davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
GO THOU AND DO LIKEWISE.

Read Honest John Merrifeld's letter
on this page. 1t is as clear and
wholesome as the mountain air the
writer breathes And go thou, every
voter, to the caucus of your town and
cast your ballot for delegates who will
vote to nominate Honest John G. Nc
Cullough for Governor. The reasons
for such action can hardly be more
admirably stated than in Mr.. Merri-
fields letter. He appeals particularly
to temperance people with whom may
still abide any objection to McCul-
Tough.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
Summer Tonic for the Aged

Those who have passed the prime
of life always feel the reed of a tonic
in summer. BLOOD WINE puts new
life into those who have already
begun to lose courage. BY devel.
oping a healthy appetite, aiding
digestion AID building up the sys.
tenn, BLOOD WINE has saved many
lives. Why not try it2 For sale by
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
HARD NUTS
For Prohibitionists to Crack. How
Some Are Allied With and Help
ing on the Cause of License.

The man who is canvassing por-
ton of Orleans county for Proctor and
who is telling the temperance people
that Mccullough is not safe on the
temperance question has in the past
been opposed to the present law.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Charles T. Grout, nephew and pri-
vate secretary to General Grout in
Congress, is one of the leaders in the
Clement high license club at Bellows
Falls, and is working night and day
to carry the town for license.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

x-Governor Circuit is straining ev-
cry nerve in Orleans county for Proc
tor, and it is conceded that he can
carry Derby for any one he chooses,
as he did for d. H. Lewis for State
treasurer, when the rest of the coun-
ty was for John l.. Bacon the present
incumbent and if Gov. Grout could
have had his way the man who stole
the entire Vergennes bank would have
had an opportunity to handle the mil
lions of the State
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

towards the assistance of the govern
ment in its hour of peril. That letter
was highly commended by the Repub.
lican newspapers of the State almost
without exception, nearly all paying
high tribute to the writer. Upon his
withdrawal from the contest Gen.
Mccullough received numerous letters
from prominent Republicans from all
sections of the State expressing their
good will and assuring him of their
support for his candidacy in the fu-
ture.
Taking these expressions or guuu
will that so freely came to him to be
sincere and honest, Gen. Mccullough
in due time again announced his can
didacy. Has he any right to be in
this contest? We are told not. 1t
strikes me differently. l am for him
because ] believe that a political
promise made unsolicited is as sacred
as any other and should be kept. am
for him because | believe that Ben
nington county, which has not had a
Governor during the time that Rut-
land county has had three, is certainly
entitled to the assistance of Windham
county in return for the assistance so
freely rendered us in the past. / am
for him because l believe that in this
contest he has been shamefully abused
and belittled by some of the newspap-
ers of the State. | am for him for
many other reasons which have not
space to mention, and as a temperance
man, whose loyalty to the cause has
never to me been questioned, l shall
go to the Newfane caucus next week,
if | live, and cast my vote for him,
willing to assume all responsibility
for the loss of sleep or trouble of CON
science which shall come to me as the
result of such action.
]. H. Merrifield.
Newfane, May %, 1902
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
EAST CALAIS.

The regular service was omitted last
Sunday because of the Memorial ser.
vice at North Calais.
Oakley Meader has moved from
Sam Meader's to the Bills house
known as the Remington place.
DR.. f. j. Gale took Miss Lizzie Fay
to the hospital at Hanover, N. H., for
treatment last Saturday.
Moscow Lodge of Good Templars
are to entertain the next district
union, the time to be the afternoon
and evening of June II.
The Universalists of this town have
engaged Walter j. Coates of st. Law.
renee University to preach for them
again this year during the summer
vacation.
Otis Slayton, who has lived at John
Gilmans, the past two years or more,
was taken to the townifarm last week
Mr.. Slayton is eighty-two years old
and in feeble health
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
SOUTH CABOT.


