St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-02-23
THE STATE LEAGUE.
Organization of Vermont Republican
Climbs.

EepuUllCdU CluDS was Hoiu dt hOub
pelier last week Wednesday, a stat
league was organized and officers elect
ed. Some report of the proceeding
will be of interest as the people of TIN
state in general had very misty ide;
as to the purposes of the gathering a
this early date in the campaign o
1888. Some of the papers outside thu
state have intimated that the Objec
was to "boOm" Mr.. Blaine's candidacy
but those equally well informed have
regarded it as strictly local move
ment, with strictly local ends in view
There were over 200 delegates in at
tendance, representing over 20 stat'
republican clubs that had up to tina
time been organized. Judge w. p
DuntOn of Rutland, vice president from
Vermont of the national league, was t.
have been present and preside, bu
was prevented by illness, and Guy C.
Noble, lawyer and prominent repub-
lican of st. Adams and a member of the
executive committee of the nationa
league, called the convention to order
1t may not be out of place to note thai
Mr.. Noble is also one of the attorneys
of the Vermont Central rail road and
that he was one of the prime movers in
calling the convention.
In his opening speech Mr.. Noble out
lined the objects for which the state
league was to be formed. The clubs,
he declared, are not ephemeral they
are not strictly campaign clubs, but
are intended to be perpetual for the up
building of the party and the securing
of the best interests of the country as
well. Their aim would be to dissent
nate literature with the above end in
view, supplying the people with need
ed information regarding the principles
of the republican party, and to dissem-
mate republican doctrines. He spec
tally emphasized the idea that the clubs
in the state are not expected to take
part in regulating the republican ma
principles should be to have nothing to
do with states, but cODfine themselves
to informing the masses, and they
should work for the regular nominees
of the party. During his remarks Mr..
Blaine was referred to as "the man en-
shrined in the affections of his party"
his name being received with tumul
tuOus applause. If the purpose of the
promoters of the movement was to ad-
vance the candidacy of Mr.. Blaine, the
famous withdrawal letter tended to
dampen the ardor of the proceedings.
Col. George w. Hooker of Brattle-
borO, who was made president of the
convention, followed with character
istic speech, landing the "great leader,
James G.. Blaine" and discussing al
some length the protection of wool.
The platform adopted by the nation
al league at its recent meeting in New
York was adopted and also the consti
tuition adopted by that convention with
some slight amendments. The follow
ing were elected officers of the league ::
observation-disclosures Redfield Proc
tor of Proctor.
Vice presidents George Wilkins of
Stowe, J. J. Esty of BrattlebOrO, Josiah
Circuit Of Derby.
Secretary-C. S. Forbes of st. AL
bans.
Executive committee-T. NJ. Chap
man of Middlebury, o. NJ. Barber of
Arlington, ii. G.. Bates of st. Johns
bury, w. l.. Burnap of Burlington, u.
NJ. Mansur of Brighton, e. p. Hogan of
Sheldon, II. l.. SOwles of Alburgh, d.
j. Stafford of MOrristOwn, j. ID. Denni-
son of Randolph, f. E. Alfred of New
port, II. L. Clark of Castleton, w. A.
Jones of Waitsfield, l.. S. Hayes of
Bellows Falls, w. w. Stickney of Lud
low.
This closed the actual business of
the convention though there was some
speech making by the prominent state
politicians and a number of letters
read from prominent men who were
unable to be present. Hon. Henry
Ballard of Burlington declared that
the next canvass will be between
Cleveland and free trade on the one
side and republican party and prOtec
ton oil the other, and that the republic
can party can win with any candidate
on the issue of protection. Frank
Fuller followed in the same strain.
Letters of regret were received from
a number of prominent men. Senator
Morrill, wrote:
| am glad to see that our friends in
Vermont resent being kicked by those
now "drest in little brief authority"
and are showing some enthusiasm in
the preliminary work of the coming
presidential campaign. 1t appears to
me that the time is very inOpportune
to force down, by free-tra messages
and measures, our working men to the |
European standard of wages, or to
strike foul blow at the prosperity of
our agricultural interests aud | have |
some faith that the all-wOol republi- |
cans will this year terminate the rule |
of the combination of Southern leaders |
and the Northern 'mugwump" follow |
ers, and turn out what seems to be a |
'shOddy" administration.
Congressman Stewart wrote:
L rejoice to see the loyalty of the sons
Of Vermont to the principles of the
great party-great in its accomplished
history, and great in its promise and
possibility of future good to our coun-
.ry. 1t should now be commended to
The young men of the country, not
alone for what it has done, but for
what it is. 1t is what it has become
NJ IFS laval aIharanoa thronDb wars |