St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-05-22
coNGREssMAN PLuNLEY.
A Statement of What He Has Stood
for in His Work as Congressman.


A Statement Of What He Has Stood
for in His Work ms Congressman.
In announcing himself as a can
didate for Congress to succeed Mr.
! Plumley, Frank D. Thompson, Esq.
of Barton bases his opposition upon
his statement that the record made
by Mr. PIumley in congress is not
satisfactory in that he has taken no
aggressive position on legislation, Is
not progressive, is a standpatter and
a reactionary! None Of his charges
are correct.
In congress or elsewhere he has
never been a standpatter or a 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 a complete
refutation of Mr.. Thompson's
charges. 1t is due Mr.. Plumley that
attention 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
completely changed. The rules are
now liberal to the limit. Mr.. Plum
ley voted for every liberal rule which
was made in the 61st congress.
He is not in favor of'repealing 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
helpful to the butter producers of
the country. He has taken the POI
sition, that in the interest of the but
/ ter make and of the consumer, all
fraud in the sale of olemargarine
must be eliminated to the last degree
so far as it can be done by congress
sional 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 to
make good the difference between
the cost of production at home and
abroad, he voted for it; if not, he
voted against it.
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 a constitutional
amendment providing for the direct
election of United States senator's;
faVOrs a parcels post, upon a zone
or distance system, fair and just to
all users, and safe for the treasury
of the United States; voted for the
Corrupt Practices Acts affecting Sen
ators, Representatives and Presi-
Dental candidates; for the eight
hour law for government employees;
| for the act regulating the labor of
Postal employees; for the Children S
Bureau Bill; to make Alaska an or
ganized territory; and for the ac-
ceptance of the Arizona constitution,
although it contained the provision
for the recall of judges, believing
that the constitution submitted Sc
cured to that state republican form
of government, and that the people
of Arizona had, therefore, a right
to such a constitution, if they desir-
ed it. 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 nec-
cessitous 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 for by a rule of
law which is humane and just, as
between the two.
On all legislative questions upon |
which the platform of the republican
party spoke definitely, he STOOD /
squarely upon that platform, and /
when it was silent he voted for the
highest good of the largest number,
as he saw it.
During his first term in congress
he was selected to act with one 9TH
er, a Democratic member, to pre-
pare the report of the Committee on
Agriculture on the important Weeks
Appalachian-Conse Bill, and
to sustain the bill on It's final pas
sage. In this connection his wOrn
was noticed by the press of the
country, and ne was alluded to as
'The New Live Wire of the com
mittee
He has taken an active, aggres-
sive part as a constructive legisla-
tor, and has been on nearly every /
subcommittee to which have been
assigned for consideration the fol-
lowing important measul Is,
The oleomargarine bills, both ses-
sions; an act to prevent STOCK ga4AD-
ling in wheat, corn and cotton, both
sessions; an act to quarantine the +
United States, and the several states
as to each other, against noxious
weeds and insects fatal to orchard,
forest and field, both sessions; an
act to pay towns and municipalities
toward the maintenance of highways
used for R. F. D. and the delivery of