Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-07
What Vermont Republicans Did Not

The amount or transformation concern
ing the action of the Vermont republican
convention that has been disseminated
is truly amazing. We have gathered in
the newspaper returns from many parts
of the country and Judging from the wide
ly differing reports OF the proceedings the
republican convention was a sort of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde affair. to the differ
ent CORES pondents. One despatch sent
out made the curious announcement that
the Mckinley resolution having been in
troduced with the effect of showing the
convention to be strongly in favor of the
champion of protection, was laid upon the
table, having accomplished the purpose
for which it was intended.
| As a matter of historical fact the YER
mont republicans not only passed the Nc
| Kinley resolution with an enthusiasm
I that was irreprcssfble, but they were so
eager to express their sentiment on the
presidential question that they pressed
their resolution to a passage Immediately
after organization had been affected and
before any other business had been trans
acted. The resolution tabled was that in
| troduced after the adoption of the Nc
KinIey resolution and 1t was to the effect
that the delegation to the national con-
vention should not be instructed. It's re-
lection therefore had tho effect to empha-
size the Mckinley resolution and to
strengthen the obligation upon the dele
cation to st. Louis to represent the views
Of their constituents.
The esteemed Boston Transcript finds
from the action of the Vermont republi
can convention that
vermont has produced it's quota OF
great men, but 1t has now evidently fallen
under the domination OF politicians who
believe in magnetic leaders to far great
er extent than ever did Hon George +.
IGdmunds whose independence in the
Blaine canvass could not be shaken"
If the Transcript had taken pains to Sc
cure correct information in relation to the
Vermont republican convention 1t would
have learned that the adoption OF reso
luton faxoring Mckinley for president
, was effected in spite of the politician,
instead of In accordance with their wishes
The Reed politicians, who by the way
were in the majority among the promi
nent politicians, opposed the McKinlc!
resolution for obvious reasons.
The leading politicians who favored Nc
Kinley did not want to violate preceden
by hampering the delegation to the ma
tional convention, knowing that the sen
timent In his favor was so overwhelming
that no delegate could by any possibilit.
r misinterpret the wishes OF the republican
/ of the Green Mountain State.
S Tho Mckinley politicians also feare
a that action for Mckinley at this tim
{ might embitter the republicans Of othe
n New England States. for 1t was know
: that the feeling of loyalty to New Eng
s land was very strong, even among thos
: who favored other than a New Englan
r candidate. These were the arguments ad
t vanced, but the great mass OF the dele
!, gates ignored the political leaders. bot
o Reed and Mckinley men and the adoptio
o Of resolution unequivocally for the cham
= pion of protection was the result S
r much for the Transcript talk about Vel
mont republicans falling under the dom
nation of politicians"
Q The Boston Journal ON the other han
discovers in the result that MoKinie
d emissaries have been at work In the Stat,
Il Here is what 1t says:
s 1T is obvious that Major Mckinley
| friends nave been able to enlist on HI
= side in Vermont a good deal OF expert pr
u litical ability. A month or two ago Vel
L. mont was considered to be pretty solidl
n for Mr. Reed. Even Major Mckinley
k warmest partisans scarcely denied It. BIZ
y between that time and the assembling {
the convention Vermont witnessed yer
J. large amount OF skilful and energetI
electioneering, and the logical results bt
r came apparent in the course OF the pre-
"a ceedings at Montpelier"
!. 1t follova from what we sstd with rel