The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-02-10
Wilmington Times.)

The Central Vermont Railway com
PAW has succeeded temporarily in its Ell
fort to throttle competition in Nermont
1t is today. as it ever has been, the politl,
cal master of the state. We have heard
little Of its work these later years simply
because it has not been necessary Tor IL Io
exert its power openly. 1t has been able
to accomplish all desired by. employing
gum shoe" tactics. The asking o., the
charter by the Vermont Valley railroad
created a sensation which made 1T neces'
sary for it to come out into the open
Now the people can behold the monstrous
form Of its political power in the affairs
Of the state
The first question which naturally arises
in the mind of the citizen is this why
did the senate of the state refuse to
grant charter to the Vermont Valley
rallroady The answer is simple. The Cen,
trail Vermont, which dictates the political
policy of the state, did not want 1t
granted, and to prevent it, used means
that would disgrace any state, thereby re-
vealng the fact that conditions in Yer
mont are worse than they ever were in
New Hampshire in the palmiest days OF
the Boston 4 Maine control, or in Cali
tornia under the hated domination of the
Southern Pacific.
The result was accomplished by bringing
70 bear upon individual senators every in
tiuence which could be possibly used to
cause him to vote not according to his best
judgment.
:, A list Of those representing the Central
vermont at the capitol during the past
week is full Of interest Judge Charles Il.
Darling, a federal official, collector OF Gus
toms at the port of Burlington, seemed to
De chief spokesman for the Central Yer
mont His brother was one Of the sena-
.Gfs from Caledonia county. The people
mat county were practically unanl-
nous IN favor Of the Vermont Valley char
!er' Thomas G. Cheney of Morrisville,
SIno mas three times as speaker OF the
aouse OF representatives, named the house
lohMlttees, was most strenuous in his la.
WI to deal a blow to the interests OF
Mmdham county and the east side of the
s.dte' Judge Palmer, recently appointed
iuuge OF the Burlington city court, G. p.
smith, president of the Burlington Trust
JIotlnipany, sometimes mentioned as can
u uI Tor governor, with all his financial
a nI,. political influence; M. R. Barnes OF
addison county, who has aspirations to
1Es a the state as acknowledgement,
t thrahk d. Thompson of Barton, judge OF
s sne municipal court of Orleans county, a
StI aer partner of Senator Porter of Gale
C CHbnid, champion of the Central Vermont,
G Gu5alies d. Watson, late democratic can
a 1oa Tor governor, and Smith Ballard,
snae agent of the National Life Insur-
n nnre. company, and who expects his cor
poGau friends to elect him mayor of Mont
trb, H. al contributed their efforts to deal
c cru Industrial interests of Vermont most
vrosIg blow, and to end forever the
e,Ia'er and newer Vermont idea. So it
tbm a ~. oe seen that the political octopus of
faS fed sed'e was able to command services of
c saeral officials, past state officers. future
sent t,tates Tor public Office and the repre-
test iIs is OF financial interests in the con-
'eII before the senate.
troI part Of its machinery for the con-
Rail- Raj u the state the Central Vermont
certasaE company directs the policy Of
useJ Az e.. lhluential newspapers. These are
mbI;, ior The purpose of manufacturing
panaS. sentiment The columns of these
STATE. nave been filed with misleading
and tbas, maintained a press agent
brOaSSonr1o,u through him was able to get printed
ored "a statements of the situation col
camna; ~ us layor. The object of the press
Was pta 10 as conducted by the press agent,
son " create the impression that the rea.
dTa t tor the application for a charter was
{ Man desire on the part of the Boston
check ~, people to use the charter to
'u'Ore building by the Central Yer