The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-31
The Next Legislature and It's Work.


Hon. Allen NJ. Fletcher as governor
is planning to carry out for the pro
motion of material development of
the Green Mountain state.
1t will be impossible for any gov
ernor, no matter how wise or ener-
getic or resourceful he may be, to
accomplish much in any of the direc-
tions indicated unless he has the CO.
operation of a live and progressive
and energetic legislature.
So far as Chittenden county is con-
cerned, the Republicans have placed
in nomination for the State Senate
four thoroughly progressive and sub
stantial citizens, and so far as the
Republicans of other counties have
nominated candidates for the upper
branch of the Legislature, we believe
the same statement can be applied.
In a number of instances, notably
in the case of Rutland, Caledonia and
Windham counties, the list of sena-
torial candidates includes men who
were among the leaders of the last
House, and these facts will ensure a
good working and progressive Sen
ate.
In many of the towns the voters
are already beginning to discuss the
selection of representatives, and it Is
high time to emphasize the necessity
of securing the services of the best
possible lawmakers, if Vermont Is to
make the progress it should expert
ence during the coming two years.
We want men who will pledge their
best service to the promotion of the
material development of Vermont
and of the progress of its people.
We need Legislators who will real
ize that the chief need of the Green
Mountain State is the adoption of
measures to encourage our sons and
daughters to stay right here in Yer
mont, and when we say that we COW
er number of improvements IN our
public service and legislation that
should be instituted by the legislature
which will assemble next October.
We shall require men who have
the backbone to stand up and insist
that individuals shall have the same
favorable conditions for the loaning
of money that are enjoyed by char
tered institutions
We shall need the services of leg
islators who will have the sand to-
say that money loaned at low rate
of interest for the development Of
Vermont's natural resources shall
have low rate of taxation.
We shall need lawmakers who will
not be afraid to say that the states
first duty is to take agriculture by
the hand and lead it into new paths
of progress and prosperity; that the
chief need Of our farmers as class
is an object lesson as to the most APP
proved method of soil culture and
orcharding and crop rotation and of
specialized farming.
We shall also require lawmakers
who have the nerve to stand for the
cooperation of the state and of the
State Universitys College of Engin-
eering in spying out sites for new
Lake Lamoilles, so that we may have
additional power for industries and
trolley roads, and new attractions for
summer visitors.
These are a few of the many i'm
portant needs of the people of Yer
mont, in connection with the coming
Legislature. and if our people do not
secure such services it will be be
cause the people of the respective
towns themselves fail to select the
right kind of men for the legislature.
One means to this end is we'll set
forth by the Montpelier Journal in
speaking of the selection Of lawmak-
ers who have had previous expert
ence in the Legislature as follows:
This paper has no specific cases
in mind, but as a general principle 1t
beneves that Vermont is making a
serious and costly error in falling 10
reflect more members of the legis'
lature. Any person who has had ex-
perience with public affairs in Yer
mont knows that it takes a consid-
cradle part of every session to edu'
cate members of the General AS
sembly to a piont where they can do
business intelligently. Public affairs
suffer on account of the Ignorance OF
members. The session is prolonged
because OF this condition Of affairs
and the sending of so many unframed
men as lawmakers costs the state
thousands of dollars every session.
The money thus wasted ought to be
used for some of the many good
causes that always must be denied,
or saved for the people.
other states return members of
the House and Senate term after
term. recognizing that both the
state and the constituency profit
thereby. The rules of common sense
do not become invalid when the Yer
mont boundary line is crossed EX-
perience is a valuable asset in a
Vermont legislature as well as every
where else. Membership in the Yer
mont Legislature never was intended
to be awarded like a prize Tor the
most popular lady at medicine
show. Ii was not created for the pur
pose of being passed around for the
qualification of many mems ambi-
ton The office was created in
order that a service might be per
formed and for no other reason.
The founders Of this commonwealth
did not intend that the most popular
men, the best followers should be
elected to the General Assembly, but
they put into the state constitution.
where it remains to this day. the
provision that the House of Repres-
entatives of the freemen of this State
shall consist Of persons most noted
for wisdom and virtue That pro
vision too often has been invalidated
in order that the honor might be
passed around.
Many matters of great Importance
to the state will come before the
next General Assembly. Already