Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-23
c. A. PROUTy
MAKES CLEAR
HIS PLATFORM
Stands for Woman Suffrage.
Referendum-Cites Method
AS a Substitute for
Recall.
st. Johnsbury. July 1.-the following

correspondence speaks for itself:
St. Johnsbury, Vt, July Q, 1914.
Hon Charles a. Prouty.
Washington, y. c.
Dear Sir:-Tn view of your recent let
Ter, the contents of which. through the
medium Of the press have found their
way to the voters of Vermont (who seem
especially prone this year to look for
political light) several of my friends and
myself are DESTROYS to know your posi-
ton respecting some of the paramount
national issues, namely, woman suffrage
initiative and referendum, recall Of
Judges. national prohibition labor laws
In general and especially touching the
welfare of women and children, tariff,
control OF big business, prospective rail
road legislation and presidential primar-
les.
After stating briefly your position on
these matters, will you also kindly add
your thought respecting that political
mechanism known as party enrolment
for primaries?
Trusting that you will find time to
give us a terse statement of your position
as above indicated, thank you for the
favor which I anticipate It will be yours
10 bestow.
Very sincerely yours,
JAMES b. CAMPBELL.
Washington, u. c., July 10, 1914.
James p. Campbell, Esq,
St Johnsbury, VT
Dear Sir:-Your letter of July O. 1914,
In which you ask me to state my posi-
ton upon certain political issues, Is re-
ceived. While I have not at the moment
time to undertake any discussion OF the
matters referred to, ! am glad TO briefly
answer your inquiry. Below are given
IN their order the subjects to which YOU
refer, with my comment in connection
with each.
l. woman Suffrage" This l favor.
So long as women are compelled TO earn
their own livelihood, to manage their own
property, to sustain their full share of
the burden Of improper legislation il is
difficult to understand how the right
of suffrage can be Justly denied II de-
manded
2. Initiative and Referendum" l do
not favor the initiative. While in many
instances the most salutary results have
undoubtedly been accomplished by this
means. ! do not think that on the whole
n actual practice this form Of legisla-
lion will be found to accord with our
Nstem of representative government.
Especially In national matters, 1t would
>rove both confusing and unsatisfactory.
The same objection does not apply to
he referendum. which may, l think, he
escorted to with profit in certain classes
legislation
g. THE Recall Of Judges" | believe
hat some method should be devised DIV
Jbicb an unfit federal Judge can he gotten
ia Of; nor do think the present methoa
impeachment meets that end nave
lever believed that in a popular govern
nent like ours any ofaclal' not even
Judge, should be appointed for life Every
fficial should come back at stated Pc
tods TO the source Of his authority Where
lie can be asked, If need be, to give an
account Of his stewardship In my opin-
on, If this system he applied 10 the judi
larry it would obviate any real necessity
'or the recall. If judges We're appointed
Tor term Of, say seven years, There
must be at the end of that term reap
pointment by the President and new
confirmation by the Senate. do not
think that any good Judge would ever be
denied reappointment on polticai
grounds nor that the action of any man
ut to he Judge would De Improperly ar
fected by the consciousness that he must
be candidate for reappolntment' IL Is
well that every official should act under
sense OF responsibility to some one IN
Vermont we have since my recollection
reelected our Judges every two years
and under that system have promoted to
The bench the best lawyers at the bar and
Kept them there
a tnrN' 7 holt In