Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-27

Would 1alrly represent the majority. II
the fact be otherwise, as I believe It s.
then he ought not to be returned. But
say our opponents. admitting that Mr.
Dillingham; ought not to be returned. still
we are not proceeding to defeat him in
the proper way. We are pirates upon
the sea Of politics and ought to be
secuted and sunk at sight.
II believe in governmcr' by party. But
the purpose of government is to express
the will of the majority, and when IL
comes to pass that party government no
longer does this. then some other
expedient ought to be resorted TO- That
is exactly the condition in Vermont and
that is why this movement exists. I cam
not better state my position than by
giving the figures at the last election in
this State. In round numbers the parties
voted MS follows: Republicans 23,0oo, pro-
gressives 1900 and democrats 5000 The
22,0O were apparently for progress; so
we're many of the 1900. Many insist
that n majority Of the 300 are progress
sive or liberal. assume, how
over, that at 1000 are reac-
tionary and 1000 liberal While the
Democratic party contains many re-
dictionaries, the majority of that party
are heartily progressive have differed
with my democratic friends about the
tariff. and ! still differ, although that
party has come over somewhat to the
idea of protection. But I am bound to
admit that aside from the tariff and
aside from free silver which is no longer
an issue, have found much more earnest
support for the measures which I have
| advocated in that party than in my own.
| THE Democratic party is about
| enacting a law for trade commission
thereby carrying out the idea which
| believe l first advocated some years
ago It is proposing to enact law
to regulate the issue Of stocks and
bonds by railroad companies which
have earnestly insisted upon for ff-
| teen years. It Is fair to assume that
| 1000 Of the democratic votes arr
progressive and but 1000 reactionary
We have therefore $4,000 voters Of lib
eral or progressive ideas as agains
$4,000 reactionary voters. and yet /
we adhere strictly to party govern
ment the twelve thousand reactionar.
voters of the Republican party would
seat Mr.. Dillingham; In the Senate
Party machinery instead of carrying
out the will of the people would I'm
pose the will OF 5000 voters upol
$4,000 voters. When the application
Of the party whip produces this re
suit the time has come for some in
dependent action which will enable tn
will of the people to prevail, l an
told the course which we are adopting
will disrupt the Republican party o
Vermont II that party Is hopelessl
reactionary it ought in my opinion t
be disrupted, the sooner the better
If. as I believe. it stands for san
progress, then it should get rid o
that reactionary leadership whc
hangs like a milestone about its nee
and put forward men Of progressiv
IDEAS who will properly represent tn
party. In the elections Of two year
ago this country emphatically repu
dated the leadership or men like Sen
ator Dillingham;. It will never retur
) TO that leadership. The most unfor
tunate thing which could happen t
the Republican party as Who'll
would be TO recommit into the hand
2 of these men the fortunes of tina
party.
3 Il believe to-day as firmly as eve
nat protecton Tor American industrie
IS the only true theory upon which
'onuuct our government. Why Is 1t tina
YOU nave no tarln to-day? The reaso
Is OBVIOUS. The tarifs enacted by bot
republicans and democrats have bee
Hiied with privileges to special interes,
TOT the reason that those interests hav
heen dominant in the United States Ser
ate. The republican national conventio
I N 1903 feeling that these special intel
l. ests must be eliminated resolved in fave
Of revision of the tariff. When Cor
I gress met the Republican party. undt
$ the leadership of Mr.. Aldr1ch, redeeme
p that pledge. not by an elimination
r those privileges not by reduction
4 duties, but by an advance. The countr
In disgust would have nothing of il mr.