Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-04

der his patriotic leadership will commend
themselves 10 the people of this coun-
try and wo pledge our earnest suppors
TO tho platform recently adopted by the
national republican convention.
VERMONT is PROGRESSIVE.
The Republican party of Vermont. on
trusted by the people of this State with
control of It's public affairs since the
birth OF the party. once more welcomes
the opportunity to give On account of
Its stewardship. 1t has brought to the
task Of continuous administration of state
/ affairs for over fifty years, a loyalty and
uprightncsg, a determination and far
sighted Judgment that have given YER
mont q place among the best governed
states Of the Union.
| within the past few years the record
of achievement has been one of almost
continuous progress. No state has been
more progressive than Vermont under re-
publican rule In the passage OF laws de-
signed to bring about equality of oppor-
tunity, limitation of corporations 20 their
proper sphere and encoura cement of legit-
| innate enterprise Vermont had led many
| Of her sister States in Legislation calcu-
lated to meet the rapid changes In modern
conditions social. industrial and intellect
| ual. AS republicans we rejoice in the
record Of things well done We mention
with pride that despite heavy disburse-
mcnts, Vermont's government Is self sup
porting and thu. too, without the laying
of direct tax or oppressive tax rates
yielding the State revenue. Nor has Yer
thn ht,r Ion, ff tot doh
But though proud Of our partys record
we are not satisfied while there still re-
| main tasks for our hands, and to these
We now give attention.
NOMINATING SYSTEM
Believing that the choice Of candidates
for public office should reflect definitely
the wishes of the people whose servants
they arc to he, we favor the adoption of
some practical system which shall direct
| ~ express that will.
PUBLICITY OF CAMPAIGN EXPEN-
| DITrRES.
| The use of large sums Of money to pro-
mote candida cies for office tends to de-
base the electorate, to suhvert the peo-
| pies wealth and to give men of wealth
an undue advantage in n political cam
vass. We favor strict enforcement of
the present Corrunt pra Act, and the
addition of such features as will furtho.
tend to lessen the undue and improper
use of money by or in behalf of candi-
dates
| We recommend tho passage of an act.
comprehensive in scope and carefully
drawn. which shall require all candidates
for nomination before the political parties,
or for election before the people to the
several state offices to make public a
correct itemized statement of their cam
| paign expenditures before and after the
nomination and before and after cleo
ton and also limiting the total sum that
may be expended on account of tho sew
era offices, with adequate penalties for
| violation
TAXATION.
Real Improvement has come to the tax
alton system. especially in its adminstra :
tive features. as the result of recent
| Legislation. Bearing in mind that no tax
alton system is perfect, Nermont's will
compare favorably in most respects with
those of sister States.
We believe that the next General AS
sembly should address itself seriously to
the task of still further correcting such
inequalities as it may determine, after
careful investigation, to exist and to be
subject to a remedy.
| We recommend changes In the laws that
| will equalze the tax of individual lend
ers of money and savings institutions,
and urge that as far as practicable the
ultimate benefit of such lowered rate
be assured the borrower.
| We urge the General Assembly to con-
slider the merits of uniform low rate
OF taxation OF money loans and credits
as means of increasing the public
revenues, State and local. of bringing
easier conditions to the borrower, and of
stimulating home industry.
II the revenues of the State are no;
sufficient for the support of It's Govern
ment economically administered we rec
omend the laying of n graduated direct
| inheritance tax.
| LABOR
| Scarcely less vital TO the laboring man
than living wage are safe and sanitary
SURROUNDINGS of employment State inspec.
ton of factories and places of employ
| 'h'Ht IL he'htu tp insure the proper en-
forcement of laws intended to safeguard
those who labor.
| We favor the passage of n fair and
favorable working mans compensation
Law at the earliest moment that tho State
Constitution If amended as proposed will
permit.
We believe that a State Board Of con
Citation, mediation or ALTERATION for the
settlement OF labor troubles would Justify
Its existence, II properly constituted. and
we urge the subject upon the attention
OF our law makers
| We earnestly recommend the pas.
SAGE Of an act eXempting not less thar
ton dollars in wages from the trustee
process. 1t is unfair to seek the sub
stitution Of any partial remedy for this
admitted injustice to the lnborine
! man.
MODERN REFORMATORY METHODS
| The last reasonable effort should be mad,
to reform and reclaim wrongdoers be.
fore consgning them to the hopelcssl,
criminal class. Recent Legislation admin.
istered by sympathetic and high minded
OFFICIALS. is giving Vermont Nation wide
reputation for enlightened modern meth.
DDS in dealing with petty offenders The
good accomplished encourages faith il
their continuance and the widening OF
their scope. There should be n State Deten.
ton Farm. or other asylum Of the kind
| FOR those whose offenses are slight and
infrequent, where good influences may