The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-05-19
THE HApGOOD PLATFORM.

ItTu tHhuiuutc DutcS his GOllticul
Newsletter to G. J. Ferguson and
Statement Regarding Use Of Money
in Politics.
NJ. ]. Hapgood of Peru. has issued
the following statement:
What Marshall j. Hapgood of Peru
stands for as a candidate for Gov
ernor:
First of all we must guard our
| foundations. Hence | stand for:
! Q) Enforcement of existing laws;
many of which are openly now disre-
: garded, even by those in high places.
The Chief Executive is the head of the
prosecuting force, a Waterman, as it
were, and notorious and open viola
lions of the law should not require
complaints by private citizens for cor
rection. Under his own initiative,
though his subordinates, the Attorney
General and the various States At
torneys, bribery for high Offices
wheels of fortune" upon our fair
grounds, gambling slot machines in
our drug stores, patent medicine adj
vertsements upon our bridges AMI
along our highways should be swept
away. And his chief "junkets" should
be to places where he suspects that
the laws are openly disobeyed.
co Full exercise of the veto pow
er; according to the oath prescribed
by the constitution, the Governor is,
in many respects, a third House, and
he has no right to approve any bill
through mere policy or because he
fears it would pass over his Veto Oft
entimes veto would cause healthful
reconsideration.
| 81 The genuine Australian ballot,
instead of the present counterfeit
form concocted by professional poll
ticians in order to further their sell
fish aims. With this in use, we need
not fear corrupt nominations; since
an independent candidate would stand
upon equal footing SO far as any adj
vantage from the form, or operation
of the ballot is concerned.
ca The adoption of the constitu-
tional amendment, first proposed by
me, making ineligible any member of
the Legislature to an office created
by the Legislature of which he is
MEMBER or whose emoluments are
increased thereby. This would do
away with undue increases of salar-
ies-especially such as the infamous
"Grab"-and the creation of useless
commissions.
60 Development and preservation
of our resources; with the object in
view to make Vermont the center of
a great breathing spot for the coun-
try east of Chicago. Our scenery and
our wild surroundings are an import
ant asset, of high commercial value,
even. Hence our axes and our rifles,
should be used with caution.
Co Taxation; upon the principle
of abolishing all offsets and assess
ing everything of actual value, at its
true worth. once and once only;
mainly upon the principles laid down
in the report of our last tax commits
sion.
C) Highways that are highways
planned and worked upon economic
scientific principles, according to
heir peculiar local use and the ma
terial at hand, the main thorough
ares to be under supreme State con-
troll. | would favor the right of
closing by the authorities of any
town or city, of any side avenues of
travel against the use of automobiles
with the consent of the State highway
commissioner, special permits being
allowable to such as physicians and
the like. Our permanent summer
residents from choice, and most of
us from necessity, prefer flesh and
blood to ride AFTER and their and our
wishes should be reasonably INDUCED.
Many other subjects are of mucl
Importance. 1t is needless to say that
would favor a law compelling pub
licity to, and limiting, the expenses
of candidates to high offices; also
deferring the final passage of bills
until after the adjourned session, in
order to give more care and delibera-
ton to what should be considered a
well-nigh sacred act. | would not
approve of removing the time lock I'M
til our system of legislation is more
stable We should have one thing,
at least upon which we can depend.
M. J. HAPGOOD,
Peru, VT. May 10, 1910.