St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-08-10

WHY GOV. PAGE WAS DEFEATED.
The local feeling at Rutland was
strongly in Pages favor, because he
has done so much for the town, and if
he is as heavily loaded financially as is
claimed, Rutland cannot help suffering.
The reason of his overthrow was the
suspicion that he was in some way>Se-
spOnsible for Ravens crimes and the
least that can be said is that the di-
rectors were grossly loose and careless
in their business methods to permit the
defalcatiOn.-B rattleboro RefOrmer.
THE HERALD's VIEW OF 1T.
The triumph of the Clement ticket
needs no further explanation than this :
The Clements had succeeded in buying
and controlling large amount of stock
and the disgust and distrust excited by
the loose methods of bookkeeping con-
fessed by the old regime did the rest
People fairly say that if such a wretch
ed travesty on business methods can
take place and continue under the eyes
of the resident managers why a change
is desirable; they say if president is
so busy that he cannot know what his
treasurer is doing he is too busy for the
welfare OF the corporation of which he
is the head. This view may not be al
together just, but it is the natural crit
icism that did much to beat the Page
ticket. As for Gov. Page, it is but fair
to say that he failed to win the election
for the simple reason that the Clements
held large amount of stock, and the
credit of his management was natural
ly shaken because of the fraud of Hav-
en-. Nobody believed that Gov. Page
was other than Il man of ability and in
tegrity, but he naturally suffered by
the malfeasance of his subordinate and
appOintee. Gov. Page has large and
varied business interests here and else
where: he is trusted and respected by
his tOwnsmen, and he only lost the dav
because he had necessarily to carry the
burden unjustly imposed upon him by
his talthless treasurer.
A VICTORY FOR 'Bossn SMITH.
Boss Smith has a right to be iubi-
liant. This is his victory, even if he
didn't win it himself He sees ex-GOv.
Page, his bitter enemy of a years
standing, defeated and Inundated he
sees one of his leased railroad lines for
which he pays big rent put into the
hands ola board of directors composed
with members of his ring for its brains:
and for sweet tid-bit of vengeance,
he sees large corporation, important
both as client and political hacker, ia
ken out of the office of the lawyer, who
led the opposition to the reelection of
Smiths judge in the last legislature.
and who made the connection between
the two SO obvious that Smith has since
settled his big railroad litigation rath-
er than attempt longer to control it
through the courts. But politics have
swapping tails sometimes even in Yer
mont, and it is doubtful if he has great
ly crippled the opposition to his reign.
He has seriously injured eN-Gov. Page.
but Pages power, outside of Rutland,
has steadily declined since he was
governor, it has been greatest ut short
range, and he still retains his hold on
Rutland people. EX-Gov. Proctor, to
the amazement of his tOwnsmen. has
joined the Page camp ut time when
it was highly probable that Page was
beaten in this particular fight. This is
one of the strongest indications that
Boss Smiths rule must go. Proctor is
by odds the shrewdeSt and probably
the most popular politician i'll the state !
He has'taken pains heretofore to main |
tain his standing in the Smith camp, !
and he would not move out of it to Join |
hands with Il personal enemy, unless |
he felt sure that in that road power
lies III the long run. Smiths grip on
the state must he waning. - Springfield
Rem blicau