Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-06-13
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES
CAUCUS LAW NEEDED,

CAUCUS LAW NEEDED.
There has been so much talk about
Democrats voting in Republican caucuses
and Republicans voting in Democratic
caucuses that it is hoped the legislature
will pass law at the next session regu-
lating the holding of these primary cleo
tons. 1t has been maintained for q long
time that such law was a necessity, but
the Solons who gather at Montpelier once
in every two years have thought other
wise. Under the Australian system of
voting it will be very hard matter to
define a Democrat from Republican so
that the most law can do is to make a
man elect which caucus he will vote IN,
penalty being made for his voting in
any other. A man may declare his
politics what he pleases, but under the
present system of voting just which side
he takes can never be known. Under
the old system of voting, party caucuses
were in the control of the party, but now
they are not.--Richford Gazette.
5000
We have long looked upon the local
option issue in this state as of the frs
importance. The prohibitory law hangs
like ball and chain from the neck of this
commonwealth, and its repeal is widely
demanded as necessary step toward the
moral and industrial development of Yer
mont: but this issue, vital as it is, sinks
into insgnficance beside the recent reve-
lations of caucus methods. The Repub-
lican party cannot afford to wink at the
traffic in ballots. When the rivalry be
tween candidates is carried to the point
of placing Vermont voters on the auc
ton block, it is time to call halt, and
the delegates elected by the proceeds of
sales made under this hammer must
choose between their personal prefer
ences in the matter of candidates and
their duties as republicans. The local
option sentiment in score of towns has
been beaten down by political Hessians
in the pay of the machine, and the re-
publican party of Vermont is now con-
fronted by crisis as serious as any in
its history. In fact, it has come to this :
Can the republican party beat the ma
chine Rutland Herald.
1000
BEAUTIFUL VERMONT.
Several of the state newspapers have
had considerable to say during the pas t
few years in regard to Vermont as a
summer resort and there is an organiza-
ton on the Champlain side of the Green
mountains to promote the interests of
the state along these lines, but not much
is heard about it. The Telegram be-
lieves that by proper management Yer
mont can be made a successful rival in
competition with other New England
states. Vermont has no sea coast and
she has no White mountains, but she has
the most beautiful lakes, drives, farms,
trout brooks and scenery to be found in
the East We believe the time has come
when the public who have been wont to
spend their summer vacations at the sea-
shore and at the White mountains are
ready to accept change in the old
regime, that the quiet Vermont farm
house or summer hotel is Just what will
please the visitor from the large city who
is in search of needed rest. They must,
however. be approached in a proper and
systematic manner. The whole matter
depends, as does every other business,
upon its advertising and it will need to
, be promoted by able men backed up by
, the united support Of Vermonters who
: are enthusiastic and who realize what il
, means in the way of financial benefit to
, themselves and to the state. The only
way in which the scheme can be pro.
NOTED to advantage is to form an organi
zation and by the support of the entire
state press agitatp the matter in such a
way that every Nermonter will take ar
interest in it. Let every county call a
convention of its own, talk it over anC
elect delegates to attend a state cOnven
! ton, devise means of raising funds, en-
! gaging promoters and Of advertising.
WILL CLEMENT BOLT?
One of the peculiar and signiican
features of the preliminary canvass fol-
the republican nomination for the goveI
norship, is the persistent perdiction tina
Percival w. Clement will run as an in
, dependent candidate If he is not nomi
, mated by the republican convention. l.
the agitation of this question were con
: fined to any particular circle, it nigh
not call for serious consideration, bu
2 at present 1t seems to be in the air al
though the convention has not been hel(
= and no excuse for bolt has presented
5 itself.
. 1t is to be noted that various anti.pro
, hibition papers are seriously discussing
- tins phase of the governorship contest
One of them that has been supporting
t pI ohibtionist speaks of the Showing
S made by Mr.. Clement, and after saying
!. that many Vermonters who have pinned
S their faith to him out of sheer principle
4 and will insist that he fight to the bite
y end or to victory, adds: "Of course, thi
, suggests the probability of his runnin!
: as an independent candidate for the gov
ernOrship, II he Is not nominated by tn
I convention" Another, license paper
5 which has also been supporting a pro
hibitonist for the governorship, print
a an editorial under the heading, xvii
n Clement Bolt" and it argues that tn
q course being pursued by the Rutlan
Herald can mean nothing else "than
bolt.
Under these circumstances It woul
seem to be fitting that Mr.. Clemen
x should state what his intentions are i
l. relation to his attitude toward the stat
# republican convention. He knows nov
If whether he intends to abide by the dc
q cision of a majority of the convention o
= not. If he has already determined t
= bolt provided he does not secure tn
Ic nomination, or if the platform does 10
r accord with his ideas, he has no politica
1T right to go before the convention, bu
L. we helieVe he Is tnn good q nOliticia