The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-09-16
Failure That Demands Prompt
Remedy

Remedy
We have spoken of some of the
good qualities of the State ticket
nominated by the republicans at
Montpelier Wednesday, We wish we
could say as much for the attitude of
the party as enunciated in the plat
form regarding the chief issues fac
ing the party in connection with the
election to be held the first Tuesday
in November.
The platform formulated in adj
vance by the committee on resolut
ions and published for the purpose of
calling forth suggestions, was con-
fessedly a tentative declaration of
principles. Judge T.. C. Mower
whose facile pen and brilliant mind
are responsible for the liquid move
ment and high literary quality of the
platform, confidently expected that
planks dealing with the controversial
issues CT the day would be added by
the convention to the basic declara-
tions OF party faith, thus bringing di-
rect from the people as possible I'M
der our present caucus system a popu
lar expression on these issues that
would be of service in the coming
campaign.
The Bennington Banner, the Rut-
land Herald and other papers as well
as the Free Press had called direct at
tention to the paramount necessity Of
explicit declaration of the party's at
titude on various questions and in
language that would be easily appreci
ated by the rank and file of the
party, as we'll as people in general.
That which happened was precisely
what the most reactionary element in
the party and especially powerful in
iiuences wanted to happen. and what
is likely to continue TO happen so
long as the people of Vermont are
forced to contend against the handi-
caps of our present caucus and con-
vention system of nominations.
The influences concerned were able
to secure the absolute silence OF
State convention held in this year. of
1914, on such live questions as tax
alton. an issue which concerns the
taxpayers of the State in two ways
equitable taxation of corporations
and the extension of the benefits OF
the five per cent. exemption law to
the great mass of farmers already
owing for their lands.
These influences were able to sup
press declaration for woman suf-
frage within constitutional limitations
in Vermont, seeking to fool the voters
by declaring in favor of giving them
chance TO pass upon constitu
tional amendment in 1920; whereas
as already shown In these columns.
sible municipal suffrage and other
opportunities for the use OF the ballot
by women including the protection
of their homes and their means of
support from the ravages OF the
liquor interests.
They were also able to suppress in
the convention efforts to fix limit to
the length of the legislative session. |
They also succeeded in keeping out
of the platform any reference whatso |
ever to the paramount issue of the |
present time in Vermont. the regula- |
ton by the State of public service cor |
porations rather than the regulation |
Of our government by men in sym
pathy with the public service corpora
tons. And so on in other ways and |
with reference to other live issues |
that will readily suggest themselves. |
Contests over various nominations |
were deliberately promoted in some |
instances for the purpose of fixing |
control of the convention and smoth |
ering undesirable planks OF pro
gressive nature With the possbilit-
les OF defeat held before their eyes |
were naturally not anX.
ious TO precipitate a fight over issues
that would bring down upon their |
heads the wrath of the reactionary
element SO largely represented, and
when an opportunity was given for |
expected discussion of issues on the
floor of the convention not single |
peep was Observation-Disclosures Free |
Press.