St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-08
ORR MONTPELIER LETTER.
The element iasco-Gov.NcCu IIough' :
Message Interesting News OF she D0-
ius~ of the Legislature.

1t NAV be we ! 10 pay a little attention
to the immed ate past, bs'orc proceeding
to a consideration OF the present and
future o legislation. | can't really say
that the smoke ol battle has cleared
away, b-caus. there wasn't any battle.
lis true there was considerable smoke,
but it was al from blank cartridges
There wasn't any engagement, and no
one was injured exc pit in his feelings.
What was certainly expected to be red
hot and haud-to-han enga Remeutturn
out to be thu most gig mt tiasco known
in Vermont political history. Like the
Irisrmans tree toad, it proved to be
"only h--ll of noise Seriously, the
dropping out cf the entire bottom of tie
Clement fight is as astonishing and in
compr,h nsible to the Clement members
and adh rents as to the followers OF
Mccullough. 1t is not and probably
never will he satisfactorily explained and
understood. From the continual uproar
and din kept up by the Clement forces
until the last nom Mt and from the
threats and continued assurances Of the
Rutland Herald The Mccullough forces
had every reason for expecting the worst.
The fact was, however, that the rank
and file of the Clement members were
not in the confidence OF the leaders, and
the leaders themselves had no organic /
ton or program. They simply kept up
the bluff to the last, without any definite
idea OF what they could do, or hope OF
doing anything.
And then the Mccullough army was
ably differed and thoroughly organ'z d,
and had the votes. When the Clement
political one boss shay went to pieces
call once and nothing first just as bub-
bles do when they burst both the regu-
lars and the ants we most vehemenlly
and proanely disguised, the first be
cause they had been SO ludicrousIy bun.
coed and scared without reason and the
latter because they had been ignorantly
led to the slaughter. Their leaders led
| them into a swamp, and lett them to
founder out as best they could. What
the result on the future history of state
politics will be, no ones tries to predict
But the political stream will in time
purify ITSELF and in 1904 will come new
alignment OF forces.
The straight" speakership caucus o
Tuesday night cleared the air, and fol-
the first time unveiled the structural
weakness and nakedness of The opposi
ton. The regulars then gave gasp o
astonishment, and set their Jaws in a de
termination to rush things from tina
hour on. And rush things they did. TIL
program tor the organization of tn
House was rushed through the mex
morning, and that complished not a
hour was lost in cousummating the cleo
ton Of Mccullough and Stanton by tn
joint assembly. All this was done j.
about ten hours of actual session, an
the triumphant and victory-crowned ma
jority declared an adjournment from FIR
day noon to this-Tuesday-afternoon.
Gen. McCulIoughs formal inaugurs
at the session of Friday morning was til
elimination of one OF the most exctn
periods in the history of tie state, an
was an event OF much soIemnity an
deep interest. Having previously bee
declared elected the weary old war hors
was conducted to the bar Of the Hou!
in the presence of the joint assembly an
a vast gathering of intensely int este
e spectators, and the oath was admin
{ tered by Judge Watson of the supren
couIt. The doughty old general a
peared wan and haggard from mu
trlbuIation and many sleepless night
but his nerve was yet with him, and
signed the oath in hand which show
d no varIableness or shadow OF turnin
He then took the chair and read his br
ot but most interesting message firmly al
i. distinctly, The joint assembly listen
It. with close attention, and appeared to
H. i'll cordial sympathy.
n The message assumes that licer
cd law will be enacted asamatter of cou1
g and points out the valuable features
many of those now in successful ope
ton in other states. The gradual re
of real esta from direct taxation
revenue from other sources is earnes
c. suggested, as is also the beginning
m system of abolishing railroad or
'" crossings The message also spoke
,s the apparent necessity OF a stringent
regulating the holding of caucuses.
W. more extensive building OF permar
w. highways was especially urged.
~ recommendation were few, but most
st portant, as above indicated In fact
try message contained q most yalu
Oh bunch Of good and timely advice j
md small space, and all should receive
immediate and careful attention OF
Of lawmakers. Certainly Gov MeCullo
Won Won begins well.
e The bills thus far introduced are a
the the subject OF license law, excepting