The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-04-02
ARTHUR ROPES General Editor,
WHO Is THE MAN?

The true Republicans of Vermont,
those who love their State, Who be-
lieve in the principles their party
stands for, and who believe that
through the success of that party and
the control of government according
to those principles the greatest good
will result to the State, these Re-
publicans have labor to perform
which, as true patriots they should
begin early and see to it that they
do their work we'll. During the last
preconvention canvass and the bitter
campaign which followed, grave
charges of the use of corruption funds
were made against the representatives
Of the Republican State organization,
and especially against the head of
the Republican State ticket. Whether
these charges were true or false, they
could not fail to have their effect on
the minds of the voters, made as they
were, openly and repeatedly, through
the press and from the platform, as
we'll as by that insidious and more
dangerous instrument-the local but
ton-holing politician. The name Of
the Republican party has been black
ened, the party split, and the success
of that party at the polls imperilled.
The chief cause of this situation of
affairs was the contention over the
liquor question. A great number of
the voters refused to believe the Re
publican party sincere in its declara
ton that it would submit the decision
of the liquor question to a referen-
dun. That question is now settled
The party has fulfilled it's pledge
The bill has been submitted, the peo-
pie have accepted it, and all fair mind
ed people will now desire that license
be given fair trial.
Another cause, and the one that
Vermonters who are loyal Republicans
mu st now attend to, was the war cry
of the Democrats and many Of the So
called Clement men-the charges of
corruption, which grounded or ground
less, cost votes.
What, then. shall the members of
the still dominant Republican party
do to remove this cause of defalcation
from the party ranks? The charges
have been denied and the denial
might be reiterated. But more is
necessary. The next preconvention
A..
those in control and the candi dates
nominated shall be beyond the shadow
of suspicion of any other than hon
orable conduct, If this shall be
done. the voters who left the Repub-
lican ranks last fall because of honest
belief that by so doing they would
be most likely to secure the enact
ment of license law, or because they
believed a ring was in control and
that corrupt ring methods were in
use. but who are Republicans at heart,
though temporarily arrayed against
the party organization, will be found
again in it's ranks. Unwilling to cast
their votes with their party while
under suspicion, if the ses of sus-
picion are removed, they will again
line up with their old comrades. II
any have left the party because they
are not in sympathy with Republican
principles, or because they are jealous
of Others who have received party
honors which they have failed to OBJ
tain, let them stay away until they
become reconverted.
In the meantime be it remembered
that the opening moves in the next
political contest will come soon.
From the east side of the State the
candidate for Governor will be taken.
A man above suspicion, one who in
his past life or present circumstances
shall not be open, by any possibility,
to charge; of vote buying. must be
chosen The canvass for him ought
to be conducted solely on the basis Of
his known qualifications for the offic J.,
Republicans, think it over. Who
is that man?