Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-10-03

ness and social pursuits. The lesson is
one that should have purifying effect
for the future.
Montpelier never saw a greater crowd
of distinguished people present at the
opening of any legislative session within
the memory of the oldest politicians than
that which filled the hotels, streets and
capitol this week. Practically every
town sent large delegations, and the in
terest in the settlement of the organiza-
ton of the legislature and the election of
a governor was intense. More leading
politicians and statesmen were on the
ground Monday than is usual the night
before the opening of the session.
1t was early evident, as the members
began to arrive, that the latest efforts of
the Clement men to discredit Gen. Nc
Cullough. and defeat him and the repub-
lican ticket had proved the worst BOOM
erang for Clement of the whole cam
paign. Especially did the men from
Addison county resent the dirty insnua-
tions and charges of the Wey bridge
wonder, that the voters of the farest
and best county in the state were venal
and purchasable like sheep and cattle.
Clement might have received few votes
more from Addison county had not this
foul slander been perpetrated in his in
terest and spread broadcast over the
state by his own paper, the Rutland
Herald, thus making him directly
responsible for this uncalled for, false
and malicious attack upon the fair name
and fame of Addison county.
The republican leaders early decided
upon caucus of the members of the leg
islature to settle all questions and to
enable the republicans to organize the
House promptly and without friction.
1t was held Tuesday evening and attend
ed by every republican member that had
arrived in Montpelier except one, who
was i'll. Hon. Horace W. Bailey of
Newbury presided and Charles S. a.
Stafford of Morristown. former Middle
bury boy, was secretary. After a short
and friendly exchange of ideas on motion
of Mr.. Battell, of Middlebury, John ii.
Merritield, of Newfane was chosen bv a
practically unanimous vote as the candi-
date for speaker; I. c. Cheney, of Nor
risville, as candidate for clerk; Rev. Mr..
White of Whiting for chaplain; Emmett
McFeeters, of Enosburg, chairman of
the judiciary committee; ii. w. Bailey
as chairman of the temperance commit
tee. These two committees will have
charge of all liquor legislation and are
thus regarded as being the most import
ant this session.
1t is understood that practically the
entire membership of these committees
have been settled in advance and both
will he controlled by local-option men,
The chairmen are both local-option men,
but both broad-guage men, who want the
wisest and best law framed and passed
one that will commend itself to the
people and be endorsed by them. and
that when it becomes effective will best
regulate and control the liquor traffic
1t will be on license lines This seems to be
the practically unanimous opinion of all
the leading members of the legislature.
The legislature met at 10 o'clock and
organized Oh the lines laid down at the
caucus. The Clement men seemed tC
have lost heart and had no fight in them
their candidate for speaker, l.. IL. Eli:
of Fair Haven, polling only ten votes
John II. Merrifield was elected speaker
of the House by vote of 1876 to G5 fol
Eli II. Porter. Il. c. Cheney of Morris
vile was elected clerk by vote of II,
to 80 for F. p. Carleton of Montpelier
and Rev. II. ii. White of Whiting chap
lain by an equally large majority. The
usual committees were appointed, tn,
rules of the last House adopted and tn,
House was ready for business.
The senate, being small body, organ
lied still more promptly. Senate