Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-10-30
PLEDGES AND PROFIT BY PARTY ERRORS


our own mistakes not only have our eyes open
but we also in condition Of mind to and develop
1t is difficult for political party than for indi
vdua to and profit from mistakes Men do in their po
cal and their corporate capacity things they would not
dream of doing in and by themselves. Whatever influence
lmpes them as body to wrong unworthy action,
whether greed lust of vndctveness what not
is consequently difficult to correct than would be the
same factor in the individual case.
Former President Taft realizes wherein his adminisra-
ton was weak in discussing the administration of his
Mr. Taft eve republicans and demo-
Gratis. We possibilities and impossbies but
trust there who doesn't wish the of the
present administration of the United States for the benefit of
all the people When the people declare in favor Of plat
form, want to it carried out and tried don't mind
seeing Congress brought under rule that carries through
what that platform said. believe in responsible leader
ship party in makes mistakes the people don't
approve of it experience has been the remedy
Until have opportunity to discuss the issues for
the present administration"
Mr. Taft realizes probably other president had
occasion to realize what to have ones party in
hostility to platform pledges well the which the
people visit the sins of political parys failure to keep
faith upon the party's visible head.
Mr. Taft probably realized during the consideration Of
the Aldrch tariff the desrabty Of faithfully full
filling party pledges but he appreciated before Novem
ber 1912 since that date of great national verdict what
it means for party not to keep faith with the people If he
knew then what he knows nobody doubt that he
would have sent Ach and his allies scurying to the tall
timber.
the extra session of Congress called by President Taft to
consider the tariff question except to enable to profit by
the mistakes of the Republican party.
President Taft probably anxious that his party
should fulfill its campaign pledges President Wilson has
been but he did not have the advantage of example like
that Of 1912, has President Wilson, to remind him
sany what would happen in the Of the failure of
party to carry out its campaign pledges.
1t is easy to draw the moral from the Republican partys
failure to revise the tariff downward promised and the
throwing of the duty of such revision into the
house of the enemies of protection of American industry.
Shall we of Vermont fail to draw a similar moral with
reference to the situation in State? Shall we
profit by partys mistakes Of the past? Or shall
permit those who have used the party to promote their
ends and material interests to continue to prostitute the
ganzaton to their selfish aims in utter disregard of the
interests of the party itself and of solemn pledges to
the people?
We republicans of Vermont probation Unlike
party the national field given two
of grace How conducting ourselves? Are we ex
hbitng chasened spirit carrying out the pledges
Of platform rebeious spirit not because want to
but because obliged to? Are giving the State
administration in spirit well in deed which will be dis
tinct party asset?
One of the first declarations of the Vermont republican
platform of 1912 is that vermont is progressive"
Next the heading dominating System and
der this the platform declares
believing that the choice of candidates for public Of
flee should reflect definitely the wishes of the people whose
they to be- favor the adoption of
teal system which shall directly express that will
Inc WOrd ulrecCly was put IN lnat plank looking To-
ward direct primaries While direct primary bills pre-
sened to the Legislature the representatives Of certain in
eress succeeded in securing the adoption of the substitute
plan to give the people chance next March whether
they wanted direct primaries and the direct primary
ston made subordinate to all other plans in the voting.
How republican leaders carrying out the spirit
of that plank in the republican platform of 1912? What
you going the people in 1914 election you fail to
give this issue fair discussion and fair before the
pie vote on it next March?
One of the weakest points in the republican in the
campaign in 1912 failure to give public service
porations the of taxation and other
individuals Our readers will recall the in which 1ar
Ian B. Howe arigned republicans in connection with the
rates Of corporation taxes.
Yet when a republican administration and a republican
State treasurer have tried to put party position
where it could not be assaied again in this direction
many republicans have backed that action?
Have we supported the carrying out of partys
pledges stated and implied the democrats supporting
Wilson, the republicans in Congress supported Taft
The people watching us, and they not Knocked.
These questions must in the campaign of
1914 and it far better to think of the than
when it is too late to