Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1913-02-21
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY FL, 1913.
TOWN MEETINGS.

In less than three weeks the towns of
Vermont will choose their local officers
for another year. In many ways this
is the most important election of the
whole year. 1t would be good, indeed,
if every town in the state would cast
aside political sympathies and animos-
tiles and elect really good men for each
and every office. 1t can be done if
majority of the voters will only just set
out to do it.
Each town is a community unto itself.
All town matters affect directly every
citizen thereof 1t is too bad to see the
hand of politics rule in local matters to
the detriment of the people, Forget
politics, for a day at least Forget Re-
publicanism, forget Democracy, forget
Progressiveism, forget Socialsm-for
get everything except the common good
of your own town, your own community,
your own interest, your own home.
All are interlocked closely together
there's no line of demarcation between
good for the home or individual and the
town as whole.
The interest and progress of every
town is of too much Importance. It
means too much for the people to let
any political organization carry things
with high hand. When the voters of
every town of Vermont will come to a
sense of realization and prevent the
disturbing influence of politics in their
town affairs then there will be greater
efficiency, greater good-really the
ultimate in town progress will have
been solved.
Among the important town officers to
be elected on March are the selectmen,
listers and road commissioners. 1t is
sometimes difficult to get good men,
sound men of judgment to accept these
offices. 1t can though be accomplished
with much more ease if politics do not
enter into the contests. These offices
have to be filled and when good men are
asked to serve it is indeed selfish on
their part to refuse We often hear
IilCoC odlIlC BOOQ lltIl CllllClSe lIltlI OWL
town officials-yet they refuse to serve,
forgetting that by accepting these i'm
portant trusts they would be serving
their own interests as we'll as those
of their felowmen.
Too much Importance cannot be at
tached this year to the selection of the
listers. In many ways this office is the
most important of all, but it will be
exceptionally so this year. Steer clear
of the "cranks" and 'chronic kckers. -
Get away from the fellows who have
lakes to grind" Leave out the men
who have ''clay feet" and lack the back
bone to comply with the law governing
the assessment of property. Pick out
for listers men of mature judgment,
men who know the value of property,
men who are honest and will act with
honesty towards the town and then
fellowmen.
And the road commissioner. This is
an equally important office. How otter
we see this officer engaging his own
teams in town work to the exclusion OF
all others and how often the highways
near the commissioners are improved
while those in other parts of the towr
are left alone. By all means get away
from the selfish man for highway com
missioner. Pick broad minded, prac-
teal man who is big enough to be fan
to all interests and who will not be
partial to any section.
Sometimes officers like these are diff.
cult to select. Every town has them
though, and with politics out of the
question it ought not to be difficult fol
the towns of Vermont to make real pro
gress in the selection of town officers a
the coming town meeting. Burlington
Clipper.
orr