Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-06-26
Democrats Do Not Think of De-
livering Party to Mr..
Clement.
M'GETTRICK AND SMALLEY
Their Views on Clement Running indie
pendently-His Local Option Views
Not Enough to Deliver Party to
Him-Will Have Their Own
Ticket.

ST. Adams, June 19.-Felix w. McGettrick
OF this city, a prominent member of the
Democratic party, both State and national,
was interviewed tonight by a representa-
tive of the Free Press regarding the prob
able attitude of his party toward Mr..
Clement, whether 1t would endorse him or
nominate State ticket as heretofore. Mr..
McGettrick said:
In my opinion the democratic conven-
ton VIII nominate full democratic
ticket and enter the campaign on dem.
ocratic platform as usual. Our party has
for twenty years demanded the repeal of
the prohibition law and the enactment of
local option-high license law. Campaign
after campaign we have exposed the rot
tcnness of the present law and arraigned
the Republican party for it's high political
and corrupt administration of the law un-
til thinking people see the justice of our
contention. and now that as result of
long and heroic work. Mr. Clement finds the
popular feeling in favor of adopting the
changes we have demanded, he is APP
parently quite willing to have our party
delivered over to him in recognition of his
conversion to our views on that one Issue
while he still refuses to agree with us on
any of the other numerous issues, equally
important Such surrender would be
cowardly, imbecile politics.
J. .
Col. Bradley B. Smalley was seen Thurs
day night by a Free Press representative
relative TO Mr.. Clements action and ex-
pressed himself as follows:
Mr.. Clement having made the fight up
on a matter of principle could hardly do
otherwise than withdraw from the CON
Ncntion when the principle at issue was
absolutely ignored, for n more wishy
Washy, sensclcss resolution on the pro-
hibitory law question could not well have
been drawn. I have been very much sur
Irised at the feeling shown by the Re-
publican party in the campaign for the
and the very large vote given in favor OF
local option.
"As to whether Mr.. Clement will be
elected. I express no opinion, although |
feel confident that he will get a very much
larger vote than ! thought he could when
he announced his candidacy. I am well
aware that the old time republican ring in
this State has for many years been
despotic in its party management and
has threatened with everlasting punish
ment any one who dared to disobey their
orders. but the caucuses in the last two
months have slaughtered a good many of
the old leaders and given courage to the
younger men in the party so that they nc
longer fear as they have heretofore
III Mr.. Clement shows half the ability
and energy in carrying on the canvass for
the election that he has for the nomna-
ton, it will make the hottest canvass since
1868 when John s. Robinson was elected
governor on practically the same issue
The outrageouslv unfair and almost libel
lcus attacks made by some or the republi-
can papers upon Mr.. Proctor will tend to
drive away a good many voters who would
otherwise support the regular nominee OF
the party.
LAS to what action the democratic con-
Vention will take, have very little opinion
hut | think Mr.. Clement will receive the
almost united support of the opponents of
the present prohibitory law, a law which
can he enforced but is not as can we'll be
seen In this city where favoritism on the
part of the prosecuting and executive Of
ficers. all OF whom are republicans. is tho
rule and not the exception"