Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-20
TIE TENTATIVE PLATFORM.

THE TENTATIVE PLATFORM.
The tentative republican state plat
| form, because of the absence in 1t of
some popular Innovations which are
unsound on principle and the pres
ence in 1t of some things equally rad-
cal which are right on principle. IS
an immense improvement upon the or
binary say-nothing party platform.
What might be termed the apportion-
ment Of the platform gives especial
evidence of goo1 sense. In dealing
with matters which nave been thor
oughly threshe1 over by the public it
is sufficiently specific to he helpful.
while in the outlining of less familiar
topics 1t is not detailed enough to
prove a hindrance to the Legislature.
The practice of submitting the draft
Of platform and inviting suggestions
is Of exceptional (alue on account Of
tae kind of reflex educational effect
which it is likely 90 have upon the
people of the State. On the whole,
everyone must approve unless there
be some rei-eye1 radicals who are
disappointed because the outline con-
tains no provision for the assassina-
ton of judges and the decapitation OF
Legislatures.
Among the more significant sugges
lions are reforms in the system of
nomination. changes in the corrupt
erence to publicity of campaign ex-
penses. altered methods of taxation,
AMI a flair and reasonable" work
mans compensation law. The tax
question is an involved one. worthy of
separate discussion.
That the nomination system now in
hauling seems to be the prevailing
opinion. 1t seems to be generally be-
lieved that indirect methods Of filling
representative offices afford an oppor-
tunity for influences other than the
interests of tine electorate to intervene,
so that the incumbent of the Office
may forget whose servant he really is
The tentative platform advocates more
direct methods Of nomination. II also
expresses the opinion that nominations
are the concern of the parties, and
that reforms such as those suggested
are better left to be worked out VITA
in the party. This is open to ques
ton
Parties In this country have baen
from the outset unofficial organiza
most clandestine ami In some instan
ces were legislated against Not "a
few Of the sore spots in our politics
have developed from this very fact
The trend o: things has tended to
make parties more and more part OF
the oniclat machinery Of government
When the Legislature imposes the
rules by which tho party IS to govern
itself It 1ignifes the party. Making
organization OF government ns cleo
tions now are ought to give the ord'-
nary voter greater respect for .hs
link in the chain which leads from the
mere aspirant. through the stage OF
the nominee. to the elected official
And in a one party state like Vermont
that link is the important one. I'm
less there are strong practical reasons
to the contrary, It may seam wise TO
go farther than the suggestion in the
platform, AMI recommend that nomi-
Legislature and not left to be worke
out within the party.
The plank favoring publicity of
campaign expenses, If embodied In n
reasonable law. would probably prove
full as much to the advantage of
wealthy seekers of Office as to their
loss wealthy rivals. In every State
there is tribe Of leeches who levy
tribute upon the ricn in politics and
try to spread the opinion that 1t is a
stingy thing for rich man In poll
tics not to scatter money right and
left This is not SO much the case in
Vermont as in many other States, but
there Is always room for improvement.
The difficulty Is In framing n law which
viii be reasonable and effective, In
general. the tendency with corrupt
practice laws Is to handicap tle
scrupuIous man by confronting him
with obstacles which less conscientious