Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-07-20
A Crisis in Vermont.

A Crisis in Vermont.
The people of Vermont are at the
parting of the ways, and upon their
choice of direction will depend for
long time to come the shaping of
legislation at Montpelier. It re-
quired years to shake off railroad
domination, but the state is now con-
fronted by the same Boston & Maine in
fiuence which has long held New Hamp-
shire firmly in its grasp, the far |
reaching difference being that instead |
of local railroad the power now rep
resents the combined interests such
as the progressive republicans under
the leadership of Taft and Roosevelt
are fighting in every state in the
Union.
Ex-President Andrew D. White of
Cornell University says that Mr..
Roosevelt saved this country from
socialism by graphing with the trust
problems and preventing conditions
which would have forced the people to
resort to extreme measures to regain
their rights. While there is some
ground for this view, we prefer the
more certain position that has been
quoted in these columns, namely,
that Mr.. Roosevelt aroused the re-
publican party to its responsibilities
to the people and helped it to improve
the opportunity for grand service con-
fronting it.
One of the most significant features
of the present situation in Vermont is
the fiocking together of the very in
terests which the people of this state
have been free from as masters, that
freedom finding its concrete express
sion in part in public service legislation
that confessedly has stood for the
interests of the public.
Those who have watched the
progress of political events have seen
all the leading attorneys of the Boston
& Maine railroad, aided by the attor-
neys of the more distinctively Vermont
railroads banded together, and this
can have but one logical meanin g.
The railroads, which confessedly had
gone out of politics, have re-entered
the field with the plain determination
to regain at least partial control of
legislation. If successful, the situa-
ton will be more malign and disas-
Mountain State than before, because
the seat of power will be in New
Haven, Conn, and New York instead
; of in our own state, with local pride
and interest holding it in check. With
the great financial interests dominat-
, ing the state Vermont will become a
pocket borough for the great mag
!, mates, and the, governors of our State
as we'll as our United States senators
and our congressman and our legislat-
ors will be dictated to US, as has been
the case to so large an extent in New
Hampshire.
Now the Free Press, as our
editorial columns amply testify, has
never believed in assailing the rail
roads and striving to create prejudice
against them. We have welcomed
> them and their advancement as one OF
4 the greatest aids to development q
state can possibly have. We have also
: recognized the fact that the cry that
= our railroads should be unduly taxed
- was unreasonable in particular, be-
!, cause OF the unfavorable conditions
q for profitable railroading in our billy
> state.
. When it comes to question whether
> the people or the railroads should
prevail in shaping legislation ano
. state policies, the Free Press viii
: always be found on the side of the
5 people. If the railroads put themselve'
T in an attitude to invite opposition from
y the people, they must expect the peo'
}, pie to fight for rights and privileges
vouchsafed them by the constitution
i as we'll as by legislation, and to bit
t terly oppose every movement to weak
: en- the bulwarks against corporate
e control.
= The people of Vermont should care
l. fully watch every public servant an
see on which side he lines up in tn
n struggle, which is sure to come. The
p should, moreover, see to it that ever!
J. representative elected to the legisla
IS ture this fall is pledged to uphold tn
). rights of the people while assuring
n justice for every corporate interest.
y The railroads and other corporate ir
IS terests derive their charter right
"a q from the people. They were chartere
al to become the servants of the peopl
and not masters of the people. If tn
al people through their representative
prevail next September the right
n of the public will be safe. L
De however, the roads become entrencl
Id ed at Montpelier, it will take
superhuman effort to dislodge them.
m This issue should be forced in ever
tn city and town in Vermont in connee
en- ton with the election of member
or 4of both branches of the Legislature
- There is no question about the electio
pc Of United States Senator Carroll
it Page to succeed himself, as he d,
IS, serves, and home rule by the Poop
s, will be easily the paramount issue
III the legislature.
ne This same issue is to be the chic
es party slogan all over the countr,
IS. for both Taft and Roosevelt plain
: d realize that Elf the republican par
, n abandons the championship of I'll
of rights of the people at this time, as Q
of posed to special interests, it will
all confronted by disaster. No 9th
course will save it from inevitable d
mt feat. If the reactionaries in the par
on seek to block the wheels of progress
ed they will simply invite party disaste
Al The railroad interests are trying
lrd work their ends so as not to arou