New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-22
vERMONT'S FIERCE FIGHT.
GOVERNORSHIP CAMPAIGN THE LIyELIs
EST IN HALF 4 CENTURY-LIQUOR
LAW AT STAKE aSA

LAW AT STAKE aSA
Burlington. Vt. July q (sFeciaD-The State or
Vermont is about the iveliest political
t, campaign for half century and that viii ps
novelty 20 most OF the present generation. The
State is aroused TO degree and intensity OF
political interest and activity which IL has long
oeen stranger. the people face to face Wits
issues and principles that have been invokeE
with such determination and earnestness IN tbs
history OF the commonwealth and the result is In
more doubt than il has been since 1858. n ohm
;. Robinson. Of Bennington, the last aas7 ,l.ltic
governor of Vermont. elected by legfs-
C AZURE after the failure Of the people e elect
Governor at the polls.
Perctva' ". Clement OF Rutland capitalist anf
uh'H recently president OF the Rutland Railroad<
Nermonts leading railway system. is the man wh1
mas so completely overturned things and II is to-
hlni that those who enjoy hot political fight ars
indebted He has bOIted the regular Republicans
/ convention and been nominated for Governor bye
the vermont Local Option League an organizations
FORMED year or more ago with the avOwed pur-
pose Of substituting a high license. local option
Ia" In place OF the prOhibtory law of tbs.
state Mr. Clement has been the president of the
leaeue' and has shaped It's policy. As representa-
1--WE from the city of Rutland to the Vermont
House OF Represent and as Senator from Rut
Iand County In the State Senate he introduced and
iaDored for the passage of bills involving RADICAL
change in the liquor laws of the State. meeting
VITA defeat each time Thoroughly in earnest and
or unquestiOned honesty OF purpose he has stnce.
won many over TO his way of thinking by the PERI
sstency with which he has advocated his theoryl
ana this In spite of the fact that generally
regarded as a cold, unsympathetic man. Takinr
possession of the Rutland Railroad six Years ago.
when the Central Vermont Railway Company
neglected to pay the rental agreed upon In thes
lease' he made II paying road in spte Of shar1!
competition, and sold IL at profit TO DIR. W.
Seward Webb few months ago. Relieved Of hiss
active business cares. Mr.. Clement entered the,
political field with his characteristic energy anf
has succeeded in shaking things I'D TO a degrees
IN in The -
yet
John g. Mccullough. of Remington who re-
ceived the nomination for Governor at he regulars
Republican convention. is also a capitalist ann
railroad man. Born in Delaware. his early man.
hood spent In California he did not come to verj
mont until he was thirty-eight years old As an
important factor and leading spirit in the reor<
ganization OF the Erie Railroad after the depres-
slons Of 1884 and 1893. he became known in the rail-
road and financial world. In the natural course Cd
events he became interested in other business en-
terprises outside of Vermont. which have occupies
nuch OF his time and attention and which enabled
his opponents in the pre-convention campaign to-
claim that he was not genuine VermOater. Not-
withstandng the fact that he has a winter homes
IN New-fork City. he is probably a director ot
more leading Vermont corporations than other
one man in the State Re married a daughter OF
, the late TrenOr W. Park and makes his home on
an attractive farm at North Bennington He is
always approachable cordial and considerable in
touch with the masses and in sympathy with theirs
everyday pursuits.
Mr. Clement makes his appeal for votes on ths
sround that the Republican leaders are not acting
IN good faith toward the referendum plank in ths
piatrorm adopted at the regular Republican STATED
convention. held In Montpelier on June 10 and ors
the ground that many Of the delegates favorab too
General Mccullough selected by fraud antt
bribery During the campaign which preceded the.
NlOhtpeher convention Mr. Clement made tour.
or the State in his private car. accompanied by a
quartet OF cOlOred singers and made large num-.
Der OF effective speeches. in which he pointed out
wherein the prohibtory law was, in his opinion. al
state. He made many votes for himself and his
first inclined e 10 et hs p eaSa %hSs were S
were were Compelled = ackG9wledge that he was a
the convention than the third candidate Speaker
Redheld Proctor. and il was not until Colonel
rr3Sct0rS name was withdrawn in favor of Gem
latter was nominated The withdrawal Of Colonel
Of the Clement mea, which eliminated in his nom
During the campaign lest spring Mr.. Clement de-
cared he was hshting for principle rather than
PasS In the PLATFORM which requests the State
for ascertaning the will Of the people by direct
vote upon the acceptance or rejection OF license
further providing that upon popular vote in favor
and become % S Gsy @ m i ING same s9 99d %
This declaration was accepted by Mr.. Clements
McCullough's friends now claim that by accepting
the eohTnfo ana gme5 nut IN the b 5s9Rs in
m more o6hgatiors to support the nominee and that
the referendum plank in the platform other than
In good faith. Hence, Mr.. Clement has reasoR
bolt
Mr.. Clen,i.t will undoubtedly get considerable
support from the Democrats. who have for
years favored the repeal of toe prOhibitOry law-
and who opportunity assist splitting the
Republican ranks At the last GOvernOrShip cleo
ton. in 1900 the Republican ticket received IS. al
votes, the Democratic ticket received Il. 129 and
there were I.5lI scattering votes cast. The Rel
publican plurality therefore 81, 312, and the
majority 1913 Under the Vermont constitution
a majority vote is necessary for an election OF
Governor by the people and II candidate red
ce1ves a majority the election devOIves upon tho
legislature II the Democrats indOrse Mr.. Glenn
ent'S nomination NJ their convention in this city
next Thursday the bolters hope win tha
September election. II the Democrats nominate
straight ticket most of the leaders in that
party advocate. the boilers hope to prevent an
election by the people and look to success In tho
legislature II thus ars certain that there
VIII he fight In every town in the State over the.
election of representative, that Vermont II
bound the lveleSt campaign IN her history.
So far the chances of high license bill con-
cerned, General Mccullough has announced that,
he would sign. as Governor, bill on the subject
which the legislature, fresh from the people,
might pass.