The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-18
A False Estimate

| "One of the most satisfying things
in this world is power. 1t is what
kings Of old used to steep their prin-
cipalities in blood to retain. II Is
what has written so vivid a page in
history. II is what rulers In all inds
Of governments enjoy. And none en-
joy 1t more, or sometimes exercise
II more arbitrarily, than the temper
airy rulers that control republic
The members OF state legislature
| for example. For the first and only
time in their lives they are II. They
are the supreme power. They can
make and unmake statutes. change
policies, reward friends, punish enc
mics, vote unlimited sums OF money
that the people must pay, for any
thing they choose. No potentate has
more power than they. The consci-
BUSINESS OF IL brings the keenest de-
light that comes to the legislator dur
ing his service. II is but passing
experience, over In a few weeks but
| therefore the more to be improved
and relished. And with all this pow
er there is little personal accountable
| ity. The monarch has to preserve a
| definite course or stand TO lose his
crown, but a legislature may be as
inconsistent and erratic as a weather
vane, and no one responsible really
suffers. The legislative monarch OF
today, tomorrow retires to the ranks
and loses himself in the throng, leav-
ing only his record OF good or Ill be
hind him. His errors and shortcom-
ings are visited upon the state. not
him. With all his opportunity to do
Ill, and his almost complete absolu-
ton from punishment therefor, II Is
we'll that his action is so generally
upon a patriotic rather than sordid
basis, also that the good predomi-
mates when evil would bring such dis
aster. Randolph Herald and News.
And there Is another phase Of the
matter quite as interesting. For
years before he is sent TO the state
capital, the average legislator Is
taught that the American form Of gov
eminent comprehends three co-ordln-
ate branches, the legislative, execu'
tive and judicial, each on an equality
with the other, Independent. and in
1 Alt AOANlN DAkh wv
ceptions OF the kind Of a man 10 must
take to be worthy OF the great office
OF governor, OF the superior quality
OF the men necessary to answer TO the
standard OF the supreme court His
ideals are all high keyed and inspir-
ing.
He awakes some day to find him.
self transplanted from the lumber
camp to the house OF representatives
at Montpelier, TO find that he is n unit
in the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent on political equality with
the governor and the chief Judge. He
the little man OF yesterday, that CAV,
no heed to the remotest dream o.
statewide consequence for himself
now treads on an evener with mel
OF great achievement and greater pur
pose. men that have devoted n life
time 10 study OF and Accomplishment
lin the larger Affairs of life. lie 4
tho "legislatlve"-and the executive
and judiciary are no greater than he
And then he begins to "legislate.'
Test some OF the follies and capr
ces of modern legislatures by thi
thought and see n II Is not respons
Bile for many OF them. See II Il
not responsible for something OF a
idea current In the body polite tina
governors and judges are not so yer
much" after all.
Are the true purposes OF true den
ocracy best served by this adapt'
ton by the American people OF FIRE
= government Doesn't democrac
3 rather deceive itself by the overstrai
OF this theory OF equality Ho'
many men sent 10 make laws are IN
equals Of chief executives and Judge
when II comes TO the knowledge
the science OF government aud N
concentrated wisdom OF the best pul
Z llic policy7-St. Adams Messenger.