The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-08-13
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
WAKE up

Is there a State comittee? Is there
a chairman of State committee? Or
did both become extinct after that Gull
mination of brilliant achievement,
the organization of the late Republi-
can State convention?
The State campaign, which was to
be undertaken with dispatch and
pushed with vigor so soon as its final
direction should be given by the ac-
ton of the Democratic State conven-
ton, is still in camp 1t venture d
out for target practice in McCul-
lough's home county, but what of
the aggressive movement" that was
to be made against the enemy here
and there in the field of operations
where the hard fighting must be done !?
Not a gun has been fired, and only
about three weeks for campaigning
remains.
How is it in Montpelier? Has not
the lesson OF the May caucus been
learned? Is the Turk still dreaming
of the hour when his enemy's knees
will bend in suppliance? And mean
while is Marco Bozzaris Industrious
ly training his fusion bands to repeat
the scoop of May 21?
On that occasion, as on others in
the local political history, the men on
the firing line who had pushed the
fighting till victory was in sight,
when the final charge was sounded
found that the voters were either in
bed, or Indifferent, or anywhere or
anything else but at the polls and vot-
ing-and the promised victory perched
on the banners of the other fellow.
Are the fighting men again to have
their ardor dampened, their hopes dis
appointed, their courage broken by
the tactics that in cushioned chairs,
in the seclusion of comfortable coun-
Gil chambers, wins victories by
finesse, that counts its political
chickens before they are Matched? Or
is there to be in the open field the
resolute hand to hand fighting that
wins real victories? If that is the
case it is high time the battle was on
and some of the batteries the organi-
zation is said to have parked for the
campaign were opening up, and their
work supplemented by vigorous in
dividual and organized labor, not here
in Montpelier and Barre only, but
everywhere else in the State, in every
city or village, or at every cross roads
where hundred people can be gath
cred together.
The game of politics is something
more than game of euchre-but the
bigger game is sometimes played as
if it were a matter of shutting the
cards, cutting and dealing In re-
spect of this city and county, Mont
pelier and old Washington shrievalty
can put up good fight and win it
particularly when the stakes are local.
But city and county must understand
and appreciate their reciprocal oblig-
ations, and with effective zeal and
uutllly ODSeINe uHSu. Ere tlllS tHcIt
ought to have been a speaker on every
stump in Central Vermont. In Mont
pelier and Barre, in Rutland, Burling-
ton, ST. Adams, Newport, St. Johns
bury, Bradford, Randolph, White
River Junction, Windsor, Bellows
Falls, Bennington, the centers of
population within the precincts of
spunky Lamoille, gallant Essex and
the islands of the. lake county, the
best speaking talent of the State Re-
publican party ought to be preaching
the gospel of true republicanism as
applicable to the situation existing
within the borders of its foremost
exemplar.
The enemy is up and doing. Gen
eral Apathy seems to be in command
of the Republican forces.
Montpelier and Barre need not go
abroad for the most effective campaign
artillery. Here are prophets high in
honor in their own country. They
ought to be called at once to the
platform and the stump. If we wait
for the State committee we may wait
too long. Delay is dangerous.