The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-09
CONSTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION
'Wha important Piece Of Constructive Legislation Has Sena.
tor PAGE Introduced and Pushed to Successful Issue

ing in the work ard was helping him.
Since that time, as am Chairman OF the
Committee on Education and Labor, the
situation Is reversed just a little, but
am always glad to stop at any time the
opportunity is presented TO give to the
Senator from Vermont every possible
credit for his splendid work upon this
subject. and almost regret that we have
a Democratic majority end that ne hasn't
charge Of the bill instead of myself.
Senator MARITIME, OF New Jersey, speaking
on the same day in the Senate, said:
In New York on two occasions quite
recently | dropped into an institution
maintained for the purpose Of encourag-
ing vocational education. They ,ex-
pressed themselves In most high favor OF
the process of education that was antici.
pated in the Vocational Education Bill
then known as the Page Bill Since
then there has been a merging OF ideas
and interests between the Senator from
Georgia and the Senator from Vermont.
But these gentlemen, the principals of
these schools, couldn't speak highly
enough or extravagantly enough Of the
great advantages that would come from
the adoption of this vocational education
scheme which was known as the Page
Smith bill. 1t will prove blessing to
the generations coming on and in the
future this will be Of untold value to our
Republic.
Senator Thomas, Of Colorado speaking the
same day in the Senate, said
If | had any doubt about this amend
ment would certainly dismiss 1t upon
the assurance Of the Senator from Yer
mont, whose child this bill unquestion-
ably is and who, as declared by The
Senator from Georgia, is entitled TO the
great merit of having framed it, intro.
duced it, lived with it and brought 1t to
its present moment Of fruiton lisa
great work, and monument to the Sena.
tors career which am sure will keep
his memory fresh and green in the hearts
Of grateful posterity.
There are other important pieces Of con-
sfructve legislation standing to the credit OF
Senator Page
On July "a, 1916, Senator Page
addressed the Senate upon this great
educational measure. On July
3lst the bill was passed by
the Senate, and yet during the
time that this bill was under consid-
Grafton and being placed upon its
passage, a hundred columns, more
or less. of paid advertising and many
thousands of circulars were being
sent broadcast through the State of
Vermont critizing Senator Page for
addressing the Senate, and declaring
that there was no necessity for his
speech because the bill was not before
the Senate, and would not be acted
upon at this session, concluding with
the query: "Why then a speech
on the bill by Senator Page at this
time for any other reason than for
distribution to the voters Of Yer
mont for campaign purposes?"
The ignorance of the writer or his
willful purpose to deceive must be
apparent. Senator Page delivered
his address upon one of the greatest
pieces Of constructive legislation be-
fore the country, in the formulation
of which he has given many months
of his earnest labor and best judg-
ment, and seven days later the bill
was passed by the Senate with the
open declaration of Senators, includ-
~ uII.a Cx~~.+L L:.~>.o1f