The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-08-20

Both Of these asked that the proposed
substitute be submitted in order that
the people might vote intcllgently hav.
ing both the prohibitory law and the
law proposed before them. Beievingin
the right of the majority to determine
the action of the state and in the right
of the majority to have opportunity Of
expression the Republican pcrty
placed this plank in its platform in good
faith, with an honest purpose and with
a view to the highest good Of the state.
The unrestricted sale of intoxicants Is
regarded by Republicans as public
evil and by this action of the conven-
ton II is now left first with the legisla
ture and next with the people to de
termine whether this restriction and
restraint shall be found in the present
law, some wise notifications of the
present statutes or license local-option
law.
Mr.. Clement attempts to excuse his
secession from the Republican party and
to Justify his action in boiling the con-
vention when he was n candidate for
high preferment by making a claim OF
bribery on the part Of both Of his cppo-
nents and to such an extent rs to viii
ate the action of that convention
Ge also claims that this charge of
bribery is not new; that It had been
made and substantated by numerous
afiidavits prior to the assembling Of the
Convention. The real value he places
upon these charges and the afiidavits
to support it, is easily determined
The state committee was the commit
tee on credentials. TO them these aft
davits should have been taken and any
Illegal delegates challenged and I'M
seated as surely they would Lave been
on valid proof. But to the committee
he made no challenge and produced no
proofs, neither was there a word said
by his friends i'm the convention inn
pugning its integrity of composition and
it was only after his own candidacy
before the body was hopeless that the
familiar cry of "Stop Thief was raised
by him and some of his supporters.
There were only two contests before
this committee on credentials. One
arose from the claim of Mr.. Clement
that the delegates from the town of Rut-
land. who were present with ere
dentials, should be unseatpd Ind dele
gates favorable to him substituted in
their stead. Mr.. Clements claim was
allowed, and his delegates seated, but
in this case no charge of fraud was
made.
In the other contested case MIR. Elan
ders of Orange was seated in lieu Of the
Clement delegate by the unanimous ac-
ton of the Committee on rnchallenged
and uncontradicted proof that the cleo
ton of the Clement delegate was Sc
cured through the votes Of the Demo
Gratis who, admitting their politics and
demanding the right to vote. were per-
mitted to do so under protest.
In no other instance was the right of
a single delegate to his seat challenged
before the committee or in the conven-
ton, nor was the charge that dele
gates were improperly elected or i'm
properly influenced after election made
at any time before the committee or in
the convention.
His contention of bribery surely does
not justify the bolt from Hon. Zed S.
Stanton, our Candidate for Lieutenant
Governor who had made no pre-con-
vention canvass and had no organized
support, but whose nomination was the
genuine spontaneous tribute IF ma
jority of the Convention to his 'orth.
To those who know General Me-
Cullough this suggestion of corruption
T needs no denial. To those who do not
we are pleased to assure them that
from the beginning to the end of his
canvass he did and cOuntenanced moth
! ing corrupt, dishonorabe or unseemly.
= Dishonesty is frequent charge made
? by defeated candidates in political con-
? tests and Mr.. Clement is simply no ex-
ception.
Throughout the state Republicans
will not fail to recall in whose behalf
' Democrats were brought to the Caucus
/, to elect delegates to the last Republic
r can convention.
4 Mr. Clement has no standing in the
! forum of the people when he poses as
= the uncontaminated representative OF
! honest political action.
To aid in his election Mr.. Clement
has without their solicitation endorsed
. and placed upon his ticket the regular
= Republican candidates for Secretary OF
y State State Treasurer. and Auditor OF
: Accounts. They authorize the State
: Committee to say that they are Repub
Z licans and not in sympathy with any
\ movement that would TEND to disrupt
p the Republican party; that they stand
q upon the platform as adopted by the
n Republican Convention of June 10Th, a
= Montpelier, and for the ticket there
p nominated and for no other principles
I or party; that Number of the Acts OF
Q 1898, forbid the printing upon ballot
{ of the name of any candidate who has
4 declined a nomination. For this rea
n son they have not declined the License
, | LocalOption nomination.
i We confidently appeal to the men o.
Vermont who see in the Republican
i party and its achievements the unex
T. ampled glory and prosperity of oul
state and country, who are proud o.
their little state which has borne NJ
=. mean and trivial part in the progress Of