News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1912-07-24
Walter W. Barnes, Candidate for Repre-
sentative, Defines His Position.
HYDE PARK, July

HYDE PARK, July ~.
| EDITOR News AND CITIZEN -
Having noticed my name mentioned In
| your paper in connection with the Rep
resentalive question in Hyde Park, wish
to say word. While not a seeker for
the office, | believe IL great honor to
be chosen. | believe 1t is the duty and
privilege OF every voter and taxpayer to
have q voice as to who shall make our
laws, and | believe the Representative
this year should 90 to the farmers. 1t is
q fact which has been well understood in
years past that if the farmer or laboring
man ever receive any benefit from the
laws they have got to take hand in
making them. That can only be done by
sending one of their own class to the
legislature.
As Republican candidate for Repre-
sentative, being farmer and laboring
man, Il stand for the following principles:-
lst-Not only to put the individual mon
eN -lender ON an equal with the savings
bank, but also to put the farmer on an
equal with both by taxing them all alike,
according to their wealth. | would not
allow offsets on mortgages or debts owned
or held outside the state.
2d-NeXtin Importance are our schools.
| believe the people OF this state are max
ing grave mistake in allowing the trend
of our school system towards teaching
our children methods that detract or take
away from the farm which needs them
and crowding them into professions
which are already over-crOwded. 1t is a
fact that throughout the country less than
seven per cent. OF the children in the
grammar schools ever attend the high
schools, and yet less than five per cent Of
high school graduates ever go to college.
In Vermont the percentage is even less.
Still our present school system is conduct
ed with that one end in view-ftting the
children for college.
When the farmer sends his boy to the
average high school he comes back to the
farm in four or five years a sissy and
sap-head, too stuck mp to work with his
father in the field and he don't know
newspaper from bundle of corn. He is
untitled to make IL living ON a farm and
u, qualified for any other business or
profession.
| believe that it is time for the people
o1 Vermont TO wake up to the fact that if
they wish their state to keep abreast with
the times and reclaim their abandoned
farms they should teach agriculture in
the schools and educate the school child.
len back to the farm. | believe it is is
up to the Legislature to enact laws along
that line and by taxing the rich, accord
ing to their means, make them help pay
the bills.
3d--In view of the fact that ma jority
of the farmers are sending their cream 10
tue creameries, and large creamery COR
poratiCns from outside the state have
established stations within our borders,
and they with the local creameries At
present have the game in their own hands
to give and take (mostly take) at their
pleasure, the farmer, has no other re-
coulse than to grin and beari it," | be-
ieve that wise legislation along the line
of supervision, to a certain extent, OF the
creamelies by the state would be vel
coined by the farmers.
4th--In regard to roads l believe in
good roads improvement. [ believe IA
permanent roads when properly con-
structed. also believe in the saying that
the average farmer can pull no more on
permenent roads than he can pull on his
back road which he has to travel first.
5th-I believe the old Republican prin-
ciples are as good to-day as they were in
the days of Lincoln, aud if the rank and |
file of the party would turn out to the
caucuses and nominate men for office who |
would have the welfare of their country,
their constituents and their party at
heart, the good old Republican party |
would ever be for progress and an honor |
to the people and the nation.
Should | receive the nomination | will |
stand upon the platform as above set
forth. Yours truly,
WALTER w. BARNES.