Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-07-18
Clements Candidacy.

Perciyal w. Clement succeeded in
convention in Burlington on Wednes-
day. as the pure representative of high
license and local option. He declares
that he accepts the nomination in re-
Spouse to a great popular demand. The
trouble with this draft of Clement S
is the same as was with Proctor 5
draft, 1T is entirely forced. There
were some 80 delegates from about the
state in attendance at the Burlington
convention Wednesday. 1t is charged
that large number, if not all of these,
had their expenses paid by Clement or
his managers. We don't 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 personal ambition of Mr.. Clement
rather than the strength of the prin-
ciple he represents, which has brought
all this about
Here in Windham county the origi-
nal leaders of the high license move
ment, those whose course at the Re
publican state convention received the
plaudits of all factions, are not follow
ing the bolt, and it would seem are
being forcibly put aside from the lead
ership to give way to the most radical
element in the ranks. How does Mr..
Clement think he is helping the cause
by all this? He declares that he has
10 faith in the Republican promises,
but he has been Republican all these
years, and declares that he is one now
He participated actively in the pre-
convention caucuses. He directed his
forces to participate in the convention
until it became evident he could not |
secure the nomination. He secured a
platform that suited him, so he said |
then. 1t is true that two or three Re
publican county conventions since have .
declared squarely for prohibition, and
against the referendum plank, and it
is true also that almost the first attack
upon that plank came in the Rutland
county convention, when Mr.. Clement
himself and his leader, Jones, under
took to defeat its endorsement there
and to substitute straight high Ii
cense plank in place of it. This was
L. Al III
state convention. What is sauce for
the goose is sauce for the gander Or
ange county prohibitionists had as
much right to do what they did as had
Clement and Jones to make that at
tempt in Rutland county
Mr.. Clement declares that McCul-
bribery. This is serious if it be true
The trouble is that his evidence is not
convincing. He has produced in his 1
newspaper a number of affidavits |
from voters in the northwestern '
part of the state, who say they c
sold their caucus vote to McCul |
Tough. They have never yet been V
backed up by such corroborative evil /
dence and circumstances as would be t
required to establish the charge in any I
court. From the kind of men these b
seem to be, as appears in their affida- i
Wits, they are just the sort that would O
sell their affidavit. \ man who will {
sell his vote for 81 will sell his affida- r
Wit for 81. Too much money has been T
spent in this campaign by all the can t.
didates. 1t is something that the vot- u
ers should censure, and something that "
should be stopped. Mr.. Clement him D
self is said to have spent S12, 600 or ii
s15. 600. We don't believe any votes a
were purchased, certainly not with h
Mr.. Clements knowledge, with any of is
this money, but it all helps to bring o.
about a condition of affairs which we W
regret The criticism that Mr. Glenn -
ent makes upon the increased state ex- Fl
penditures, is, as general PROPOSE u
lion. we'll taken. The Reformer long
igo pointed to the danger and has al
ways urged retrenchment and reform. III
But what is Mr.. Clements record 10
lbout all this? =. 1t is not the pur- W
,hase of supplies for the different NJ
county clerks and the different penal te
that has brought about I'll
his increase. The experience of other w
tates shows that centralized pur- III
hasing department is far from being oi
establishment. Corruption 81
much more easily creeps in where We
hings are done on a large scale. We ha
eriously doubt if Mr.. Clements plan ca
7ould work either for economy or for no
be public good. The Waterbury asy- Re,
um has been a tremendous expense. exI