Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
Two Views Of the Bolt from the Repub-
lican Party.
Nrom the Montpelier Daily JournalO

lican Party.
CFrom the Montpelier Daily Journal)
One of the best reviews of the political
situation presented by Mr.. Clements's can
didacy for the office of governor was by
the Windham County Reformer, independ-
cnt in its political connections and therefore
better qualified to render impartial Judg-
mcnt. OF Clements acceptance of the
nomination of his convention. tho Refor-
mer says:
He declares that he accepts the nomina-
ton In response to a great popular demand
The trouble with the draft of Clement s
is the same as was with Proctors draft.
it is entirely forced. There were some 20
delegates from about the State in atten-
dance at the burlington convention We'd
nesday. 1t is charged that "a large num-
ber If not all these, had their expenses
paid by Clement or his managers. We don {
know how far this is true, but it is evident
that the caucuses which chose delegates
and the so called mass meetings which
have undertaken to push the movement
have all been inspired from Rutland. 1t
looks too much as though it were a per-
sonal ambition of Mr.. Clement rather
than the strength OF the principle he rep
resents, which has brought all this about
Respecting the situation in Windham
county and Clements charge of republi-
can reputation of the platform this view
Is taken:
Here in Windham county the original
leaders of the high license movement,
those whose course at the republican
State convention received the plaudits of
all factions, are not following the bolt.
and it would seem are being forcibly put
aside from the leadership to give way to
the most radical elements In the ranks.
How does Mr.. Clement think he is helping
the cause by all this? He declares that
he has no faith in the republican promises,
but he has been n republican all these
years, and declares that he is one now He
participated actively IN the pre-conven-
ton caucuses. He directed his forces to
participate in the convention until it be-
came evident he could not secure a plat
form that suited him, SO he said then. 1t
is true that two or three republican county
conventions since have declared squarcly
for prohibition, and against the referen-
DUN plank. and 1t is true also that almost
the first attack upon that plank came In
the Rutland county convention, when MI
Clement himself and his leader, Jones,
undertook to defeat Its endorsement there
and to substitute straight high license
plank in place of 1t. This was within n
week after the republican State conven-
ton. What is sauce for the goose is sauce
for the gander Orange county prohlbi-
tionists had as much right to do what
they did as had Clement and Jones to
make that attempt in Rutland county.
Mr. Clements 'joker," in the game Of
bluh he is putting up. the Reformer dis
credits:
Mr.. Clement declares that Mccullough s
nomination was secured by bribery. This
is serious If it be true. The trouble is that
his evidence is not convincing. He has
produced in his newspaper a number of
affidavits from voters in the northwestern
part of the State who say they sold their
caucus vote to Mccullough. They have
NC. ~
roborative evidence and circumstances
as would be required to establish the
charge in any court. From the kind of
men these seem to be, as appears in their
ahidavts, they arc Just the sort that
would sell their affidavit. A man who will
sell his vote for 81 viii sell his affidavit
for 81. Too much money has been spent
in this campaign by all the candidates.
II Is something that the voters should CEN
sure, and something that should be stop
ped. Mr.. Clement himself is said to have
spent $4,000 or 3l5 900. We don't believe
any votes were purchased, certainly not
with Mr., Clements knowledge with any
of this money, but 1t all helps to bring
about a condition Of affairs which we re
greet.
With pertinent reference to the course
in the Legislature the Rcformcr disquali-
res Mr.. Clement as competent critic Of
the administration of State affairs par
tlCulafly IN lne matter or the Increased
State expenses. His attitude In the general
assembly was such as to continue the
extravaganza of which he now complains
as the journal has already shown. Then,
too. he has relentlessly fought all efforts
TO Increase the revenue from corporation
taxes" Rcing n railroad man, affected
by such taxes, he was opposed to the cor
porate taxation law. and the Reformer
reasonably concludes lone would hardly
think OF electing Mr.. Clement governor to
urge or to put through such a measure"
In fact the Reformer finds that. except
In the mooted liquor question-which, ra-
tionally. is the first count in the indict-
mcnt-
Mr. Clement has been opposed to what
the best interests of the State require. He
can't expect the voters to overlook all that.
He has been anything but a friend of organ
lied labor. Whenever It has been in his
power to do so, he has cut the wages and
increased the work Of his employees His
of the Rutland railroad was
not at all fer the public good. but wholly
for private gain.
All of which constitutes a particularly
strong and an entirely true indictment
OF demagogue masquerading in the livery
of reform.
The contemporary. true to its democra-
tic principles. cannot believe the democra-
tic leaders will be so foolish as to abandon
the organization and the principles and
the work they have so long cherished to
crafty the ambition of Mr.. Clement" It
Is still OF the opinion that what we need
Is genuine house cleaning in Vermont,
and it's coming"
PARTY USAGE
(From the Washington Post)
Party usage require of all candidates be-
fore a nominating convention that they
acouiesce In the will of the majority. 1t
was open to Mr.. Clement to have made his
fight as an independent fighting outside
OF the party. and to have won over as