Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-07-11
READY TO BE DRAFTED.

Mr.. Clement is getting ready to be
drafted
He apparently believes that the only
consistent man Is the one who changes
his mind He was ready to bolt when
Jones and other braves stalked out of
the convention hall, but before he left
Montpelier he gave the impression
that he was sorry and that he would
not bolt. Then came another change
of heart with signs waving toward a
bolt, until last Thursday, when the
conference at Rutland gave evidence
that the gauntlet was to be thrown
down to the regular Republican nomi-
nees.
What is Mr.. Clement to gain is what
everyone is asking, including many
who sympathized with him and who
supported him in the recent pre-con-
vention campaign but who now count
themselves in the Mccullough ranks.
He contended then that he had not a
personal ambition, but that he was
standing for a principle. The local
option plank in the Republican state
platform is understood to have been
reviewed by him during the intermis-
at Montpelier, and no objection what
ever was made to it by his trusted
lieutenants on the floor of the con-
vention. He apparently won the main
issue which induced him to enter the
fight
Perhaps the attitude of the Orange
and Caledonia county conventions,
and of certain newspapers of the state
in practically repudiating the plank
in the platform providing for referen-
DUN leads Mr.. Clement to believe that
he drew gold brick. Certainly no
newspaper in the state has been more
strenuous and consistent in the advo-
cacy of temperance that The Phoenix,
but this paper believes that the issue
of local option should be met as it
exists The question will not down un-
til it has been submitted to the people.
Let the people of the whole state de-
eide the law. after discussion along the
broadest and cleanest lines. The peo-
pie of Vermont are entirely competent
to govern themselves. The cause of
temperance will not be jeopardized by
a referendum.
With the plank in the state platform
giving what he wishes on the issue
which brought Mr.. Clement into the
fight, what farther? He must either
run as a matter of personal ambition
or must raise the standard of purity
and declare himself as the apostle
ready to purge the state of corruption.
II would never do to let the personal
ambition side appear as a factor. and
the time TO have revealed corruption
was at the state convention, and it will
require more argument than now ap-
pears TO appeal to voters when they
remember that Mr.. Clement recog-
nized the legality of the state conven-
tion to the extent of contesting in it
the nomination for governor.
Suppose Mr.. Clement runs, what
then? Would another spectacular
face to face campaign draw votes?
1t seems doubtful, with Mccullough
having the support of the regular Re,
publicans, and with the Democratic
leaders insisting on a ticket of their
own. The Democrats have good ar
gument in not going to Clement when
they say that, although for years they
have supported high license, their
party does not exist for that issue
alone.
The path between the Republican
camp and the Democratic tent is likely
to prove narrow and devious for Mr..
Clement, but if he wants to run, let
him run and let him have a fair and
respectful hearing.
And the Vermont state golf