The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-08-18
TWO CANDIDATES
DISCUSS ISSUES
Babbitt and Hartness Speak
to Large Audience in
Westminster
AFFAIR STAGED
BY MEMS CLUB

terance on Volstead Act, Opposing
Modification Three Senatorial
Candidates Make Brief Remarks.
Westminster Men s club, of which |
A. G. Fraser is president, put across a
stunt last night in the Westminster
town hall that not only was highly en-
tertaining to the people assembled but
added interest to the political campaign
now in progress in Vermont. 1t was a
debate on the issues of the campaign,
and the two principal speakers were
Frederick H. Babbitt of Bellows Falls
and James Hartness of Springfield, two
of the four candidates for governor
Later there was brief speaking by some
of the senatorial candidates.
One of the especially interesting fea
lures of the occasion was the declara
tion by Mr. Hartness of his position
with reference to the Volstead act, in
reply to a question, this being his first
public utteranee in that respect. He de-
declared himself as wholly opposed to-
any modification of the act in a way
1 10 bGiIiAt III lHGIe6SG III llb dAIOnOiAS
content of beverages.
Before the speaking and between the
addresses there was singing of patriotic
and popular songs, led by l.. i. Bige
| low. Miss Helen Hall acting as accom-
| panist, and this added no little zest to
| the event
President Fraser presided and stated
that The speakers had been invited to
outline the issues not for the purpose
of advancing anybody's candidacy, but
in order that the voters of Westminster
might be assisted in making up their
minds which way to vite He said each
speaker would be given % minutes and
then each would be allowed five min
utes in rebuttal.
The hall was full and the audience
was demonstrative, each speaker being
given tremendous applause.
Mr.. Babbittis address was in sup
port of his platform, which he said
] he would not change in the least par
tieular If he were to re-write it. The
war left some problems TO be solved in
the years Just ahead, and in solving
them the state needs a business admin
; istration by a business man. The busi-
ness of the state is a great institution
and needs to be managed along business
lines. Some economies need to be put
into effect. If / were governor, the
speaker said "I would not carry
economies to a foolish extent, such
as would stop the wheels of progress of
the state; / would not be parsimonious;
/, the people of Vermont are not niggard
lly; but we have numerous commissions
that are of no use to the state and
should be done away with, and those
which have stood the acid test should
be retained -
Not the least of our state problems
is that of finance. We need increased
!, revenue, but we ought to give full val
ne for it. The four greatest needs are
improved education, highways, agri-
cultural development and industrial de-
velopment. In the nation agriculture
takes the lead, and this is particularly
true in Vermont.
Our educational law is too rigid and
should be made more flexible, the
: speaker declared. There are sections
where the "little red school house
: ought to be put back. 'sI have trav-
eled about 5000 miles in the state in
5 the past few months and have found
conditions in rural sections which call
4 for return of the rural schools. They
S should be made more attractive so that
2 the children will not be lured away as
| their fathers were. They should be
! centers of community life, where for
: ums can be held, and out of the forums
$ will come better laws and better adj
lministration of the law. -
Speaking of highways, Mr.. Babbitt
said the trunk lines should be taken
over. built and maintained by the state,
and the crossroads left to the towns to
: improve What good are the trunk lines
if we can't get to them2 He said he
introduced in the legislature of 1910
) land carried through the first big high
: way bill in the state
Y From far and wide, the speaker said,
h comes the cali for more production, for
! agricultural development. The pro-
) lduetion must come from the farms, and
\ it will add to Vermont Is advantages
3 industrially, as agriculture and indus
. try go hand in hand. We cannot look
to the legislature alone to secure thrift.
as capital is not furnished by legisla-
tive act or resolve. The next legisla-
ture however. will give special atten-
i tion to agricultural problems and the
farmers difficulties, which need help
as they never have needed it before.
/. AS to his stand on labor questions
! Mr.. Babbitt referred to his record in
: the legislature, stating that he intro
: duced the child labor bill and the first
! workman Is compensation bill. He said
the true weights and measures bill was
/ his measure.
i Mr.. Babbitt said the governor had