of a non-partisan tariff board
or commission whose function it should
be to promote the constant adaptation
of this statute to the demands Of varying
conditions of trade and economics after
the methods of simple business prudence
and national common sense.
Reciprocity.
We favor such reciprocal tariff rela-
lions with the Dominion of Canada as
will the more actively stimulate the in
terchange of profitable trade between the
two countries upon basis fair to both
and sufficiently protective of the inter-
ests Of our own people.
National Department Of Public Health.
We commend the proposed creation by
Congress of a national department of pub
lie health to have jurisdiction in such
matters pertaining to its field as are not
within the scope of the authority Of the
state government.
The State Constitution.
While the organic law of the state
should not be lightly varied, but, above
ALL statutes should be staple and certain,
we are convinced that the time has come
when hands should be reverently laid up
on the constitution of Vermont and GER
tain changes made in it's provisions that
they may more clearly define our political
liberties and the obligations they entail
upon us. We, therefore, commend to the
General Assembly of 1910 the report of
the commission created by authority of
the General Assembly of 1908 to propose
amendments to the constitution of YER
mont, and endorse and approve its several
recommendations for amendments We
cannot too earnestly urge upon the peo-
pie of this state and their representatives
in the legislature our unqualified belief
that the amendment of the constitution in
these particulars is the most grave and
responsible duty that is likely to confront
the law makers at the coming session and
one that is on no account to be put aside.
The Tax Law.
We believe that the reform Of the tax
law of this state so that it may impose
the burden of the support of government
equitably among all men and avoid So
called double taxation, is one of the most
serious and pressing duties that confronts
our people. We believe that one Of the
greatest evils under the present law is the
lack of uniformity in its enforcement in
the 246 cities and towns, each local ad-
minstration Practically being law unto
itself in this regard. AS first important
step toward the reform of the tax law, we
recommend to the General Assembly the
amendment of the present statute to pro-
vide for a state central authority in some
form that shall have some proper degree
of charge and oversight of the local ad-
ministration of the law in the various
cities and towns, to the end that not only
shall the present law hereafter be as uni
formly and impartially enforced as may
be everywhere throughout the state, but
that the experience from such uniform
and impartial administration thus had for
the first time in the history of Vermont
shall furnish definite and reliable infor-
nation helping to point the way to such
further changes in the statute as such
experience proves to be just and neces-
sary.
The Political Primaries.
without committing the state to an eX-
pertinent with theories that may involve
a cumbersome and expensive machinery
out of all proportion to the practical ben
efts to be derived from its operation, we
nevertheless believe that some amendment
Of the existing caucus law along the line
of the principle of the direct primary sys-
tenn should be undertaken by the next
General Assembly And we further recon-
mend such legislation as shall compel
candidates for party nominations and po-
litical Offices to make public an itemzed
account of their campaign expenses and |
such other notifications of the existing
statute regarding corrupt practices in po-
htical campaigns and elections as shall |
tend more certainly to secure the free |
choice Of the peoples servants in the gov
eminent and make the manner and meth |
cd Of that choice clear of any features re- |
pugnant to the enlightened sense of a
democratic people.
Labor.
In accord with the best Judgment of the |
present day, we recommend the passage |
OF such legislation as will put the public |
under the same liability to working men |
In Its service as obtains in the case of |
private employers. We pledge our sup |
port for the passage of a liability law |
which will accomplish that purpose We |
also recommend to the legislature an
equitable employers liability law. Farm |
Ing and the professions are granted |
special exemptions from attachment on |
the theory that the bare necessities of life |
snail not be sued away from these men |
and their dependent ones. The wage |
and gu a