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

III hCCullOuku utltRdIt, anu IIldI
was the general understanding of the
Mccullough supporters in the town
of Orange; that during the day /
went over to the Griffin mill, so call
ed, to get the voters out to attend the
caucus, and on my way back it was
raining and | stopped at the home
place of Charles Mills in Orange;
while there | was approached by one
Harlow Smith of Montpelier who,
after talking with one Oscar Peak
awhile, and while | was in the barn,
approached me aud said 81 under
stand you are going to be one of the
delegates for Mccullough. " / told
him that was the understanding. He
wanted to know how much / would
take to go into the caucus and let the
Mccullough and Clement men vote
for me, to elect me as a delegate, and
then go to the State convention and
vote for Clement for Governor; he
said thatshe was ordered to say any
amount that was necessary, and for
me to name my price, and that l
need not be afraid as he had plenty
of money to pay me. l told him that
neither he nor Mr. 9 lement had mon
ely enough to buy my vote, and he
then said, eve don't want any hard
feelings about this - and then / told
him, he didn't want TO undertake to
buy my vote, and he then said, Don't
say anything about this to anyone,
let it go as it is. ~
further depose that week from
the Sunday following the Sunday
after the caucus in Orange, was at
the home of Oscar Peake IN Orange
and that Mr., Peake informed me
that just before Harlow Smith spoke
to me in the barn of Chas. Mills, that
said Smith spoke to him, and asked Mr..
Peake if he supposed he, Smith, could
buy Mr.. Flanders vote over on to the
Clement side that he, Mr. Peake,
did not think so, but that he could try.
| further depose that | was at the
caucus and that ten Democrats voted
votes were challenged, and that they
were asked whether they were Re
publicans and they said that they
were Democrats, and always had
been Democrats, and that they had a
right to vote and were going to vote
! their ballots were taken under protest,
names written down, and they all
voted for Clement delegates, and the
| ballots, and the names were subse-
quently taken before the committee
on credentials
r. G. Flanders.
@. O. Peake of Orange deposes that
he was approached by the person
named in the Flanders affidavit and
asked if he supposed he could buy
Flanders vote over on to the Clement
side 2" Mr.. Peake replied that he
did not think Flanders could be
bought but the inquirer could try.
Enos Felch deposed and swore that
the Clement agent offered him 81 for
his vote land in consideration of
said sum of money received by me l
did cast my vote for Clement dele
gates at the caucus.
N S. Cutler of East Orange depos-
ed and swore that he was offered 81 to
attend the Orange caucus and vote
for Clement delegates
Three others made similar affidavits
Charles A. Smith, the acknowledged
representative of P W. Clement in
this city, was seen today by Journal
reporter and asked his opinion of the
charges of bribery in Orange. Mr..
Smith knew nothing about the Orange
caucus matter until on the Sunday
following when Harlow Smith asked
him to telephone Mr.. Clement that he
had secured one delegate and would
have had the other if things had bee IL
conducted right at the caucus. While
out of town, two men of Orange had
come to see him about the caucus in
that town. They were referred to H.
NJ. Smith, who with W. A. Ellis
went to Orange on their own response
bility and without instructions. Per-
sonally he knew nothing of what was
done at the Orange caucus, but he
did know if any money was used it
was without the sanction of Mr.. Glenn
ent or himself, as the former had been
most emphatic in his instructions that
no money be expended except for
legitimate expenses, that no exorbitant
prices be paid and that in no case
should liquor be furnished
The Barre Times reached Mr. Glenn
ent at Mortified on Thursday even
ing before the rally. Mr.. Clement
sent for G. A. Smith. Clement was
i'll very excited state of mind. He
asked Smith who this Harlow Smith
was, and if he had been given author
ity to do any such work as claimed III
the affidavits. Mr.. Smith had not
Clement insisted that the matter be
sifted to the bottom
Mr.. Clement sent for and closely
questioned Harlow Smith who was
attending the Clement meeting. He
denied seeing Mr.. Flanders, except in
the Mills barn, to have any talk with
J him and said the whole was dam
nable lie. " Mr. Clement questioned
Mr. Smith about an expense item of
Sc. Smith said he had to pay that
sum for a man and team to bring
three Clement men to the caucus.
Mr.. Clement thought the price
rather large for Legitimate expenses, "
even if the man had to go seven
miles and lose part of a days time
Mr. Clement told Mr.. Smith( H. M
to start today and go to the bottom of
the matter as quickly as possible.
G. A. Smith said to the reporter,
with emphasis, Il am glad my skirts
are clear of any such conduct in this
campaign. / have not received, my
self, or authorized the payment to
others, money for any illegitimate
inducement to join the Clement
cause" Orange was a peculiar town
in regard to politics and for this
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