Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-07-12

land which abolished the death pen
atty years ago, has even more homi-
cides, proportionately. The compari
son with New Hampshire is yet
stronger, Maine having four and one
half times, and Rhode Island six and
one-half times, as many killings.
These statistics cover only one year.
and may therefore be misleading, but
if the same rule applies for series
of years, sufficient to establish the
fact that of four states lying side by
side the two without capital punish
men, have many, or any, more muir
ders than the two with, it would be a
strong argument why Vermont should
reconsider her recent action in practi-
cally abolishing the death penalty.
The "option of juries" would have
been better placed had it required the
jury in each case of homicide to fix
the penalty, either capital or impris.
onment, instead of throwing the
heavy responsibility on it of naming
the death penalty when the other is
the prescribed one. That is. provid.
ing any option were to be given
jury in this regard. If the number of
killings continues to keep up in Yer
mont at its recent ratio, the Amey
law will be upset at the next session.
theoretically, many of US would pre-
fer the abolition of capital punish
ment, but if trial demonstrates that
the awful crime of murder has been
encouraged by such step, some of US
will revise our theories in the face of
stubborn facts. Randolph Herald and
News.
Vermont Republicans and the President.
Some of the metropolitan newspa-
pers are busy seeking interviews from
residents of Vermont in relation to
the attitude of republicans of the
state toward the denomination and re-
election of President Taft The New
York American even goes so far as to
include return postage for this pur-
pose.
In view of the present situation as
regards national issues, our people
realize that it would be worse than
idle to think of trying to nominate
any other man and think of winning
the election. If the country was so
indignant over the failure of repubi.
cans to follow the lead of President
Taft in revising the tariff downward
as to turn control of the house over
to the democrats, it is inconceivable
that it would now reverse itself and
call for the election of a reactionary
on the tariff question who at best
would stand pat.
III all human probability, therefore,
the republicans must choose in the
national convention between Presi-
dent Taft and some other republican
who is more radical or more progress
sive. La Toilette, for example, would
ensure the democratic candidate a
tremendous majority, in our humble
estimation, and at present there is no
other radical in sight whose nomina-
ton would not cause the business
world to have pronounced case of
the shivers
On the other hand, if there is any
republican asset which the party can
use at this time outside Of the Taft
policies, they have not suggested
themselves. This being the situation,
it will probably be a choice between
President Taft and some democrat,
and really the only possible objection
that republican can raise against
the former is that he is too much of g
democrat on the tariff question. In
asmuch as the country as whole has
tended in that direction. however.
how are republicans to better theil
situation by taking a democrat?
According to our advices the people
are realizing more and more thai
Wall street is behind the only demo
crat who would have any possible show
of an election and if the Taft admin
istration has not given the country
enough of trust busting to show thu
people on which side they can expec,
relief from encroachments from gian
combinations, the people have less in
telligence than we have credited tt
them. President indications are tina
President Taft will be his own sue
cessor.-Burlingto Free Press.