The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-02
Republican State Platform

! Differing in phrase0iOgy IRON the
| tentative platform. the official declar-
| alton of principles of the republicans
of Vermont follows the general tenor
of their traditions. At a time when
all factions of all parties are vocifer-
ating their progressiYeness ii is not
surprising to read in the platform
that the republican party of Vermont
has consistently pushed forward the
car of progress; that mo state has
been more progressive than Vermont
under republican rule in the passage
of laws designed to bring about equal
ity OF opportunity, limitation of cor
porations to their proper sphere and
encouragement of legitimate enter
prise" This is made matter Of
self-gratulation and the reason is not
hard TO find for we read in subse-
quent clause that despite heavy dis
bursements., Vermonts government
is selfsupporting and that too, with
out the laying of direct tax or opres-
siye tax rates yielding the states
revenue" 1t would seem, then that
the limitation of corporations to
their proper sphere means that cor
lOl iNlCiAo biN lN1il hNh 90 AhNAhl OiiAg
as they are made to bear the brunt
of the expenses of state government.
The platform contains a pious hope
for the adoption of some practical
system which shall directly express"
the will of the people whose servants
all candidates are Use OF large
sums of money to promote candi-
dacies for office is deplored as tend
ing to "subvert the peoples wealth
and to give men of wealth undue ad-
vantage in a political canvass" The
generality is sonorOus, but it does not
go to the meat OF the matter
1t would seem, by implication, that
the use of small sums Of money by
men of small wealth in political
canvass is not only defensibe, but
positively praiseworthy. However,
there is healing balm in the recon-
mendation of the passage of an act
comprehensive in scope and care
fully drawn" to meet all decent re-
quirements. This act, of course.
should provide that "all candidates
for nomination before the political
parties, on for election before the PEG
pie, to the several state Offices. shall !
make an itemized statement of their !
campaign expenditures before and af- I
ter the nomination and before and af- /
ter the election and also limiting The /
total sum that may be expended on /
account OF the several Offices with 4
adequate penalties for violation The /
wording of this plank has oeeu chang .
ed somewhat from that of 1910 and /
of the tentative document of 1912. !
but the substance is preserved
The taxation plank differs from
that proposed in the tentative plat |
form in that il omits to advise /
Limitation of the Offset privilege to a /
specified sum sufficient TO encourage I
the farmers or the business man who |
may find it necessary to borrow, but !
not large enough to foster abuses or (
result in heavy impairment OF grand 1
lists This omission indicates the ,
indisposition of the republican party !
to lay impious hands upon that sa-
cred ark, the Offset.
The labor plank, the proposition
dealing with reformatory methods,
the recommendation about public in
stmtions and highways are substan-
TALLY the same as those of the tenta-
tive platform commented upon in /
these columns June II Agriculture
receives due attention. but in
more concise language than that of
the tentative platform Forestry, |
the proposed consutu-
tional amendments are treated Of in
planks practically identical with the
proposition in the ten
tative platform while the plank deal
ing with the party pledges omits
the first paragraph and is changed |
somewhat in phraseology, but carries /
in all essentials. the idea OF the ten
tative declaration. Apparently the 4
TO say something about /
Vermont's being the star that never /
sets" was too strong but this slight /
lapse from the strict Journalism OF a
pOrtentous document will do no harm /
The inadvertent omission of a plank 4
he passage OF an act |
eKempting not less than $40 in /
wages from trustee process was I'M /
fortunate. but the Legislature will I
not be hindered thereby il it should .
seek 10 do this tardy justice to the 1
labOring man. The platform shows ]
rather more haste in preparation .
than the draft originally prepared. T
but has the distinct merit of being
briefer and for that, many thanks are f.