Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-17
THE CANDIDACY OF MR.. CLEMENT
(F'rom the Rutland News.O

OEIIIOIl, NtICullCOSn NdS a ROOu start.
THE CANDIDACY OF MR. CLEMENT.
(F'rom the Rutland News.O
The announcement OF the candidacy for
governor Of Percival w. Clement of Rut-
land is regarded by the adherents and sup
porters Of John G. Mccullough of Ben
nington and Fletcher d. Proctor as no
very untoward circumstance in State poll
tics. In Mr.. Clements open letter on the
subject he announces that the issue of ali
issues before the people of Vermont to-
day is the repeal of the prohibitory law
Mr.. Clement says: 1.-THE law Is drastic in
it's provisions and rotten in it's execution,
and as a knowledge of its workings
spreads, feeling of disgust comes over
every man who cares for the honor Of our
State"
There is no question that If the lines of
the gubernatoral contest We're not already
pretty closely drawn that the new candi-
dacy would rally to its support very much
of the anti-prohibitory law sentiments in
Vermont, despite the fact that governor
can do little to shape legislation. AS It
! is, a great many Of the most influential
men and newspapers who favor license for
the liquor business under town local
option system have allied themselves al
ready with the one side or the other of the
Proctor Mccullough contest and, much as
they might like to see the issue drawn on
the question Of prohibition, they can do
nothing but oppose Mr.. Clements move at
this time.
| On this point the st. Adams Messenger,
one of the most strenuous advocates of the
repeal Of the prohibitory law. says: MIR.
Clement cannot hope to win. The effect of
his candidacy would simply be to give
black eye to the legitimate cause of re-
form in the liquor law There are thou
sands of men in Vermont who are work
ing toward the modification OF Fermonts
liquor law to do away with the objection
able features Of prohibition and substitute
the results of modern experience. All this
they hope to bring about decently and in
order. by the education of public sentiment
to the point Of choosing a Legislature that
will make the change The canvass for
the governorship has nothing to do with
this question under the present circum-
stances Nermonts governor has no real
power of veto over legislation, beside. Men
who desire a change in the liquor law can
vote for either Proctor or Mccullough and
still vote for their choice of representative
on the liquor issue in the fall"
, The candidacy Of Mr.. Clement may serve
to direct more attention to the issue Of
; prohibition or high license throughout the
State. But it Is not believed that the lines
!, of the present gubernatorial contest ms
now laid down will be shifted perceptbly
in consequence.
A VERMONTER OF FULL STATURE.
(From the Montpelier Journal)
, BY common assent the Proctor boomers
have dropped every other consideration OF
claim for their candidate, and the whole
pack is in full cry for 1.-The Vermont idea.
Some set out with the proposition that the
man best fitted to be governor should
be chosen. That was solid ground. When
challenged to make it appear that Proctor
the younger was better fitted than Gen.
| 10 tho chief eyacuttya nf the
D State, they relapsed into dead silence
4 stopped talking about fundamental and
e superior fitness, and again took up the
= empty cry, as the Herald and News OF
> Randolph put it. FOR governor. Yer
: monter.'
t Well. Gen. Mccullough is a Vermontel
OF nearly thirty years residence, is he not
A voting tax-paying Vermonter; a Yer
monter largely interested In Vermont en-
terprises that have been of great benefit tt
:, the State; Vermonter who gave for a
= Soldiers Home for Vermont's sick anC
! disabled veterans property valued at $50,
900; Vermonter whose benefactions havC
been scattered over the State; a Vermonte
:. whose varied experience and ability az
= a man OF affairs, as a lawyer. as an execu
- tive, whose attachments and capacity a:
= an eloquent and forceful speaker abund
:, antly qualify him to represent any Stat,
- of the Union in the Senate of the United
States; a Vermonter who has often repre-
scented Vermont with honor and distinction
in national assemblages; a Vermonter VIII,
has long mingled with his fellow Yer
monters in their home gatherings, politica
Il and social; a Vermonter who Is about tn
): first man asked for a contribution to ai'
t. In the national campaign OF his party an
,e who without importantly. parsimony o
y haggling always does more than hi
l. share, a thing that Is true of every goo'
n cause for which his heart, his labors, o
II his money is wanted. The cause doesn'
~ have to wait for a petition-help come
" without asking.
lie What's the matter with such Yer
" monter for governor Of the State? Oh, h
Id didn't happen to be born on Vermont soil
m and he isn't glued to the soil; he Is so bi
It. q man, OF such large and varied expert
n. encs that. while engaged in large busine .
IN enterprises in Vermont and investing her
a: large sums Of money, holding places >