Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-10
Various Effects of Clement IS Bolt.

If the Hon. Perciva w. Clement could
have foreseen some of the inevitable eff
fects that would follow his action in bolt
Ing the nomination of the State republi-
can convention, he might have hesitated
before taking so important and far reach.
ing step; but while Mr.. Clement is an
able fnancer he has shown himself to be
something Of an amateur as a political
manager, and thoughtful republicans will
naturally hesitate to "hoodoo" themselves
by linking their fortunes with his in what
must be an unsuccessful bolt.
The first and most important effect of
the Clement bolt will be. of course. upon
the Republican party. and the more sue.
ccssful the bolt the more disastrous and
tar-re1chine will be the consequences. If
Mr. Clement, through any unforeseen
event should succeed in winning away
from the regular republican ranks a con-
siderable portion of the grand old party,
the breach thus created would never be-
come entirely healed; and the Vermont
democrats might at last realize their
dream OF political potency in State and
ferred to the doubtful column in presden-
tial gubernatorial and congressional con-
tests, the Republican party will not forget
that the result was due to the recreancy
of Mr.. Clement and those who deserted
with him. from the grand old party
Another important effect of the bolt
whose extent will depend entirely upon
the number of republicans that fail to sup
port the regular ticket, will be the repre-
sentation of the different cities and towns
in the State district and county conven-
lions. 1t is a we'll known fact that the
number Of delegates to which any town is
entitled in any of the republican conven-
tions named is determined in accordance
with the vote cast for the regular republi-
can candidate for governor in the election
two years preceding such convention. II
Burlington, for example, should cast a
heavy republican vote for the boiling tick
ct, it would deprive this city of a large
share of its representation in the various
republican conventions two years hence
and tho greater the number of republicans
supporting the bolter, the greater would
be our loss.
One of the most unaccountable things
connected with the course taken by Mr.
Clement is his apparent overlooking of the
effect which his boiling of the regular re.
publican nomination will have upon tbs
political situation in Rutland county. Only
second to his desire to promote his OWL
| political fortunes has evidently been his
eagerness to thwart the ambition of the
Hon. Fletcher ID. Proctor. There has
been political enmity between the house!
of Proctor and Clement for many years
and Clement has frequently said that HI
would be a candidate for the republican
nomination for the governorship whenever
| Fletcher Proctor entered the field. Glenn
ent has hoped to accomplish the dis
comhture of Proctor through the repub
| lican organization; but by boiling thu
State republican convention he has pu
himself outside of the pale of regular re
publicansm and rendered it forever i'm
possible for him to again get In the patti
of Fletcher d. Proctor; for no regular re
publican convention will recognize Mr.
Clement, no matter whether his bolt b
completely successful through the aid o
the democratic party. or result in igno
minious failure. Mr.. Clement has thu
played into the hands of his political rival
In Rutland county as we'll as in the Stat
as a whole, and 1t can readily be imagine
that his complete overthrow will be mat
ter not without permanent interest t
them.
That Percival w. Clement should thu
SKATER his various political fortunes,
not now a matter for wonderment. 81
weeks ago he was regarded by some indi
viduals as a political genius, for he ha
seized upon an issue and lifted himsel
into a prominence as conspicuous as
was sudden; and his most bitter enemie
would hardly have predicted that he woul
so soon throw away his political chances
When he went to Montpelier with bras
band and made other preparations for
bolt upon the slightest provocation. polit
ical leaders knew that he was weak a
every point where he had appeared strong
and subsequent events only served to con
firm that opinion. Not only did his force
i Oh the door Of the convention show com