Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-09-30
PROGRESSIVE PLATFORM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO

reasonable protection of industry and
labor against pauperizing foreign
competition, we advocate the estab-
lishment of a non-partisan expert
tariff commission. Such commission
should so regulate the tariff as to
afford fair and equal treatment to all,
avoid sectional prejudice and favorit-
ism and prevent the development of
the oppressive monopoly whose active
connection with politics in the days of
Republican power forms a serious
menace to popular government.
In order that the people of the
on national policy as to this traffic,
we favor the passage of the joint
resolution now before Congress provid-
ing for the submission of a constitu-
tional amendment, prohibiting the
traffic in Intoxicating liquors, to the
several states for adoption or for
rejection.
In control of the affairs of this state
is an invisible government of political
bosses-the agents of great Interests.
To break up their alliance with the
Republican party, destroy this invisi-
BILE government. and restore the
control of the state to the people and
return to the republicanism of Abraham
Lincoln is the civic duty of every
loyal citizen of Vermont; therefore
the destruction of the old-guard
Republican machine is the duty of
every free and independent citizen of
the state.
Through the agency of this machine.
platforms have been adopted and
promises made only to be ignored and
broken. The people have been repeat
eddy promised direct primary law.
the economy of state expenses, the
relief from unjust burdens of taxation,
and better laws looking to fuller
measures of social and economic JUS
tice. These promises have been bra
zenly ignored.
We pledge our party to work for
and national elective officers, to be
free of all narrow partisan restrictions
upon the expression of the popular
choice.
We demand rigid corrupt practices
law which shall define the purpose for
which money can be spent in any cleo
ton or primary, limit the total ex-
penditure, and prescribe the proper
penalties for violation. Also law for
publicity of campaign expenses before
and after election, with severe penal
ties.
We demand elimination Of all party
designations upon ballots for village,
town and city officers.
We favor the principle of the short
ballot and the highest standard of
executive responsibility, and that the
names of each candidate voted for be
marked as in the real Australian bal
lot.
We demand that the next session of
the legislature enact law which shall
give to women the right to vote so
far as not prohibited by the constitu-
ton, and such amendment to the
constitution as will eventually allow
women full right of suffrage.
We pledge our candidates for u. S.
senator and representative in Congress
to support the submission or ratifica-
ton Of an amendment to the United
States constitution prohibiting any
restriction of the right to vote on
account of sex.
We maintain the principle that laws
are made for the people and not the
people for the laws; therefore, we
advocate the initiative and referendum
as the means by which under reason
able regulations. the constitution and
laws of the state may be made to ex-
press the deliberate will of the people.
We call for the preparation and
submission to the legislature at it's
opening of a budget giving detailed
estimates Of receipts and fixed expendi-
lures of this state for the ensuing two
years, with suggestions as to addition
al revenue and appropriations this to
be done by the governor and fiscal Off
GERS of the state.
We favor the payment Of members
of the legislature on a salary basis
and the limitation of the session to 60
days.
We favor the recording of votes in
committees of the legislature, the
record to be always open to the public.
We call for economy in state expendi-
lures and we denounce the hypocrisy
of the promises Of economy in state
and municipal affairs by the party
which has multiplied the legislative
and judicial expenses of this state in a
decade of undisputed power. We
recommend thorough investigation of
the compensation and duties of all
state officials and employees and the
abolition of the superfiuous commits
sions and sinecure officers created by
the Republican machine for the bene-
fit of its henchmen.
We call for a reorganization of the
state insurance department looking tc
more effective protection of the pub.
lie interests.
We call for action facilitating uni.
form municipal accounting.
We favor the continuance and exten.
sion of our system Of highway i'm
provements.
We favor the extension of instruction
in agriculture in the schools of this
state and by the state agriculture
college among the farmers; also, tn,
development and introduction of cours
es in vocational training in the second
airy schools, and the encouragement O
our colleges which have ever beer
loyal to the best interests of tn
state;
Assistance through an existing stat
department of employment for farm
and other labor.
A 54-hour labor law for women an
} children, better regulation of thei
nlaces of work. and the bringing O