The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-06-11
Prejudice, Not Thought.
(Rutland Herald

Vermont is Just as safe today as it
was when it voluntarily became a member
of the federal government and the major
ity of its people fail to see any logical
revolution growing out Of the observance
Of the supreme law Of the land. Ii the gov
ernor would let them, Nermonters
would be glad to have their legislature
meet and ratify the woman suffrage
amendment to the federal constitution.
The alleged fright of The Herald and the
governor of the legal and orderly manner
of amending the federal constitution Is
announced to cover their real fear that
they cannot have their own way and the
country will get prohibition and woman
suffrage. Brattleboro Reformer
The foregoing is a rather extreme ex-
ample of where a combination OF preju-
dice, suspicion and petty thoroughgoing
ignorance of constitutional law and his
tory will lead. The Reformer is rather
less than fair in attributing such gnoble
motives to this newspaper and To the
governor of Vermont. Surely public men
and public journals are entitled at least
to the presumption Of honesty.
If the majority Of the people see no
menace in the growing Capitalization Of
federal authority, it is because they are
not fully informed. The Herald can as
sure its contemporary that its conclusions
in respect to the recent decisions are not
those of its editor or proprietor alone.
This newspaper recognizes it's limitations
and does not profess to be an expert in
constitutional law.
Startling and novel as the suggestion
seems to he in certain quarters, it is pre-
pared to take counsel in matters of
law. and IS also prepared to assure its
cocksme contemporaries that their opin-
ions are not shared by men who have
made constitutional law life study, in
Guiding those whose names, if mentioned,
would compel respect for their opinions
1t is true that authorities differ. and
The Herald has exactly the same right to
accuse the Reformer of permitting its
recently acquired prohibitory desires to
color its editorial opinions as The Re
former has to accuse The Herald. but,
granting honesty of purpose, it seems as
though there could be a difference of opin-
ion without innuendo, to say nothing
about bald and clumsy accusation.
The contemporary SAYS HNermont is
Just. as safe today as it was when it
voluntarily became a member of the
federal government. Is that a fact?
Was it possible at that time for n min
oritv Of the population to change the
organic law of the nation leaving n
protesting majority without recourse?
Would congress at that time have toll
Grated the system of political black
mail and coercion by means of which
| the 18th and 10th amendments were
proposed and very largely ratified?
This country has grown somewhat Of
late years. From Is original states, in
| close touch with each other and with
no large centers of population. this
country has grown until even the huge
populations of New York, Boston and
| Philadelphia can be outvotcd and over
balanced by Chicago and the West.
There is no safety except in ma iority
rule, and the present system of amend
ling the federal constitution provides
for minority rule through the unit rule
of states. There can never come safety
and true Republican plan of amend
ment until the people vote on each
1 amendment before it can be ratified.
In the past, a demand for majority
rule was entitled to receive some CON
sideration. The Herald does not be
lieve that Vermonters have changed
very seriously in that respect. Let us
give thought to the ultimate, if not i'm
minent, necessity for amending the fed
eral constitution to provide for a pop
ular vote on amendments thereto