Mrs. D. S. Hall has been i'll during
the past week.
Minnie Swain was home from Marsh.
field over Sunday.
Those who were called here by the
death of Mr.. Houghton were Warren
Hanscom and wife of Lisbon, n, H. g.
Don Houghton of Barre and Mrs
Henry Smith of Lyndonville.
1t was with sadness the community
heard of the death of James Hough-
ton, who, after a severe illness of elev-
en- days passed to the Great Beyond
last Friday at the home of his SON
inlaw, W. G. Hanscome, where he had
lived the past few months. His last
days of suffering were borne with pa
thence and Christian fortitude and he
thought more of the welfare of others
who so tenderly cared for him than
for himself. Mr.. Houghton had be-
longed to the Methodist church for
about forty years where he had al
way labored hard for the Master s
cause. He would have reached his
sixty eighth birthday June IL. He
had been married forty-nine years last
March. A large crowd of friends
and relatives from all the surrounding
towns met at the home of his son,
L o. Houghton on Sunday to pay
their last respects to the departed.
Rev. Mr.. Ryan of Peacham preached,
assisted by Rev. Mr. Manning of
Marshfield and the Mars z ID choir
sang some very appropriate selections.
He was laid to rest in the cemetery
near his sons. Mr. Houghton leaves
a wife, four sons, Silas, Leonard,
Herbert and Willie, also one daugh-
ter, Alice, the wife of W. A. Hans
com, and host of friends to mourn
his loss. The family have the SYM
pathy of all in the sad hours of their
bereavement.
James Loveland started Monday for
Dickinson Center, n. Y.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
NORTH MONTPELIER.

Brock Sployd has returned from
East Roxbury where he has been at
work in the creamery for Guy Ban
croft.
Charles Warren of Waterbury pass
ed through this place Friday with his
automobile.
Edgar Pray has a new wall under
his barn. The masons finished work
last Friday.
Arthur Templeton has finished
work in the Creamery and Henry
Gate has taken his place.
W. G.. Nye and Blanche Moorcroft
spent Thursday in Barre.
George Kelton and wife were in
Montpelier Thursday.
Laura Gray spent Saturday and Sun
day with her sister Bessie.
Miss f. NJ. Hanson will close her
millinery parlors here for the season
on Thursday of this week.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

General Circuit, very quiet now as
to the governorship contest, espoused
the cause of DR.. Webb and worked
with Percy Clement to carry the State
for him
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Proctor-Proctor of Proctoria met
the enemy at Brattleboro, Saturday
night and he is theirs.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

The report was sent out from Wash.
ington early in Proctor's canvass to
the effect that the Senator was saying
that he knew nothing of "the boys"
plans, that he was running his own
canvass and he guessed the boy was
able" Nevertheless, the federal Office
holders in the State who had been
supporting Gen. Mccullough i'm
sediately turned away from him and
enlisted under the banner of 1.-THE
boy" when the great Landslide"
that was to rush him onward to the
Governors chair was loudly heralded
in March.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Mccullough men are regarding with
complacency the result of the caucus
es up to date
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

If great cold turned our atmosphere
to liquid air, it would make a sea
thirty-five feet deep over the surface
of the whole globe.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Dew falls on yellow surface more
readily than on green. On red and
black it will notlusually form.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Proctor owns Proctor, He makes
and unmakes the officers his suzerain,
the State of Vermont, provides for
the administration and execution of
law. Proctor chooses the listers of
Proctor. Proctor appraises the prop
ertv of Proctor for purposes of taxa
ton, and Proctor makes up the grand
list of Proctor. Proctor is a law unto
Proctor The government of Vermont
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
isn't in it" at Proctor The subject
is above the suzerain.

What is the effect on the State and
individuals of the condition of affairs
briefly considered above? Proctor's
appraisal of his property for purposes
of taxation must be admitted to be
merely nominal. Its property grand
list, less than $40, 000 it is clear
ought to be many fold that sum. 1t
is on about the level of Barre town,
Mortified and Waterbury, in Wash
ington county The State tax of 1900
was 10 cents on the dollar of the
grand list BY reducing his grand
list to a merely nominal figure Proc
tor shirks State taxation. The bur-
dens of the other towns are CORE
spondingly increased. He also avoids
contributing his lawful share to the
five per cent State school and State
highway taxes The poorer towns of
the State are thus deprived, in a very
considerable amount, of the benefit of
the fund devised for their assistance.
Here is abundant food for reflection
for the voters of Vermont.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

The Winchester bushel, which is
the standard for the United States,
contains 2, 100 AZ cubic inches.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
SOUTH WOODBURY..

