News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-07-26
An Unfair Criticism
TRutland News

bans, has been criticized very bitterly by
great many Vermonters who heard his
speech last week at Montpelier before
the Greater Vermont Association. The
nature of these criticisms has been va
ried, but the former executive has, we
venture to say, been generally con-
demned. The Rutland News thinks that
the criticisms are unwarranted and be-
lieves that Mr.. Smith was justified both
by the position which he occupies as one
the nature of the gathering, in express
ing himself frankly and fully exactly as
he did.
The Brattleboro Reformer, one of the
fairest newspapers in Vermont, ex-
pressed it in this way:
"Ex-Gov. Edward G. Smith opened his
mouth and stuck his foot in it when. in
addressing the Greater Vermont Associ-
alton he injected politics into his re-
marks. If the Greater Vermont
Association is to be used as a political
agency it will soon use it's usefulness,
and it has started on course which
ought to make it the most potential force
for upbuilding the state that has ever ex-
listed. People also will revolt at the
idea of railroad influence in public af-
fairs. The people of the state
have shown a disposition to be fair
toward the railroads and to cooperate
with them. Another break like that
which Smith made will arouse antago-
nisms which will be harmful to the rail
roads. We are willing to forget what
Smith said, and we hope the newspapers
and public generally will take the same
attitude. But for heavens sakes, Eddie,
don't do it again"
We do not at all agree with The Re-
formers position or contention. The
only thing of what Mr.. Smith said border
ing on politics was that the principal Of
fees in Vermont should be held by real
Vermonters. That is really more bust
ness than politics, for the speaker insist
ed that the interests of Vermont would
be better conserved by representation by
its natives than by outsiders or adsentees.
There may be legitimate ground for con-
troversy here, but we hardly regard it as
dragging politics into a meeting of the
character of this.
The object of the Greater Vermont As
ISOLATION is just what it's name implies,
the advancement of the state in its vari-
GUS branches of activity and the elimina-
ton of wrong principles, if such exist,
from its present plan Of management.
Mr.. Smith is president and probably
largely interested as a stakeholder in the |
Central Vermont railway. He had every
right as citizen, and it was has duty as
the chief officer of that corporation, to |
utter his protest against the present ten
dency in Vermont to throw the entire |
burden of state expense upon the cor
porations and relieve the other people of |
their share of il. It was absolutely the !
proper place to voice any such protest,
for the meeting was a business meeting,
and it was not gathering of Vermonters
for the exclusive purpose of receiving
bouquets thrown at the state. No more
fitting occasion could have been framed
for the utterances of his protest
This is not to say that anyone hearing
Mr.. Smith must necessarily agree with
the contention he made. He may have
spoken for no one but himself at the
meeting. 1t is simply to say that he had
a perfect right to make the argument
that he did, that in measure Vermont
ers "were living on other peoples mon
ey' in that they threw upon the rail-
roads, the savings banks and other cor
poratons the great burden of their stead
lily increasing and, to his mind, eXtrava-
giant state expenditures.
To the mind of The Rutland News,
of Mr.. Smiths address
3 ither on the ground that it was airing
bis personal grievances or that the Great
or Vermont Association was not a proper
body to hear his protest, are untenable
and unfair. 1t may be said that the
meeting at Montpelier was rather a cele-
bratiOn, a social event in honor of the
states 125th anniversary. In part, the
gathering was of that nature. But on
5he other hand it was business meeting
of state wide business organization
studying Vermont's business problems,
1t which it was eminenty fitting that
Vermonters should receive brick bats as
we'll as bouquets.