New-York tribune., 1902-08-02
THE VERMONT CAMPAIGN

The Democratic State Convention of Vermont
having resisted the temptation to form an alli-
ance with Mr.. Clements bolters and nominated
straight ticket, the livelest sort Of campaign
is now fairly under way in the Green Mountain
State. Whether not Mr.. Clement himself
earnestly favored fusion does not seem 10
have been decisively settled, in spite of much
discussion; but 1t is fact that some of his
strongest supporters opposed such step and
the natural suppostion is that they were acting
on his advice. The argument against a combi-
nation that as a former Republican at the
head of a movement which had its origin
among Republicans he would lose more than
he could reasonably hope to gain BY a Demo
cratic Endorsement, and that the thing to trv
for was such a division in the Republican ranks
as would prevent a choice by the people and
throw the election into the Legislature. At all
events now that there are three tickets in the
field, the sole hope of the boilers is that General
Mccullough will fail TO get q majority of the
votes and consequently be compelled to take
his chances in the General Assembly. Nobody
imagines that he will not have large plurality
and the main question. therefore, is how many
votes he is likely to lose.
To Judge from former records, a Republican
candidate in Vermont afford a heavy loss
In 1900 Governor Stewart received As Al out of
Mccullough could spare more than 1900 votes
and still be safe 1t may be suggested that
1900 was a Presidential year and that it is
unfair to reckon on so large poll next month
the last preceding State election. in 1898 hav-
ing shown a total of only 54,3f6; but there is
no ''off year" quality about the present cam
paign. The State has been shaken for months
by an extraordinarily exciting contest carried
into every hamlet, and unless the interest
should strangely subslde just when 1t naturally
ought to eliminate unprecedented vote is
likely to be cast in September Nor is there
any indication at this stage that General McCul-
Tough is in serious danger. Many of Mr. Glenn
ent's loyal supporters in the preliminary can
vass for the nomination have proclaimed their
disappointment at the course he took in sane
tioning hasty bolt from the convention by
part of his delegates after the high license local
option referendum for which he had been con-
tending had been accepted. 1t is true that Mr..
Clement had raised other issues. On which he
now lays great stress, but as time goes on his
treatment of them does not become more i'm
pressiye His charge that Mccullough dele
gates were purchased in large numbers has not
been proved by affidavits concerning which il
has been pertinently said that men willing TO
swear that they had been bribed may be sus-
pected of willingness TO be paid for so swear
ing. AS for Mr. Clements denunciation of the
general tyranny of political organization with
which he long gladly affiliated, there seems to
be growing impression that 1t is opportune
rather than. heroic.
Mr. Clements perfectly Legitimate fight fqy
the nomination against heavy odds-a fight
which made a closer approach to victory than
anybody expected at the outset-excted much
enthusiastic admiration and increased respect
for his talents; but it has TO be admitted that
his subsequent conduct has savored more of
personal ambition than of disinterested zeal for