The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-05-23
Congressman PIumlsy

IN announcing uluStli do d Ndhui
date for Congress to succeed Mr..
Plumley. Frank d. Thompson, ESQ.,
of Barton bases his opposition upon
his statement that the record made
by Mr.. Plumley in Congress is not
satisfactory in that he has taken no
aggressive position on legislation, is
not progressive, is a standpatter and
reactionary! None of his charges
are correctl
In Congress or elsewhere he has
never been a standpatter or reac-
tionary. He is, and always has been
independent, and at all times has
voted and acted upon his own judg
ment, for what he believed to be best
for the greatest number, regardless
OF who favored or who opposed the
measure. Mr.. Plumley's record in
Congress is the best, and complete
refutation Of Mr.. Thompson's
charges, and it is due him that at
tention be called to a few of the
many aggressive and progressive
measures he has favored, and to his
position generally in Congress,
When he was elected TO Congress
much fault was found with the rules
Of the House, in which sentiment he
shared This condition has been com
pletely changed. The rules are now
liberal to the limit. Mr.. Plumley
voted for every liberal rule which
was made in the 61st Congress.
He is not in favor of repeating the
oleomargarine law, but on the con-
trary at all times before the commit
tee and elsewhere, has stood firmly
for the purpose of trying to make the
law stronger and more vital and help
full to the butter producers of the
country. He has taken the position,
that in the interest of the butter
maker and of the consumer, all
fraud in the sale of oleomargarine
must be eliminated to the last degree
so far as it can be done by Congress-
ional action.
On all matters of tariff legislation
he has applied the rule, that if the
proposed measure retained the pro-
tective principle and did no more
than to make good the difference be-
tween the cost of production at home
and abroad he voted for it; if not
he voted against 1t.
He has stood at all times for real
progress within the Republican par
ty. If his District gives him a new
Interpretation of his duty he will be
true to it. He will then no more
than in the past shirk, avoid or be-
tray the trust.
He voted for Constitutional
amendment providing for the direct
election of United States Senators;
favors a parcels post, upon zone or
distance system, fair and just to all
users. and safe for the treasury of
the United States; voted for the Cor
rupt Practices Acts affecting Sena.
tors, Representatives and Presiden-
tial candidates; for the eight hour
law for government employees; for
the act regulating the labor OF Postal
Employees; for the Children's Bur
eau Bill; TO make Alaska an organic
ed territory; and for the acceptance
of the Arizona constitution, although
II contained the provision for the re-
call Of judges, believing that the
Constitution submitted secured to
that state republican form OF gov
eminent. and that the people OF Ari-
iona had, therefore a right to such a
constitution, If they desired IL. He
helped to enact the law making valid
all reservations for forests and
streams made during Mr.. Roosevelt's
administration, and TO extend the
power Of the President in this regard.
Supporting legislation providing for
liberal pensions for the deserving
soldiers and sailors. he has also been
successful in securing the enactment
Of a goodly number of Special Acts
| for the relief Of necessitous cases.
He asserts that the time is ripe,
when in the interest of the employed
and OF the employer compensation
for damages suffered in occupations
which in their nature are hazardous
should be provided by rule of law
which is humane and just, as be
tween the two.
On all legislative questions upor
which the platform OF the Republican
party spoke definitely, he stood
squarely upon that PLATFORM anC
when II was silent he voted for tn,
highest good OF the largest number
as he saw It,
During the FIRST term in Congress,
he was selected to act with one othe
a Democratic member. to prepare IN,
report OF the Committee on Agricul
ture on the important Weeks.Appla
chian-Conservation Bill, and to sus
tain the bin on its final passage. Ii
this connection his work was notice,
by the Press of the country, and n
was alluded to as The New Liv
: Wire" OF the committee.
He has taken an active. aggresiv
part as a constructive legislator an
has been on nearly every sub.con
mitteee to which have been assigne
for consideration the following in
portant measures, viz:
The oleomargarine bills. both SCI
sions; an act to prevent stock gaml
ling In wheat, corn and cotton; bot
sessions; an act TO quarantine IN
United States. and the several state
as to each other. against noxiou
weeds and insects fatal to orchar
and field: both sessions; an act
pay towns and municipalities towar
| the maintenance of hi0hwavo re.