Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-30

Montpelier, April 2o.--The Golden Fleece
was filled with delegates and visitors
when Chairman Olin Merrill called the
State convention to order at 1916 o'clock
this morning. Prayer was offered by the
Rev. DR.. T.. NJ. Smith of Montpelier. Mem
bcrs of the republican State committee
occupied scots on the platform. Sccrc-
tary RI. S. Peck read the call and the call
ing of the roll was dispensed with. Chair
man Merrill announced that the State
committee had selected w. A. Lord OF
Montpelier as the temporary chairman.
Mr.. Lord took the platform and said in
part:
MIR. LORDS REMARKS.
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow-Republicans
1t Is a distinguished honor to be associ-
ated with Vermont republicans, and an
even greater honor to be called upon to
preside over such distinguished gather
ing OF republicans as this Is. Our party
has led in all good reforms and has been
met at all times by objections from our
opponents, mainly on constitutional
grounds, because. you know, democrats
are great constitutional lawyers Twice
only has the democratic party been placed
in entire charge OF the government, once
under James Buchanan, and once under
the second administration OF Grover
Cleveland. Each time the party has left
the country in n depressed condition. The
republican party on the other hand prom
ises honest money, foreign policy which
shall make the United States honored
throughout the entire world, and a policy
of protection which shrl bring about a
return of that prosperity which once was
ours.
Our duty to-day Is plain. 1t Is to elect
delegates who shall go ~ ST. Louis and
select a man to lead us 10 this return Of
prosperity. He may be Morton, Allison,
Reed great cheering) or Mckinley great
er cheering). But whoever he may be,
with his election will come a return Of
prosperity l thank you for the honor
conferred upon me and direct your atten-
ton to the business of the convention.
on motion Of eX-Gov. Roswell Farnham
of Bradford. +. o. Leonard of Bradford
was made temporary secretary, and on
motion of Frank Kenfeld of Morrlsvile
II. II. Page of Hyde Park was made tenn
porary assistant secretary. On motion of
Col. c. W. Hooker of Brattleboro, the
chairman appointed a vice-president from
each county as follows. W. A. Lawrence,
c. b. Sheldon, c. II. Stevens, C. NJ Fer
rim, F. A. Roby, r. o. Sturtevant, Edwin
Adams, W. II. Parker Cassius Peck c.
L. Erwin. f. d. Ellis, s. W. Benjamin,
j. T. Moore and j. r. Pember.
On motion Of Il. b. Taft of Burlington
the temporary organization was made the
permanent organization. On motion OF
ex-Gov Stewart of Middlebury the chair
man appointed a committee on resolutions
OF one from each county as follows: j. w.
Stewart, J. G. Mccullough. W. E. Ranger,
G.G. Benedict 2. NJ. Mansur. E. M Brown,
f. S. Fleury, II. c. Fisk, c. s. Emery,
Amory Davidson, G. r. Bottum, r. A.
Hoar. Hosea Mann, jr.. II. w. Vail.
THE FUN BEGINS.
j. K. Darling of Chelsea moved that
all resolutions be submitted without de-
bate to the committee on resolutions. j.
l.. Martin of Brattlcboro moved an amend
ment to except any resolution which may
be introduced relating to the preference
of the delegates, saying that the place
for the discussion of such a resolution
was on the floor of the convention. Mr.
Darling opposed the amendment, saying
that the adoption of such a resolution
would be equivalent TO instructing the
delegation G. f.. Lawrence of Rutland
said that If Vermont desired to express
an opinion for any candidate he saw no
reason why her representatives in this
convention should be ashamed to do so
and let her preference be known through
out the country. d. X. Simonds of Mon
chester opposed the amendment and told
how an uninstructed delegation might
work to better advantage at the scene OF
the convention r. o. Sturtevant of Swan
ton said that this was his only chance to
express his preference for the next presi-
dent and he favored the amendment
Hugh Henry said that the republicans Of
Vermont sent delegates here to carry
out their wishes and express their pre-
ference and he also favored the amend
ment.
Col. Kittredge Haskins of Brattleboro
said we were not sent hero to sit still
and not speak above a whisper. He said
his house was entered by burglars last
August when he was asleep, but he didn't
propose to let any political burglars oper-
ate If he could keep awake. 1t was certain
that Mckinley (great cheering) would be
the nominee and we want some credit in
bringing about that happy result. Lot
us get front seats in the band wagon and
have a hand in nominating the next presi-
dent. He favored the amendment w. E.
Ranger of Lyndonville opposed the
amendment. but It was carried with hard
ly dissenting voice and then the motion
of Mr.. Darling as amended was carried.
MCKINLEY VERMONTs CHOICE.
Hugh Henry of Chester then offered the
following resolution:
While we recognize the wisdom of the
precedent which has heretofore sent out
delegates to national conventions without
tying their hands with positive instruc-
tions and would not break that precedent,
yet we feel we would be untrue represen-
tatives of those who sent us here did we
fail to give voice to their convictions
Therefore be 1t resolved that In the great
apostle OF American protection, William
Mckinley Of Ohio,-we recognize the first
choice of the republicans OF Vermont for
their presidential candidate.
The reading Of t's resolution provoked
great cheering.
The resolutionxswas seconded by Mr..
Lawrence OF RHtaapd In 6efalf Of the
entire delegation from the city and a large
majority of the Allegation frcsA the coun-
ty of Rutland, and was adopted with only
a few dissenting votes. Mr.. Lawrence
then led in givink.thres cheers fcs McKin-
ley.
Mr.. Darling otfered the following resh-
luton, which g. Arlaid upon the fable, on
motion Of ME turtsvant 'of ewlnton: