St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-04-09
PRESS COMMENT
'Who Pays the Freight

JOuuSDuIy OdlCQOulan ASKS WHO
pays the freight for this midwinter,
Progressive friends?'' referring to.
the county meetings recently held
in that and other counties.
The question is a fair one and de-
serves fair, square answer.
In the past, speakers at such and
other political meetings, campaign
expenses, etc., were paid, as the edi
tor well knows, or promised pay"
There was less frying out the
fat" or assessment of office holders
and would be Office holders, cor
porations, manufacturers, ETC., dur
ing the past campaign than in years,
but too much by far.
At the conference held in Chicago
in December, this matter of funds,
to carry on the work of the Progress
sive party, was thoroughly discuss
ed. The delegates from Vermont and
the great majority of those from
the west and far west, objected to
large contributions and it was deter
mined to raise funds in the future
by direct appeal to the people and
not one be asked to contribute over
$40 and from that sum down to %
cents per year. This plan is in op-
Grafton in ermont.
At st. Johnsbury a plain state
ment of this matter was made to
that meeting of representatives of
the party, some two hundred strong,
from all over that county, and the
sum of $500 was raised or pledged,
to provide funds to carry on the
work of education and to perfect
the organization in every town. No
pledge was for over $40, but there
were nearly twenty such pledges.
The speakers at that meeting, the
same as the speakers in the state
and presidential campaign, all gave
their services. None were paid or
promised pay. A few were to
have actual expenses, and have been
paid.
We commend this plan to the Sc
rious consideration of all other party
leaders.
If they would adopt it there
would be no such questions asked as
the above and, when the people con-
tribute each his share, they will take
more genuine interest in the work.
What costs you nothing you value
lightly.
Now will the Caledonian tell US
just as frankly "who paid the
freight during the republican state
and presidential campaign in YER
mont, and if the speakers were
paid, and whether in cash or promis-
es.-[ Morrisville Messenger.
Morals and Wages
The depIorabIe condition of the
young women of the cities, as dis
covered through the efforts of the
tho
causes of vice, is something appal-
ling. and the subject should have
all the attention it is receiving and
all that can be done should be done
in behalf of the unsuspecting and
unprotected girI.
What to do to save the girl and
keep her from temptation is the
main issue. The cause of her down.
fall has been variously attributed to
low wages, the desire to see city life,
the white slave dealer and the love
for elegant clothes she could not
otherwise secure. No doubt all
these things bear more or less on
the subject and are factors in the
cause of her deviation from paths
of virtue; but the real cause, is the
man in the case, and-with more
shame be it said-the man is often
a married one. Just so long as the
married man practices his W1les up
on unsuspecting girls, so long Will
there be fallen women. This is not
true in all cases to be sure, and the
assertion is not meant to be sweep
ing statement. but if we wish to i'm
prove the condition of the young
girls and women, who are thrown
upon their own resources, we must
get at the kernel of the matter and
elevate the morals of the men.
If the highly moral, carefully pro-
tected woman, who knows not temp
tation herself, will frown as severe
ly upon the immoral man as she
does upon a woman who has gone
wrong, she will do much to help the
present condition of affairs. Society
Winks at the wrong doing or the
young men of the nation and calls
it Sowing wild oats" but the com
panion of his crime, if she is found
out, and she always is, is singled
out, and good women look at her
askance. and fathers will shake
their heads in disapproval of her;
she has passed quite outside the pale
hof their circle and is frowned down b.
| everyone, men and women alike.
But what of the man, the cause OF
her disgrace? If he happens 10 be
an eligible young man, he is receiv-
ed and all unite to reform" him.,
and he may marry whom he choos-
es, so long as he shows desire to
settle down."
To establish a minimum wage
would not solve the problem, though
it might help to some extent. No
person ought to be paid more than
they earn. The reason for so many
girls receiving such low wages is
because girls, who are not efficient
crowd the places of employment
Girls who would make good house
maids are endeayoring to be clerks,
and the worst of it is, they do not
try to fit themselves for the position
they occupy An efficient house maid
can command four, five and seven
dollars a week for her service, and
not work as many hours, as the
average clerk or stenographer, be-
| sides she has her hoard and room