There were no preaching services
here last Sunday, the pastor and peo-
pie attending the Memorial sermon
preached by Rev, Effie K. Jones of
Barre at North Calais.
George Angel, an old resident, who
had been confined to his bed for some
months died of heart failure Nav rs
and was buried the following Wednes
day S rvices were conducted by
Rev. Mr. Coolidge.
Mrs. Frank Batchelder was confined
to her bed last week threatened with
pneumonia. She is some better.
Albert Durham, who has been hav.
ing an outing for the past two weeks
at Caspian Lake returned home on
Sunday.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Or will not the Freemen of Yer
mont rather prefer for their Chief
Magistrate, John G.. Mccullough, who
has discharged every duty of citizen
ship fully and honorably, bearing his
just share of the public burdens and
giving with liberal hand to every
cause, seeking or unseeking, that mer-
its assistance? Who stands out alone
in his manhood, apart from rings and
combines, brutally assailed by tile
tools of rings and combines, untram-
melled by compromising pledge or as
ISOLATION, the benefactor of his State,
the friend of his fellow men, the gen
erous supporter of every good thing?
THEY WILL
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

In the first speech Percy W. Clement
made in his campaign he stated that
the reason he did not become a candi-
date earlier was because hs knew that
DR.. Webb (who was brought out as
candidate by Mr.. Clement), was for
high license, but that when he with
drew, there was no one to represent
that idea.
The leading newspapers which are
supporting Mr.. Proctor are high IL
cense papers.
Ex- Governor Woodbury., who is now
claiming to be for prohibition and is
a supporter of Fletcher Proctor, in
1900 interviewed members of the Yer
mont Senate and advised and urged
the passage of high license bill.
What will the temperance people of
the State say if Percy W. Clement
should have the balance of power and
should use it to nominate Proctor
in return for plank in the platform
for referendum on the liquor law?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

-Four years ago in the governorship
contest between Gen. Mccullough
and Col. Smith the larger part of the
Windham county Republicans favored
the latter, the preference doubtless
being because of the fact that the
railroad and some other interests of
the county would be better con.
served by the latter's election, On
April 4, 1898, when our relations with
Spain had assumed serious aspect,
Gen. Mccullough unexpectedly with
drew from the contest, writing a let
ter in which he stated that he was
unwilling to engage in contest at
that time when the efforts of all true
Republicans should BIZ directed
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

The question was recently asked me
how as a supporter of the prohibitory
law l could consistently vote for Gen
Mccullough in view of his attitude
on the temperance question. His at
titude as referred to by the proponent
was doubtless based on his answer
to the well known DR.. Ruslow letter.
In this letter Gen. Mccullough does
not state his personal views, but does
state in an explicit way just what
course he will adopt on all constitu-
tional bills sent him for approval.
This statement is platform identi-
cal, without question, with that on
which Mr.. Proctor stands. The sub
stance, then, of the platform of each
is that if elected he will sign such
constitutional bills as the legislature
may send him. Where then this
difference in looking at the question
from the only practical standpoint?
Mr.. Clement, the license candidate,
SAYS that Gen. McCullough's letter
was case of political suicide. By
this he probably means that it was not
properly framed as a vote catcher. 1t
could have probably been worded bet
ter with this end in view. 1t is APP
parent to all that it would have been
to Gen. Mccullough s political advan-
tage to have framed the letter differ
emily. The fact that he made no bid
for the support of any particular class
is not to be taken against him, from
my view point | don't question the
right of others to look at it differently.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
For other editorial articles see page three
MORE ABOUT THE BORO' OF
PROCTOR.

