Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-08-30
HoLIER THAN THOU.

1t Is not probable that a very large
| proportion of the voters of Vermont
ever nave read the platform of the
progressive party of the state. We
Know that some of the substantial Pro-
gressives in Brattleboro never have seen
IT, They ought to read it before they
vote next Tuesday. Republicans general
ly ought to read it. The Democrats ought
10 read IT, one of its planks is the most
nagraht example of documentary arro-
gance that has been hurled in the faces
of really progressive citizens in many dec
AIDES. Here it is:
we are especially concerned in the
election of Progressive men to tho va
rious offices In Vermont, including mem
bers of the National and State Senate
and House of Representatives ana we
repudiate as unworthy of the confidence
of the people of the state of Vermont
any candidate for Office and any person
now holding Office who does not favor
the Progressive measures advocated bv
Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive
delegations in Congress and who do not
make open and specific declaration of
their fidelity thereto"
What a holer than thou declaration
that is! What a company of unworthy
the various departments of our state
government! What a disreputable lot of
citizens we are attempting to elevate to
public office, and how thoroughly we are
fooling ourselves,-we who have not been
tested In the crucible of Rooseveltism,
In the chaste and polished language of
the Democratic candidate for governor.
"Aint that a dandy?"
But think a minute. What is the in
ference to be deduced from that plat
form? If an official is not entitled to
confidence those who support him in his
position are unworthy also The trainers
Of the Progressive platform might as
well have said that all citizens who de-
ciined to gather around the Roosevelt
banner were undesirable We trust there
are none In the Progressive party in
this state who are not worthy of the
full confidence of the public,-none
whom the public repudiates.
No official or candidate who embraces
the Roosevelt creed is allowed to hide
his light under a bushel. He must not
worship in secret. He must make "open
and specific declaration" of his fidelity or
be repudiated
Unless they favor the Progressive
measures advocated by Theodore Roose-
welt and make open and specific declara-
tion of their fidelity thereto, the Progress
i've party Of Vermont says in effect:
That Chief Judge John w. Rowell
and the other justices of the supreme
court are not entitled to the confidence
of the people of the state.
That Superior Judge E. L. Waterman
of this town and all the other superior
judges are liable at any time to betray
the public faith.
That Senator Page, Senator Dilling-
ham, Representative Plumley and Rep
resentative Greene are not men of in
tegrity and honor and may prove traitors
to their trusts.
That Gov. John A. Mead and the entire
list of major state officers are not safe
men and may be Judases in disguise.
That the county senators and repre-
sentatives, judges of probate, sheriffs
and various other officials and candidates
for office in the IA counties of the state
may all prove to be wolves in sheep's
clothing
Is not such an attitude characteristic
of Roosevelt?
But the party in this county has
shown that it can blow hot in one
breath and cold in the next After hold
ing aloft the Big Stick as the emblem
of trustworthiness, it endorses with two
exceptions, the entire list of Republican
nomina tions.