The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-23
The Yoke Of Burlesonism.
Boston Transcript

1t is impossible to imagine Grover Cleve
land or Theodore Roosevelt, either as gov
ernor or mayor, supinely submitting
throughout three days and nights to a
public calamity of the size and seriousness
of that created by the collapse of the tele-
phone service throughout this corner of the
country. 1t is impossible to imagine either
allowing "A hours to elapse without TAX
ing action to protect his people from the
continuance of condition that puts in
jeopardy every hour the life and health
and security of hundreds of thousands
of his own people. 1t is impossible to I'M
agine either permitting precedent or the
absence of precedent to paralyze his hands
or prevent him from ending what Hon
Samuel w. McCall has rightly denounced
as "a crime against the public 1t IS
impossible to imagine either wasting
words with the bumptious bureaucrat at
| Washington who has precipitated the per-
| il to public health and public order suf-
| fered by every community deprived OF
| telephone service at this time. 1t is inn
| possible to imagine either, with the legis-
| lature or city council in session, allowing
either body to remain idle and unofficial
| ly uniformed for nearly a week regard
| ing SO serious a situation.
Cleveland and Roosevelt were men of
action. Their fearlessness was common
| surate with their sincerity. They might
prefer the beaten path, but they were not
| afraid to blaze new path when public
duty demanded pioneering. They main
tanned public law and order and compelled
| respect therefor as much by cutting red
| tape IN a crisis, as by exercising due
process. Each was imbued with a spirit
OF practical patriotism which enabled him
to interpret his oath OF Office in terms oil
the living present.
Under the yoke of Burlesonism New
Englanders in general and those i'll partic
ular who make up the metropolis of Dos
ton and the Commonwealth of Massa
ehusetts have, as we believe, been alto
gether too patient since the telephone
tieup started. 1t is true that the vic
tins are unable TO get the ear of tn,
President; he is out of the country 800
miles away from his constitutional resi-
denee. 1t is true that his representative
at Washington turns a deaf ear to al
appeals for an abandonment of hi
tyrannical methods which have sprecrpi
; tated the controversy; backed by hi
chief in every abuse of his authority
Burleson believes himself immune from
criticism and independent Of the publ
because secure in the affections of the ad
ministration.
But the governor of Massachusetts, an
the mayor of Boston are still on this sid
of the Atlantic. The legislature is in ses
sion and the city council holds frequen
meetings. Both the governor and tn
mayor have it in their power TO voice tn
: INDIGNATION Of their respective constitt
t encies, and to recite in terms of an ult
matum with time limit the refusal {
1 their respective constituencies to submit
a day longer to the tyranny and the per
put upon them by cabinet officer VIII
? as we believe, today would be the defenc
: ant in impeachment proceedings if th
President of the United States were nc
: afraid to call congress in session.