The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-12
Party Promises

Note that The Messenger says the
great bulk of the people of Vermont,
were disguised with the canvass for
the governorship contest in 1910 but
party loyalty prevented them from ad.
ministering the rebuke they felt was
deserved at the polls. Very few peo-
pie would deny the correctness OF
either statement and 1t is time the
thinking voters of the state sought
methods to prevent the repetition OF
such undesirable results. One aid to
purer politics would be a sensible
and we'll enforced publicity law. Had
candidates of the past known they
must make public the amounts they
spent to secure the nomination for
the governorship and would be con-
victed OF perjury II they did not
make honest statements much less
money would have been spent and
politics today would be more healthy.
The Republican party did make a
clear and convincing declaration for
publicity in its platform of 1910 and
then the solidly Republican senate re-
pudiated the promise. They will con-
tinue to do so until the people assert
themselves enough to secure senators
who will carry out their pledges.
Every man who intends to be can
didate for the legislature should be
put on record on this issue,
Another plank OF the party plat.
form as ruthlessly repudiated was that
promising Just as effective protection
of the ballot at the primaries as at
the regular elections. Ii was expect
ed this would be accomplished by the
passage OF a direct primary law but
the Republican house killed IT, We
believe the great majority OF people
in this state would like a law that
would enable them to express their
direct choice for the candidates for
governor, lieutenant governor, sena
tor. sheriff, states attorney and other
state and county officers at the ballot
box in the town primary but they have
not elected men to the legislature who
would give Il to them. They have
the power In their hands at the pres
ent time, however, II they will sys
tematically set about finding out wha'
aspirants for the next Legislature
stand for.
Regarding the primary law, W.
know OF one candidate for the sena
torship from Caledonia county wh'
is openly opposed to the direct prim
airy because II would not allow an or
ganizatlon OF politicians to go Int,
4 some town and pick an unknown maj
4 for political position and elect hin
4 not on account OF any known vlrtu
. or ability he possess but because tn
party organization Is able to carr
such unknown parties to Victory. Thi
particular candidate for the senator
4 ship is a very desirable man In man
ways but the people should think on
for themselves whether they want Oh
direct primary or not and II they d
see TO Il that their candidate for sci
ator also wants II. We do not slngl
out this case as the only one to b
treated in this way We speak 8
definitely because we know OF II. BIZ
the same course should be pursued !
every course and every town
the state II we are to have real r.
form.
i These two important changes
political methods are before the pc,
pie for acceptance or reejectment W
believe each to be desirable and wi
do what we can to get them enacte
| into law. We may not represent pu
| lie sentiment correctly on these ma
ters but we believe the majority
the people also favor them. II n
majority does favor them 1t is tim
| TO begin effective work toward the
Accomplishment through the state le
: iplature.-St Jbhnsbury Caledonlan