Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-26

to start new towns or nipartns new life
to villages now struggling for existence.
Characteristic Democratic Lamcnta-
ton.
Tho Vermont democrats hoped that the
state republican convention would result
in genuine row over the expansion ques-
ton Such an outcome would have glad
dened their hearts and encouraged them
to make unusual efforts to undertake
their biennial task of cutting down the
republican maiority-efforts which seem
to simply augment the republican vote.
Eut instead OF dividing on this issue re-
publican sentiment at the State conven-
ton was a unit in favor of sustaining the
course pursued by the administration in
the Philippines. The adoption of any 9TH
er declaration OH the subject was not even
seriously considered or discussed in the
meetings Of the committee on resolutions.
It was realized that the Philippines are on
our hands through the conspiring of no
man nor set of men but through the
sequence of events following Dewey's vic
tory at Manila. and that nothing practical
remains but for this nation to make the
best of the situation.
The basis for the vain hope of our dem
oCratic friends for republican dissension
over the expansion issue was the action
taken by a few men in the Brattleboro
republican caucus The democratic Re
former says that resolution taking the
ground OF the Brattlcboro caucus would
have swept the convention and that the
only excuse for not pressing the issue to
a decision in the State convention was
that it would hurt Haskins' chances"
which 1t characterizes as a foolish fear
induced by the efforts OF the Plumleyitcs
TO make capital out of the Brattcboro ac-
ton.
1t would strike any one but a Vermont
democrat accustomed to float with the aid
of a straw that il the sentiment among
republicans throughout the state had
been voiced by the Brattleboro sides how
| it would not have hurt the chances of
Haskins to press the issue to decision
| in the State convention. But even If the
condition OF affairs pictured by the will
O. the-wisp-chasing contemporary actual
| ly existed, a consideration for Haskins
would hardly have had any weight in the
First district, let alone those sections of
the Second district which are supporting
his rivals, for the republican nomination
for Congress. AS matter of fact Col.
Haskins was warmly in favor of decar-
alton in support of the administration. SO
that there is absolutely nothing for the
contemporary to use as a legitimate basis
for its assertion.
With reference to the Brattleboro eau
Gus and the "anti-imperialism" which it
voiced the Bratteboro Phoenix says:
The resolution adopted at republican
caucus in Brattleboro with less than 40
voters present calls out a half column ed
itorial from the Montpelier Argus, which
is moved to say. The Brattleboro repub-
Leans are not of so much consequence
that their actions will embarrass' the adj
ministration but the resolutions may
'embarrass the republicans Of Rrattleboro
by putting them in a position where they
will have to swallow their convictions or
leave the party The Argus speaks from
experience when it takes up the subject
of swallowing one of the biggest exhibit
tons in this line was executed with the
silver plank by the Argus and the demo-
cratic party in Vermont four years ago"
/ In spite of the earnest wishes of our
democratic friends to the contrary the
Bratteboro delegates TO the State repub-
lican convention have not been forced out
of the party, having yielded gracefully 20
the oVerw helming sentiment existing
among the 500 or so delegates present.
The utmost harmony continues to prevail
in the party and so far as the republicans
of Vermont are concerned the Brattie-
boro incident may be regarded as closed.
The esteemed Brattleboro Reformer and
Montpelier Argus can now devote their
attention to the settlement OF the ques-
ton whether OF not the former shall be
restored to full connection with the popo-
d. cratic party or shall continue to be com
PEELED to flock by itself.