Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-28
Wafrhiman & gnnrnaL.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2s, 1880.
Democratic State Convention.

Democratic State Convention.
The Vermont Democracy, assembled In state
convention at Burlington on the 22d inst NOM
mated for governor, Edward J. Phelps OF Burling-
ton; for Acknowledgements, George W. Gates of
White River Junction; for treasurer James H.
Williams of Bellows Falls for electors-at-large,
Cyrus Jennings of Hubbardton and Joseph W.
Bliss Of Bradford. A sharp contest was waged by
the reform " element, under the leadership of
&c. N. Davenport of Brattleboro against the action
|of the regular management but the reformers
were squeched and received a cutting rebuke for
their pestiferous interference with the working of
the party machinery. These two elements came
twice into collision, once on motion to make the
temporary organization permanent, and again on
the motion to appoint a committee of seven on
resolutions. Mr.. Davenport favored referring the
permanent organization to committee, and
enlarging the committee on resolutions to include
one from each county A spectator in the gallery,
in evident reference to the electoral decision,
reminded the convention that seven was not the
lucky number of the Democracy, but the machine
had its purposes to subserve, and the independents
were remorselessly overruled Mr.. Davenport
was subsequently eliminated from participation
III tnt tOnNtutlOu Ou bDt BTOuHu tndt ne WIS pres
ent as delegate on the strength of votes cast in
his town for Hon. c. W. Willard reform candi-
date for governor at the last election These
votes were not recognized as a basis for represen-
taton In a Democratic state convention. These
contests were extremely personal and bitter, and
will not tend to amb-ke harmony and brotherly
feeling between the members of these factions.
Mr.. Phelps addressed the convention on the sub
ect of state politics and increase of state expen-
SEES, arraigning the Republican party on the
charge of governing the state through the instru-
mentality of the caucus, since caucus nomina-
ton to any office is equivalent to an election.
This fact begets a multiplicity Of candidates,
causes frequent changes to give all chance,
Especially in members of the legislature, and in
consequence it is seriously proposed to return to
1.-THE system of annual elections, because the adop-
|ton of the one-term rule under the biennial sys-
tenn " creates Legislatures so green that we are
afflicted by their acts and ashamed of their ap-
|pearance" An exceedingly narrow and one
| sided view of the southern question was taken,
Hinged with the speakers known sristocratc ten
|dencies and antipathy toward the African race.
His fairness and candor on this point are fairly
indicated by the following extract
Our Republican friends tell that the does not
strict him? What the evidence that he does not
the gospel eternal hate states return TO Re
higher than the Aneo-saTon the African will have at
tanned his sphere But what is ihs race that II is
Anglo saxon If they have the numbers and are At to
We don't vote because the Democratic majority won't let
the states where the negroes are in majority they do not
assert Their lower the strongest possible evidence that
class that and never will be fit to rule.
The resolutions endorse the national platform
and ratify the national nominations, pledge hearty
support to the state ticket and commend 1t to the
suffrage Of the people of the state, call for a
purer and more economical administration Of state
affairs, and hail with satisfaction the evident de-
sire of the people to get rid of the unjust, corrupt
and extravagant rule which has so long controlled
the state On the specific subjects of state ex-
penses and taxation the following are the resolu-
. tons in full:
Resoeed That we denoance that policy of profgaey in
the state which has increased our state from
to forty cents the dollar OF the grand list in the
past twenty Ave years and has swollen the strictly current
2is 900 after the war to nearly or quite 500 800 since
material wealth. We efefere demand such Ieaion mas as
Resoired That all property which the law protects ought
ss5 It's @ sas q n M OF as p e u
be taxed in equal proportion with the property Of the far,
laws which SPECIALLY exempt The property OF any business
interests should be repealed.
L. W. Redington's anti-prohibitory law resolu-
ton iaileu OF incorporation inlo the platform:
The great expectations created by the promised
presence of Dougherty, Franklin and Badly Smith
were doomed to disappointment. No one of the
distinguished speakers put in an appearance ex-
cept Colonel Wadde, fact which seems TO have
visibly dashed the enthusiasm of those who ex-
pected a grand carnival of Democratic oratory,
The measure of Democratic fulfillment in respect
to distinguished speakers is far below its prom
Uses. General Nickerson, who addressed the con-
vention, was like crow TO guests whose appetites
had been sharpened by the prospect of the silver.
tongued Dougherty.