The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-30
Passing the Buck.
(Rutland Herald.l

N1suIiaiu liSIdIu.j
When things aren't going right If
Is often amusing to see the earnest
/ efforts to shift responsibility. Witness
at Washington just recently the des-
perate earnestness with which cabinet
members and members of congress seek
to make Crozier and Sharpe take the
blame that should rest mostly on con
gress and the cabinet. It is all very
human and most natural Every man
IN his right mind passes the buck when
he gets shadow of chance-Ben-
nington Banner.
This is unquestionably politician 5
comment on a bit of political evasion
which is not only diaingenuous but
rowardlv
The difference between a public man
and politician is that the politician
has no principles which he will no;
compromise and the public man has
some, at least, that he is willing to die
Cor, if need be, using the term in a
olitical sense
TO bring the comparison ''down +
BRASS tacks' even if they NAV be point
q, there was never a better illustra
ton Of what passing the buck and
standing pat means politically than
Charles ". Gates and Frank L. Greene
Born III adjoining towns, brought M
under similar conditions, both driftcd
naturally into public life. Gates finally
IS governor OF Vermont, an Office from
which ne retired permanently into priv
ate life, and Greene into congress
where he seems likely to remain for
some years.
During his official life, Governor
Gates never willingly took issue with
any one. lie was well liked by his of
fetal associates because he never in.
terfeTed with them in any respect
Whenever a matter of state policy came
before him for decision. he passed il
over to the attorney general the treas
urer, the auditor, the secretary of state
. or some other official and considered
the incident closed. He made no i'm
preston whatever on the public life Of
Vermont except that Of being a : good
FELLOW and a fairly good road commie
sioner.
Congressman Greene, in two or three
conspicuous instances. is supposed tc
have imperilled his political life by
voting against fanatical measures, ro
wit, the Adamson eight hour law and
~ t+NiiAAJ-t nun anu Suffrage amend
ments to the federal constitution.
The eigAt-hour law was damned
through congress under the stor-watch
and pointed pistol, and the railroad or
carnations served notice on CONGRESS
men that political death awaited ali
these VINO opposed it, vet Congressman
, tfreena, from the chief railroad center
# the state, voted against il. I'll
ma - /, : l,.a y, Il. -,
The prOhibitionists and suffragis+<
no never deep, deluged congressman
VITA petitions cntreaties threatening
letters, and political death-warrants III
case they oppose those measures.
The ants, unfortunately. made little
effort to focus and convey the quieter
nnSuoken opinion Of the more consarva
: i've. 1t would have been easv fol
i. .'reene TO have said:
have received (say) 575 communi
/ atoms in favor Of national prohibition
and only lbs agains. il, hence ! beliey,
/ Vermont tavers the amendment. s"A
; The point IS that Greene stood ia.
IN the lifelong convictions. fire luently
oppressed and voted accordinglv. Let
: say, parentheti. ally. that the ma,
10 comes publicly forward and en
: loavors to drive Greene from ruhli,
; tfe on account Of such a vote viii soof
: nd where ne stands with the peopl,
no admire courage and principle even
, II they may disagree with il.
, As between the mau who has alwav,
aSs>d the buck and the man who !
Wiling to take his political life in hi,
hands in support Of principle. which
Is the more valuable public servant!
Let us have no more eaSy-qoin,, ..,,,b
stry about lodging responsibility Il
Iblic life. Let u have no more no g
.ng the buck.