The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-07-07
A GOOD PROGRAM
w. A. Atwell of Brandon offers Some
SensIe ldeos

contributes the following ON state
political issues:
| In these days, amid the disruption
Of parties, disorganization of systems
and PRONUNCIATION of so-called princi-
| pies of reform, the practical question
to ask a candidate is not: Under
what name do you unfurl your ban
ner?' but what governmental princi-
pies do you stand for, and where will
you be found in the practical test?'
Republican, democratic, progress
sive and Independent parties, and in
most state issues meet and merge
them, but the candidate has or should
have, if fit TO be a candidate. firmly
fixed beliefs and principles.
AS an independent republican, be-
| leye there are many reforms, impera.
lively demanded, within the republi-
can ranks. The gigantic increase liz
state expenses, the constant creation
of unnecessary commissions, the
| steady growth OF legislative and
| cours expenses, the unlimited power
of the Encouragement to pledge and
even endanger the credit of the state,
| the ever Increasing length OF our legis-
| lative sessions and the lavish eXpendi
| ture of our state funds imperatiyely
calls for a halt.
1 believe the office of attorney.gen-
eral should either be abolished, or a
| provision enacted similar to that
| which we formerly had for states
| attorneys. by which the consent OF
the chief executive was required and
the sum fixed in advance for each de-
tectiye case.
Personally, | believe the latter the
better policy. The state with such a
limitation might well retain the Office
OF attorney-generOl, with general over
sight OF states attorneys and as chief
counsel for the state
In regard to the increasing length
of our legislative sessions would
either favor a fiat rate for the mem
bers, or | would amend the law as it
now stands, by adding that the
amount paid each should not exceed
certain sum for each session. Per
sOnally | believe the latter TO be the
the better law. Nobody wants the
fees cut so as to prevent a member
from paying his expenses and living
in such a way as not to humiliate his
town. while every body wonts all in
centive to a prolonged and expensive
session removed.
In regard to the principles of the
progressive party; I believe in the
initiative and the referendum. the
first of which provides a way to get
desired principles before the Legisla-
ture by petition, signed by certain
number Of voters. and the second, |
claim as an established republican
principle, which has been enforced
for the past II years.
The first application of that primo
pie which | recall was in enactment
of the license law and the last the
direct primary and the law fot inn
proving and enlarging the state capt
toll This principle provides for re
forring To popular vote certain p 20
visions, already passed by the Legis-
lature. and provides that they be-
come a law. il the people SO vote;
otherwise not. ] stand for those two
principles.
In the progressive declaration of
principles. demanding a direct pri-
mary law. condemning the parlor
caucus and eliminating the friend
ship committee. | believe | was the
FIRST man in this section and perhops
the first IN the county to write: 81
stand for that principle,
In the federal government. stand
and always stood Cor election o. sena-
tors by direct vote | extend that
principle further. believe we might
well elect cur judges by direct vote.
instead o. by the Legislature as We
now do. Those are all progressive
principles and none of them are OPP
posed 70 independent republican prin-
ciples and most of them in direct line
with sound republican policy. For
each and every one | stand. however
We canno, let the name. overshadow
the principle.
The judicial recall and the review
of Supreme court decisions are not
! progressive they are reactionary.
They we're never seriously intended
to be .oprssive state issues but
catch-words for federal votes. They
are not and never will be state is
sue.'
When the founders of our govern
ment provided that it should be com
posed OF legislative. executive and
judicial departments. and that they
should forever be kept separate and
apa.t. and when they declared tina.
the constitution and the laws made in
pursuance thereof should be the sn-
nreme law of the land. should We. ui-
der any name or in any manner
whatever. discard those provisions
and practically eliminate one branch
OF our government?
Should We refer the solemn dcCis-
ions Of the highest tribunal in tho
land to the unhampered action Of Tho
town meeting? And if so how would
ans body know what the law was. OF
would be- in any particular ease?
Tn, TOWN unepffurc arc often con