The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-31
The Rule of the People.

y
called Progressive party concerning
the restoration of the rule OF the peo-
pie and by the Democratic candidate
for governor about the ring masters
of the Republican party. II would
seem to be the proper thing to DEM
onstrate when the people of Vermont
ceased to govern themselves, and
why. and to inform curious public
as to the personnel of the ring mas
tiers of the Republican party.
Nobody has attempted to show that
any of the candidates on the Republi-
can state ticket were placed there by
the decree of any boss at the dicta-
ton of any machine. Everybody con-
yersant with Vermont politics knows
that no such condition exists. Both
Mr.. Fletcher and Mr.. Howe went be-
| fore the people in a straightforward
manner asking for popular support
and it was given to them. Neither
man ever has been charged with
having any political machine. Chair
man F.. C.. Williams of the Republi-
can State Committee never has been
charged with attempting to make or
DIedh vi WIN
any autocratic powers. Vermont is
not boss-ridden or ring-ridden. Any
such charge not only is untrue but
ridiculously untrue and the failure to
make any specific charges is evidence
of the weakness of such assertions.
Our system of government is a
representative system. Even in a
state no more populous than Yer
mont the people must delegate the
power of government to certain per
sons, chosen by themselves to trans
act their business for them. Most of
their political nominations are made
by conventions Their laws are en-
acted by a General Assembly. 1t is
true that often the attendance at
caucuses is small, but that Is the
fault of the people themselves. 1t is
charged sometimes that caucuses are
cut and dried affairs, but there is
nothing to prevent any crowd OF cit
liens from making up list of dele
gates and soliciting support for
them. When it is desired to pledge
support to a candidate it is necessary
to ascertain the preference of men
under consideration for delegates. If
nominations are made from the floor
without any knowledge of preference
es there is a possibility of naming
opponents instead of friends or OF
choosing men unable or unwilling to
attend conventions. Under direct
primary system somebody has got to
make up lists of delegates or candi-
dates. Political parties cannot be
run without some organization and di-
rector
The Republican party of this state
has expressed its willingness to try
some more direct system of nomina-
tions and if the adoption of any new
plan will better conditions ii should
be tried. But the chief trouble is not
with the laws but rather with the peo-
pie themselves. The indifference of
citizens is directly responsible for
bossism and machine rule, wherever
il exists in this country. There are
always to be found certain politicians
who will run the affairs of govern
ment if the people in general decline
to perform their civic duties. We all
know how hard it is to get out voters
for caucuses and elections. An at
tempt to deprive these citizens of
the ballot would cause a revolution
but they voluntarily deprive them
selves of their franchise.
No form of government let down
from heaven will eliminate evil. We
must work out our own salvation. No
patent political remedy will cure our
political ills. Neither the direct pri-
mary nor the initiative nor the refer
endum nor the recall will give us good
government unless the people them
selves take an interest in running
their own affairs.
A great many people like to be
convinced that they are being de-
prived of their rights and that evil
conditions exist. II is very pleasant
to lay on the shoulders of some
mythical boss the responsibility which
they should bear in part themselves.
No law will cure Indifference. No
third term candidate, no new party,
will take the place of individual re
sponsibility. II the people of Yer
mont do not rule 1t is their own fault.
They can rule whenever they desire
to rule.-Montpelier Journal