Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-06-13

Unions, lie Has Becou. the Idol of the
Populaee.
A Vermont correspondent of the Bos-
ton Herald writes to that paper in refer
ence to the present exciting political
campaign, as follows:
Not in 20 years, or ever, has Vermont
been wrought to that pitch of political
excitement manifested today, and all be-
cause an issue, instead of a parsonage,
has been injected into the canvass for
the governorship by p. W. Clement,who
has crystallized the discomfort, latent
and active, with prohibition and its
workings.
During the 30 years that have elapsed
since the legal traffic in intoxicants
ceased in the state, the fibre of Vermont
people has changed, and instead of
commonwealth of almost pure New
England ancestry there is mixed popu-
lation of many races and divergent en-
vironments, attracted here by industrial
developments. But the new influences
have always lacked leader in political
action.
Matters would have continued in their
wonted way had DIR. Webb remained in
the canvass. There would have been a
spirited contest, Gen. Nc. Cullough would
have won and the magnate of Shelburne
Farms would have been slated for the
honor when his "turn" came. Reasons,
though, made it eXpedient for Mr.. Webb
to withdraw, and for Fletcher Proctor to
he drafted. With the draft came Mr..
Clements opportunity. He had just
disposed of his railroad holdings, was
possessed of wealth, leisure and ambi
ton. A keen observer of men and
affairs, he knew the discomfort of Yer
mont, and, taking the opportunity pre-
sented has made himself in six weeks
the chief factor in state politics.
Few men knew Percival w. Clement
even in Rutland, his home of 40 years
There is nothing of the "hail fellow
about the man. Born in Windsor coun
ty, So years ago, of family noted more
for sagacity than orthodoxy, he has in
creased an inherited fortune of thou
sands to one of millions. A large EN-
ployer of labor, ever an enemy OF trad
unions, yet he suddenly energies the lido
of the populace, and is able to muster
following that causes discontinue t.
men trained to long periods of politica
success. Cold, calculating and distant
he has mustered the vast preponderanc
of his following from the ranks of com
mon people.
As mayor of Rutland with majorit
of the board of aldermen his employees
he reduced the wages of city laborers t
1925 per day and increased the hourst
: 60 per week, and yet three-fourths of tn
. votes cast for Clement at the Rutlan
city caucus were polled by members G
labor organizations.
But back of this rallying to his stanC
ard there is something aside from tn
forgetfulness of the masses, the spectacl
lar effect of car-end addresses and co
ored quartets and the enthusiasm Ell
gendered by strife-it is the novelty c
an issue, the first presented to the voter
. of the state in decades, and a vent fc
the disgust of people with prohibition a
spread before them on "a daily bill {
fare. The personality of the candidat
is lost in the desire of voters to registe
potent protest against sumptuary Ell
l actment that has long since been shor
Of temperance promoting features. Ope
5 bars on every side to slake the thirst {
4 the bibulous and prohibitory enac
$ ment to ease the conscience of othel
s have been bedfellows so long that
e widespread desire for change is man
e fest from Massachusetts, to the Canad
: line. Remote country hamlets al
n vieing with the cities and populol
y towns in the demand for liquor statute
I in accord with popular sentiment, an
s enforceable because voicing the judi
}. ment of the freemen.
The issue will be made in namin
/ representatives, and party lines seel
likely to be ignored in the selection {
the lower house Of the next General A
sembly. Many voters look with fave
i on the position of Gen. Mccullough
e allowing the people to give voice
n their conviction in the selection of I'll
n Legislature, and abiding by the verde
J. This has seemingly saved many ca
n cuses to the Bennington candidate.
S Another cloud on the horizon is IL
/ possible action of the Democrats Glen
: ent will not be nominated at Mon
s pelier. No one expects it. Will col
IS tingency arise warranting his boiling IL
II convention and running as an ind
y pendent high-license Republican with
it Democratic endorsement? Is Mr.. Cler
o ent now shaping matters with the Ell
e in view? 1t is openly limited, and |
men in position to know more thu