The boro' is an anomaly in the Yer
mont body polite. The more the con-
dition of affairs political there is
studied the more interesting and
curious the situation becomes. The
place has long been considered by the
outside world as sort of Yankee
Arcadia. The illusion has been dis
PEELED by the unpoetic nature of a
fierce political canvass. The bright
sunlight of publicity" is streaming
into the boro' and this Arcadia, too
is no more. What has been developed
stimulates investigation and further
curious conditions are existent. Some
of these appear below
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

This signature is on every box of the genuine
Laxative BrOmO-Quinine Tablets
the remedy that cures cold I'm one day
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Now, at this distance, it appears
singular that the real estate of Proc
tor, which includes marble quarries
whose 'value in money" as the list
ing law prescribes, must be some mil =.
lions of dollars, is appraised at only
SS76, 977. There are, also, the extern
sive buildings of the Vermont Marble
Company, the residences of the pro-
prietors, the dwellings for an army of
workmen, and the farming lands. The
value in money of this real estate,
on the basis of the settlement of
solvent estate, as the law directs, not
on that of auction sales of the prop
erty of bankrupt, the listers of
Proctor swear is only 1876, on And,
most surprising of all, they further
make oath to the correctness of the
personal property appraisal ($109, 693)
Of corporation having a capital of
5 3, 800, 600, having also hundreds Of
thousands of dollars in machinery,
tools, stocks of goods, and hundred
other kinds of personal property, say.
ing nothing of taxable individual as
sets. The, proprietors of Proctor are
not poor men, They rank with the
millionaires. The Vermont Marble
Company is not believed to be in
financial distress. 1t has taxable
property of vast amount. There is
no public evidence that it is so debt
ridden as to be able by lawful offsets
to reduce the appraisals to these rela-
lively petty figures.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Is there any doubt then that, wheth-
or Mccullough or Proctor is elected,
each would take precisely the same
course in temperance legislation as
would the other? Where, then the pro-
priety of challenging the loyalty to the
cause of temperance of any man who for
reasons which he counts good prefers
to vote for the Bennington candidate?
Why make the representation and send
1t broadcast that Mccullough and
Clement are portions of one serpent
intent alike on striking death to the
prohibitory law? This charge should
have conclusive answer in the fact
that in the two caucuses that Clement
has carried thus far the contest,
which in each case was a close one,
was between the Mccullough and the
Clement forces.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

The Vermont Marble Company is
the corporate title of the Proctor bust
ness interests. Its capital is 50, 800, =
600. 1t is a singular circumstance
that until last June this was foreign
corporation. Why was this, and why
was it so recently domesticated? Was
it made and continued foreign cor
poration to save the franchise tax of
$50 year under the corporation tax
law of Vermont: Or to shield it from
the meddling of the Vermont Legisla-
ture? Or what was the reason why a
charter from the Legislature of Yer
mont, under Vermont laws, was not
good enough for the Vermont Marble
Company?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Reference to the statistics published
in the appendix to the session laws of
1900 will show to the interested in
quirer that Proctorboro' had, by the
appraisal of 1900, polls Sll58; real es.
tate, 1899 acres, appraised at SS76, or +;
personal property appraised at S109,
1913; aggregate, $685. $40; one per cent
Of which, constituting the property
grand list, S9,S66; adding polls, the
grand list for State taxes was $11,
U24
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

In 1888 the town of Rutland was
first placed on the carriage of the
Legislative buzz saw and the Suther-
land Falls region stabbed off-at the
instance of the Proctor interest -
which then became the boro' of Proc
tor. In the subsequent course of
events West Rutland and Rutland
city were cut off from the parent
town Proctor became. boro' of 39S9
acres, comprising some of the largest
and most valuable marble properties
of the Rutland district. These quar-
ries the Proctor interest owns. This
interest has, also, become the owner
of the great bulk of the real estate of
the boro', including the farms We
are Informed that there are practically
only forty families in the town of
Proctor that own any real estate
This statement shows how complete
ly Proctor has absorbed Proctor.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

