Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-06-25

candidates for the Legislature rule have felt the
thing needfu to be the securing of delegates by
another Sometimes has been necessary merely to
the local boss At other times the State boss the
of the late c. Plat and his has seemed to fur
nsh the snews of and the candidate has thus put him
self under lasting obligation to his leader"
Evidence of this changed condition is to be found in New
York where candidates for the Senate the Assembly
already issuing statements to the voters telling where they
stand on the issues which commanding special attention
in New York at this time. Candidates have rightly con-
cuded that they depend upon direct votes of the
people for nomination it would longer do to rely
peas local State boss but that they must get into
touch directly with the voters Individually and this explains
the efficacy of the direct primary in undermining the
of the bosses.
rhe advantages of this personal declaration of princ
pies for the benefit of constituents the party platform
manifest Where aspirant for office makes state
ment his pedging hmelf to the support of
certain specific principles and policies and to the
pshment of stated ends desired by the voters it Ion
possible for him rise in his place in the Legislature
and declare he not bound by his partys PLATFORM
has happened than in the Vermont Legislature
He is bound by pledge Under these
tances and particularly in view of the readiness with which
the Democratic party through the Wilson administration is
repudatng of the most important and farreachng
panks of the Baltimore declaration of faith and poll
cies is not strange that the people demanding
than before to know what issues the individual
sents and advocates and placing less and less dependence
upon party responsibility to the contamination of de-
sired purposes in State and local well in
the field of national rule.
In Vermont in particular the voters already begin
ming to they must begin by nominating candidates for
public Office whom they trust to champion their inter-
and carry out their policies.
1t formerly felt that if the right kind of
selected for governor the rest of the ticket could be left to
take of itself but all this changed The voters
awake to the fact that every State officer has i'm
portant part in scheme of State government The lieu
tenantgovernor not only the presiding officer of the Sem
ae but he is also member of the State board of appeals
with the State auditor and secretary of State clothed with
the final judgment questions of taxation of
public corporations by the State and the decision of
these three State officers final Vermont has also
how important may be the acts of the State treasurer and
attorney The voters realize they not af
ford to be careless to a single public servant.
This is especially true of members of the Legislature,
which in many ways has not only the of initiative,
but also the authority of court of last resort If
to have genuine economy must choose and
Legislature pledged to the careful scrutiny of all State
preparations and insist that greater watchfunes be
csed by public servant whether at the head of de-
parmen whether holding position of responsibility in
connection with some State institution or body.
1t will not be enough as formerly to assume because
nominated by any party making pledges because
the head any ticket stands for thrift and economy that
all others bearing the party having place the
ballot will heed the popular will
The time to make where every candidate for State
national Office for the Legislature for county Office
is before election and after he snap his fingers
at those who gave him their votes unquestioned
Nor will it do to rely upon promise made to some
individual relying upon the swapping of the party whip
the fulfilling Of the pledge
In this day the candidate for the Legislature, for
ample who negects to take the into his confidence and
state his position regarding champoned by the peo
pie complain if his silence leads suspicion Of his
attitude his sincerity Party will him. while the
support of the interests will be like milestone hanging about
his neck.
The people of Vermont want economy in State expend
lures they all possibility of doubt removed
ing the application all debts land of the exemption from
fax0fiO Of at thew
who retained by public service corporations other
powerful interests they want State officers we'll legs
ators who will stand for their rights opposition to copor
ate cncroachmen they want the corporations to bear fair
share of the burden Of taxation and ess they
want Veonts public service to be regulated by YER
mont Vermont men, and by foreign interests
controlling public servants well public utili
ties they genuine nominations by the voters ndvd
ally for public office.
These among the important issues which will figure
prominently in the coming campaign and aspirants for Of
flee who afraid otherwise unwilling to state their
stion courageouy these issues will do well to postpone