Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-04-22
LET US TALK ABOUT PLATFORM
Isl Adams Messenger.l

In the meantime, men and brethren
the propositions for improvements in our
state laws and governmental institutions
that we want the legislature of 1910 TO
deliberate and decide are practically
undiscussed. We are putting up a fine
line Of talk about the candidates for the
governorship. but it is the law we have
to live under, not the governor. Let US
talk about the platform.
What are We going to decide about the
direct primary system, for instance?
Shall we agree to make a beginning that
shall not be too pretentous, too radical
a change. but that will enable us to do a
little experimenting with the principle
behind the idea and find out how adapt
able to Vermont conditions it is or can
be made to be?
What about trunk line highways?
Is it not about time we fell into line
with our neighbor states and Joined
modern thoroughfares to the ones they
are building, or shall we let Vermont
be the No Thoroughfare Of New England
and the East?
What about uniform system of mu-
nicipal accounting? Instead OF attempt
ing to force a radical change upon the
246 cities and towns all at once, shall we
devise a law, by way OF beginning, that
shall be optional with them and that shall
o1er such advantages to the communi-
ties that adopt 1t that none of the
others can afford to stay outside?
What about making a start toward
the reform of the tax law? Shall we
agree that there shall be at least some
kind Of a centralized state authority
over the local listers or a board or com
mission to which tine local listers can
appeal so that the enforcement of the
law may be made as nearly uniform as
possible in all cities and towns in Yer
mont something we have never had be-
fore?
What about those proposals Of amend
ment to the constitution? Are we going
to let this decennial period go by without
taking the time-lock off the organic law
of the state so that the people of YER
mont shall actually be masters of their
own law and not subjects to a dead
hand? Are we going to instruct our
several representatives in the egislat ure
to pass these proposals along to the leg
islature OF 1912 so that our day in
court may be preserved, and so that,
whatever our conflicting opinions about
them now, we may preserve our lawful
right to consider and pass upon them
finally two years later? II we do not do
this remember We cannot touch the con-
stitution again until 1920
What about the matter of reform of
the justice of the peace system and the
abuses that arise under it? Are we GO
ing 10 agree upon some district court
system that shall put our Vermont iuris-
prudence more nearly into line with mod
ern ideas OF the administration of ius
tice' or are we going to continue the
present haphazard style that offers more
inducement to pettifoggng, small graft,
Increased expense, and less justice?
what about more advanced legislation
for the preservation or conservation of
the forests? How near are we ready to
go now to that broad public policy pre-
vailing in some of our sister states that
puts the private forest under government
control and directs how many and what
Kind Of trees its owner may cut out of
it from year to year?
These are but a few of the topics that
might probably be considered by the
press and people Of Vermont at this
time, topics that are far more important
to the citizens and tax payers Of Yer
mont than the mere ambition of anv
man, however worthy, to sit in the seat
OF Tom Chittenden and sign a few hum
bred commissions Of justices of the peace.
And In this apparently hippant eaarac-
terlzation OF the importance of the gov
ernership The Messenger has most Sc
rlous purpose. Because when the peo-
pie OF Vermont adopt the proposals Of
amendment to the constitution that have
been submitted to them and that ought
seriously to be considered In the next
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