The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-04

me cause CT MINNIE AaaAtr. NiAAull-
ticn and ncrTiment 70 certain Yer
mcni newspapers. For many months
they have been insisting lie execl-
tive should convene the laE-making
body in extraordinary session. bu
none OF them has siren - really
convincing reasaa for such acticn.
though a various and KarieEatei as
scr.melt Of sophislcal arguments
has been advanced. Il Is one OF the
curious features az the discussion ON
the bat OF these particular journals
thai they appear unwilling 90 per-
NIT the governor 20 exercise his con-
stituiional right In the matter and
20 decide the cues ton in accordance
with the dictates OF his conscience
and his sincere conviction a. 10 What
course win be for the best interests
OF The state and the people.
Indeed. % would seem that some OF
them 90 least. are under the impress.
sion the executive can De- sandbaggod
into converting the legislature In ex-
ira session. whether or not hc be-
ievos such a course 20 be warrant.
ed or necessary. such belief e. not
only amazingly wide OF the mark.
bur x bcirays on the part OF those
who entertain BE- On extraordinary
lack OF capacity 20 correctly Judge
public officers who are guided solely
By their sense OF obligation 10 the
people and who cannot be moved
either by clamor or consideration Of
political expedifncy 10 take action a.
10 the value and necessity OF which
they IRE not honestly convinced.
The Burlington Clipper. which u.s.
uaily is fair and Jus: in It's comments
on men and measures Ia n recent is
sue had this 10 cay ia relation 20 an
extra legislative session:
indications show that Governor
Fletcher win not call a special ses.
sion of the legislature for the pur.
pose OF passing n direct primary law.
The governor has given no Indication
one way or tho other and " he has
any idea abou. the matter he is keep.
ing Il TO himself Such a close ro-
Icy Is no; very pleasing TO Vermont.
e-s. In general The governor seems
10 forget that Vermont beioaes &c
the people aad not to,tho executive
Waving the obvious Inconsistency
OF the Clippers assertion that in.
dications show that Gov. Fletcher
viii not call a special session OF the
legislature" and its later remark chat
tho governor has given no indication
oae way or the Other Il may De
said il is probably for the very reas
on he does no. forget that Vermont
belongs TO the people that the OK
ecutivo 81 taking ample time 20 con.
slider this very matter OF an extra
session in ali rs bearings. The gov
ernor has never so far as the Jour.
nal g. aware, Indicated whether no
VIII or Will not convene the lssis'a.
ture in extraordinary session for ihe
purpose OF passing direct primary
law Tor which The people recently
voted.
The question Is complex and many
sided Il cannot be decided cff-hand
Ne snap Judgment can be employed
TO rightly determine it. First there is
TO consider the question rs 30 who
Their or nc. the expense would b,
warranted. The legislature H. as ID,
taapayers realize fully. q costly bod,
% maintain. The recent regular SEES
sion Involved an outlay o. ncarl,
s2o8,0a0 ii convened in special SEES
sicn how much additional expeas,
would be laid upon The Taxpayers
Wcald IL be S25,0C0. $500 OF iarg
er sum? Would such az outlay b,
warranted fer the purpose OF pass
ing direct primary law. IN view Of
It's FAC ihri existing statutes pro
vide means BY which candidates foi
public of'co can be named by Tho
people? Would it ret be The par
OF wisdom and economy 10 max,
use OF the mems for discc. ncmina
items already available until IA,
regular session C The lawmak.ng
body in January mex. rather thar
place upon the taxpayers the heav,
cos. Of special session?
Furthermore. is not the executive
fully warranted in rendering Ions
and seriously the proposition of spe
cially converting the legislature fol-
the purpose OF passing q direct pri
nary law, when that same legislator,
previously had ample opportunit,
and was indeed, under the platform
niedee % enact such measure, vet
lodged the responsibility inglorioas
N? It may be asked fairly. also
| what kind OF direct primary law
such o legislature would be likely [,
enact Would it be 4 broad eflcien
and adequate measure such as thi
people desire G. would it be a NOR,
Political makeshift?
| Clearly Gov. Fletcher has man,
things 10 consider before he decide
hnslly whe her or not be will call /.
special session. hut this much is Ger
tain--whatever his ultimate decision
may bet will be based wholly an,
entirely upon honest conviction
Whether he calls or does not cal
such session will be determined who