The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-05-22
JOHN W. GORDON
A CANDIDATE



VIII. No one will question that We
} ought to treat the veterans of the last
war with gratitude and liberality Al
i. had four sons in the war overseas
ii might seem that | would look upor
the matter in prejudieed way. Foi
that reason ] have some difiidence N
the matter A large number OF differ
ent plans have been presented to Con.
gress, none of which seems to command
a majority. A fiat cash bonus of two
billion dollars seems beyond our pres
ent capacity without great inconven'
iience. And does the need of our vet
Grams require itY If so, we shall strive
to meet 1t as compensation for their
lseryices. but hundreds of thousands OF
the boys who enlisted are to-day IN
easy circumstances financially. The
circumstances of all average well per-
haps with that of the great mass Of the
people. Their mental and physical con-
dition is undoubtedly superior. This
Twill be an advantage to them in future
wears. Their service will, Ii other
things are equal, give them prefer
ence in all walks of life. Taking these
things into consideration, we should
make such compensation TO them, as
our circumstances will warrant, but IN
no event should we fail to adopt a
liberal policy TO all who have been
manned or broken in the service or to
the dependents of those who died. Our
treatment for such should be prompt
and adequate. As the years go by and
| infirmities or misfortunes come TO the
veterans. we should care for them with
a liberal hand.
They have one advantage that no
law can bestows A name on the re-
public's roll of honor is priceless her
itage as compared with a name on the
payroll of q munition plant; the con
tents of a pay envelope are paltry
things as compared with the traditions
OF loyal and heroic service.
TX. In the campaign of 1914 put
forward as one of my planks the res
! toration of our merchant marine. The
accideut of war has restored it to the
position it held during the first half
Of the last century. We should main,
tain il in that position and pass such
laws as may be required for that pur-
pose.
Y. The usual formula of candidates
and parties is that capital and labor
should have a square deal, To this
general proposition everybody sub.
scribes But like all general principles,
the difficulty comes in the application
to specific instances. We can legislate
as to the conditions under which labor
should work and capital be employed.
But labor and capital belong to the
| domain of economics. When we under
take to control the forces OF production
/ by legislation, we must necessarily OPP
| crate in limited area We can set a
| sheriff with stop watch az the gate
of production, but we may thereby
penalize ourselves by short supplies. If
each individual is not permitted to con
tribute his just proportion to the com
mon stock, we shall exploit ourselves
as consumers. Ii is serious question
| TO interfere unduly with economic
laws. A legislative hall is sterile seed
ground. A law neither sows nor reaps
| In the last few years our legislative
mill has been working overtime, yet
production las measured by toms in
seven staple products had increased in
1919 only 3.3 points over 1918. The
cost of all commodities had increased
has points. Production has Jagged far
behind the increase of its cost. How
much of this is TO be attributed to leg
islationf IL we attempt TO legislate
on matters that restrict production like
hours of labor we should be guided by
fatigue, opportunity for recreation. and
rest. These should be the basis of all
such legislation and not the greed of
groups and classes.
II. Agriculture should receive our
first and careful attention. Ii is at the
base of all other occupations. Legisla
ton should be enacted with view to
as wide distribution OF land as possi-
Bile. 1t is matter of serious oonsid-
GRAFTON that during the three decades
from 1890 to 1910 more than 10000
tenant farmers were added to our agri-
cultural roll. The tenant farmer robs
the soil and reduces its productive ca
pacity. Our farm loan establishments
have done much and should be encour
aged. But there is tendency TO loose
and crude administration that ought 10
be corrected. The life of the country
should be made as attractive as that
of the city Good roads should be built.
The tendency of the population is now
cityward. Back TO the soil is discard
ed phrase the world over. Denmark Is
the only country where the agrieul-
tural population il increasing and is
one OF the most contented. IL was the
small proprietors of France that saved
a 4 ~ IlrsV, t1NF xFa
the land question that worked disaster
in Russia. Every man that owns
piece Of land sufficient for the support
of himself aud his family is loyal to
his government The truth has been.
expressed in the familiar saying that a
man will fight for his home but not
for his clearinghouse.
XII. The people have agreed that
this is a country where the majority
should rule. The country is overwhelm-
inelv committed to the 18th amend
ment. The amendment should be hon.
estly and reasonably enforced. Legs
lation for its enforcement should be
adequate. The Nolstead act is open to-
criticism. II excludes many innocent
beverages. The per cent of alcohol al
lowed by II Is one-half Of that in our
state law. II is too much of a red-tape
measure. Il provides so many impedi-
ments that even hospitals cannot with
in a reasonable time get alcohol for
their uses. The amendment was not
adopted to prohibit or hamper the use
Of alcoholic liquors for medicinal pur-
poses. This fact has been somewhat
ignored by the Volstesd act. That act