St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-09-06

good. The republican state plat
form contained a plank specifically
and in terms declaring for legisla-
ton that would compel candidates
for party nominations and political
Offices to make public an itemized &C
count of their campaign expenses. .
This plank was a part of the ten
tatiye platform draft published and
circulated throughout the state
more thai a week before the state
convention for the express purpose
of inviting discussion and challeng-
ing dissent or criticism if any there
should be. Not solitary peep was
made against this plank by soli-
tary newspaper or public man in a
public way and when the platform
was read to the state convention
that plank was heartily cheered.
Then in the face of this unmis-
| taxable party and public endorse
ment of a proposition to help purify
Vermont politics, in spite of the
shameful extravagances and excess
| es that have made money campaigns
for the governorship in this state a
by-word and a reproach-the senate
of 1910 wantonly and contempuous-
| ly repudiated the solemn pledge of
the party and put itself on record
as still willing to tolerate the power
of the purse in politics.
If the Vermont senate had kept
faith with the party and the people,
Vermont would have had such law
as congress has just passed before
the nation had it. And now she Tags
behind a nationwide movement for
cleaner, more decent politics just far
enough so that superficial critics set
her down as "decadent," and think
they find a warrant for it.
Note that the Messenger says the
great bulk of the people of Vermont
were Disguised with the canvass for
the governorship contest of 1910
but party loyalty prevented them
from administering the rebuke they
few people would deny the correct
ness of either statement and it is
time the thinking voters of the state
sought methods to prevent the repe-
tition of such undesirable results.
One aid to purer politics would be a
sensible and well 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 convicted of perjury if
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 plat
form of 1910 and then the solidly
republican senate repudiated the
promise They will continue to do
so until the people assert themselves
enough to secure senators who will
carry out their pledges. Every man.
who intends to be candidate for
the legislature should be put on re-
cord on this issue.
Another plank Of the party plat
form as ruthlessly repudiated was
that promising just as effective pro-
lection of the ballot at the primaries
as at the regular elections. 1t was
expected this would be accomplished
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 ex-
press their direct choice for the
for governor, lieutenant
governor, senator, 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 it to them. They have the
power in their hands at the present
time however if they will systema-
tically set about finding out what
aspirants for the next legislature
stand for.
Regarding the primary law, we
know of one candidate for the SEN
atorship from Caledonia county who
is openly opposed to the direct pri-
mary because it would not allow an
organization of politicians to go in
to some town and pick an unknown
man for political position and elect
him not on account of any known
virtue or ability he possesses but be-
cause the party organization is able
to carry such unknown parCles to
victory. This particular cano1date
for the senatorship is a very desir-
able man in many ways but the
people. should think out for them
selves whether they want the direct
primary or not and if they do see
to it that their candidate for senator
also wants it. We do not single out
this case as the only one to be treat
ed in this way. We speak SO def
nitely because we know of it. But
the same course should be pursued
in every county and every town in
the state if we are to have real re-