AS to the second inquiry, Why was
this Marble Company so recently do
mesticated? Was its domestication
made in view of the then impending
candidature of Fletcher d. Proctor
for the governorship? Was it's do
mesticating an act precedent to and
preparatory for the exploiting of the
Vermont Idea" Was the original
line of opposition to the candidacy of
John G. Mccullough then planned and
this stumbling block removed?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Comment and enforcement on this
aspect of affairs in Proctor are not
necessary. The Freemen of Vermont
ought to be able to see between the
rungs of a ladder Is Proctor the man
they want for Governor?
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

A phase of this matter of taxation
in Proctor is unique. Proctor owns
Proctor. The highways, water and
drainage systems, and all the other
public institutions of the boro' are
practically his and for his benefit. 1t
would seem that he ought to pay the
cost of providing and maintaining
them. The tax rate in Proctor is 81. Go.
Thus every workman of the Vermont
Marble Company who is assessed a
poll tax is made to contribute 50. 30
yearly to the expense of running"
Proctorboro for the benefit of Proc
tor 1t is like a farmer, owning a
farm of 1000 acres, levying on his
workmen to pay the cost of the roads,
aqueducts, fire insurance, etc, for
carrying on, conveniencing and pro-
tecting his business and property.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28
McoULLoUGHs CANDIDACY.
Forceful Endorsement by Honest
John Merrifield.

John H. Merrifeld, clerk of Wind.
ham county court, ex-clerk of the
House of Representatives, member
of the House for two terms and SEN
ator from Windham county in the
Legislature of 1896, writes the Phn-
nix of Brattleboro strong letter sup.
porting the nomination of John G..
Mccullough to the govenorship and
giving the reason for the faith that is
in him. John Mortified is so well
known for his probity, for the sound
ness of his judgment and the SINGER
ity of his motives, that he earned the
title in public life of Honest John
Merrifeld. " 1t was the Waterman
and Journal which first gave him this
title that used to fit him so becoming
ly, and now the Watchman and Jour
nal is pleased to know that he still
maintains his right to this enviable
distinction. Subjoined is the substan-
tial part of Mr.. Merrifeld's letter
which we commend to careful and
candid perusal:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

Col. Fletcher d. Proctor in his sec
ond letter does not say that he would
disapprove any constitutional bill
that the Legislature might pass. Why?
Because as an experienced legislator
he knows that while the Governor is
given the veto power by one article of
our constitution that power is COM
pletely nullified by another article
permitting the two branches of the
Legislature to pass bill over veto
by bare majority of each branch.
Thus If bill is passed by majority
of one vote in each branch, the bill
could be passed over a veto by the
same majority of one. For this rea-
son the Governors of Vermont have
been very sparing in the use of the
veto power, rarely usi ing it except in
cases where the constitutionality of
bill is involved. So Jealous in fact
is our Legislature of any encroach-
ments on what is considered its pre-
negatives that in recent years the
mere suggestions of the Governor as
to the merits of impending legisla-
ton have often been received by the
Legislature with scant courtesy. So
Col. Proctor of course does not state
that he would veto high license or
local option bill. Why? Because he
knows that should he attempt such
course in regard to any constitutional
bill relating to this question, or any
other, his veto, in all probability,
would be as Intellectual as would have
been an attempt to have stopped the
wave of fire that carried destruction
to st. Pierre.
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-05-28

1t is said that he did not vote on
the license bill when he was men,
Der of the Senate. However this may
look to others as showing him an un-
safe man to elect to the governorship,
/ will say that it has no terrors to me
in view of the fact that up to the
close of this heated canvass the search
lights of his opponents, always turned
on, have not brought out single
scrap of evidence that Gen. McCul-
Tough is other than temperance man
in theory and practice, and promoter
i'll large measure of every good cause
i'll his community. am not one who
shares the apprehension of many sim
cere friends of temperance, whose
views 1 do not question, that Col.
PROCTOR would be safer man than
Gen. Mccullough to place in the Gov
ernor's chair, for the reason that he
would better be able to obstruct legis-
lation adverse to the prohibitory law.