St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-02-16
GubernatOrial Platforms.

GubernatOrial Platforms.
At least one advancement in Vermont
politics has been made in getting each
candidate who seriously aspires to the
Office of governor to declare what prin-
ciples he proposes to stand for in the
campaign and during his administra-
ton. Besides revealing what the man
himself hopes to be it gives an opportu-
nifty to compare what the various can
didates propose to do. The announce
ment by DIR. Mead of his ideas on pubic
questions is followed by statement by
F. G. Fleetwood of Morrisville which is
published in another column. Now let
us make some comparisons.
DR.. ]. A. Mead hired a man to write
his platform, F. G. Fleetwood wrote his
own. Mead bought space in the news
papers for the publication of his plat
form. Fleetwood sent his to the differ
ent editors for them to use as a matter
of news if they wished or to ignore if
they thought best. We think Mr.. Fleet
woods platform will be given as much
publicity as DIR. Mead's minus the
garnishing of cornstalks, shanties, bust
ness buildings and dramatic" intro
duction of DR.. Meads article. Fleetwood
has certainly scored one in writing his
own statement His is his personal
statement to the voters, DIR. Meads is
what he paid somebody to write for
him.
Party Platform,-Mr. Fleetwood de-
clares that he considers it a party pledge
that should be made before a candidate
S named and the candidate pledged to
work for its ful6llment DR.. Mead's
Direct Nominations,-Mr. Fleetwood
declares that the people should directly
select the candidates they directly elect.
DIR. Mead's position on this question
Corrupt Practices,-Mr. Fleetwood
believes the law should clearly define and
limit the purposes for which money can
be used in politics, every candidate COM
PEELED to make public report of all the
money used and the purposes for which
it was used and punishment inflicted on
anyone violating the law. DR.. Mead
was profoundly silent on this subject.
The Courts,-Mr. Fleetwood believes
district courts should be established that
could hear and definitely settle cases of
5000 or less and have appellate jurisdic-
tion in civil cases where the amount in
volved is from 5000 to $500. That is the
L 4
can be determined without the expense of
presenting the facts of the case in more
than one court. DIR. Mead declares a
system that would give cheap and
speedy justice should be established and
expenses radically reduced by the intro
duction of business methods. DIR. Mead
uses general terms while Mr.. Fleetwood
suggests definite remedy. We believe
Mr.. Fleetwood might have strengthened
his statement by adding that the law
should limit the jurisdiction of justices of
the peace to prevent the duplication of
minor court expenses that has been
made under the present system of NUM-
cipal and justice courts.
Public Schools,-Mr. Fleetwood calls
for more thorough instruction in the
fundamental elements threading, writing
spelling and arithmetic and more atten-
ton to agricultural industrial, manual
and commercial training, in a word more
practical education. DR.. Mead calls for
agricultural, commercial and industrial
education and the establishment of an
agricultural school and model farm to
introduce most modern methods. Here
DR.. Mead is more definite than Mr..
Fleetwood and the question for the
people is to decide whether one agricul-
tural school and model farm can accom-
modate the people of the whole state or
not.
Forestry, Fleetwood calls for the
establishment of state forest reserves in
each county where they would furnish
practical education in the matter of
forestry Dr. Mead calls for continual
ton and extension of the states forestry
policy. Here Mr.. Fleetwood is the more
definite but his scheme is one that the
people may not be ready for and certain
ly would require very careful study be-
fore it could be reduced to practical
form.
Taxation.-Mr. Fleetwood believes the
present laws should be efficiently en-
forced before changes are attempted and