The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-16
Another Point Of View

Inc senate this morning did an
other of those inconsistent things that
in the past has subjected that body to
more or less newspaper criticism in
condemning the newspapers for the
comments made on some OF its acts
and almost In the same breath res
ponding to that criticism by doing the
very thing for which 1t was censured
It has been known for some time that
some of the members of that body
felt rather keenly the comments on
some Of the acts of the body, but It
remained for Senator Powell to make
the fact public. This morning the
senator from Chittenden arose to
question OF personal privilege which
is the parliamentary way of getting
back at something that has been said
that you do not relish, and severely
condemned the language used by a
morning newspaper in describing the
action taken by the senate yesterday
in killing without debate the direct
Inheritance tax bill.
THE senator also took occasion to
express his ideas as to the propriety
of an editorial In the same newspaper
of the same date rejecting upon the
wisdom of the action of the senate in
killing the time lock proposal Of
amendment to the state constitution
He also condemned the general habit
OF the newspapers of criticizing or
impugning the motives Of the action
OF any legislator, which did not agree
with the ideas OF the paper. He con-
sidered that the newspapers OF the
state had gone out of their way to
condemn and belittle the present SEN
ate.
Senator Archibald facetiously re-
marked that he thought the senator
from Chittenden attached too much
Importance to the newspaper article
IN question. He thought that II the
Senator had been one OF that band
Of ten senators, referred TO, the ten
who defeated the time lock PROPOSE
ton. which had received most OF the
attention OF the press he would be
In better position to resent the
criticism OF the newspapers. AS n
matter OF fact, he said the ten had
reached a point where they felt that
II a day passed when they were not
held up to condemnation by the news
papers that on that day they must
have been remiss in their duties."-
From a Montpelier news dispatch In
The Burlington Free Press.
Our friends the lawmakers are
growing singularly sensitive in these
days and show n disposition to resent
the comment OF the press as II II
were an imposition upon their sacred
prerogatiyes, prerogatlves that we're
assumed with the toga. And yet be.
fore the toga was assumed-yes, be.
fore II was certain that Il could be
assumed-these very same friends OF
ours land they are friends, even II
they are erring and stubborn and un
lrepentanD these very same friends
OF ours were so cordially ohummy
with the newspapers. oh. so chummy
so frankly confidential. so hopefully
helpfully laxative to the editor and
so certain that printers ink could dc
so much toward Strengthening out the
kinks In the world, especially IL
Chittenden and Bennington counties
We all love the editor until he be
gins to edit.
And yet, as matter OF fact Their,
is not a newspaper editor in the stat
OF Vermont that thinks he Is inspired
or infallible or that imaglnes for tn,
glimmering fraction OF a second tina
men In public life must follow the pr,
cepts because he can command tn
power OF n printing press TO publlsl
them. Aud there Is not an editor Il
the state OF Vermont that the Mes
senger has any knowledge OF tina
would even express his professions
opinion In printers ink with the ide
that he was not himself, morally, n
much bound to substantlate his pr,
! cept by good argument as he Nigh
believe the other man was bound I
execute Il with good deeds.
: This Is not a one sided game {
serving the public, gentlemen Of IN
senate. You are In your chairs fc
three months. Editors are sentence
for life, and they can get no time o
7 for good behavior. Day In and da
out with all thier mistakes OF jud
3 ment aud tact, they must answer
the Immediately responsible critic ,
the home and the Preside and n
only fair and reasonable test OF the
writings, after all, is whether the
are inspired by desire TO help n
old state or to hinder Il.
Now, remember you two senate
friends. You can escape under q
/. Anonymous, time after time. The G
4 ltor. In a little state like ours. ho'
ever, Is known personally to h
readers and must take his medicine
when he deserves a. When a man
vites the responsibilities Of public II