The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-06-30
THE HERALD In LINE.

litioal affairs and especially as to re-
cent events in Rutland county. The
Journal prints below the larger part
of the Herald's editorial and will re-
frain from commenting IN any extend
ed manner. LII is to be seen that the
Herald does not accept the results of
the two recent Rutland oaucuses as
proper victories for Mead, or defeats
for its own wing Of the party, but
claims that the result was due to par
ticipation in the caucuses by Demo-
Gratis and men who were not voters.
The Herald charges all sorts of Chi
canery against the Mead forces But
in spite of this the Herald says, 1--WE
cannot afford to jeopardize national is
sues for those OF local interest" and
says it hopes the county ticket will
be elected and that Mead will be nomi-
mated in Montpelier. The Herald is
bitter but it is evidently not blind.
While it's present stand is not all that
could be asked for, yet if it is sincere,
it should be given the credit it de-
serves. Whatever the real purpose un-
derlying this latest pronouncement.
the Republicans of Vermont should
give to it the best possible interpreta-
ton and welcome the Herald 60 the
ranks of the faithful Republicans
LET bYgones be bygones and all start
anew for Roosevelt and Fairbanks and
for the nominees of the State conven-
tion.
The Herald on Saturday spoke as
follows nominally in replying to a re-
mark of the White River Junction
Landmark:
we marvel that so observing pa
per as the Landmark should refer to
'L)r. Mead's victory in Saturday
nights caucus. 1t was not caucus
and it was not a victory; neither is
local option under cloud IN Rutland.
The Mead faction, through it's control
of the city committee, prevented the
purging of the Repu blican check list
and thus cut off all hope of holding a
Republican caucus on Saturday even
ing. June 4. This check list after the
Mead manipulators had got through
with it, contained 3, 4S3 names; while
ers OF Rutland only numbered 1852,
which is a worse showing than the
list of April Is. In this Mead check
list used at the caucus June were no
less than 729 names of persons who
have no grand list at all and are con-
sequently not entitled to vote in ma
tional and State elections. In this
list also are 242 duplicates. Dividing
this number by two and adding to it
the 1923 names of persons who have no
grand list, we have $50 names which
the city committee should have struck
from its party check list. This is
larger number of voters than any town
in Rutland county cast outside o. this
city in the elections in 1902. The
3, 493 names on the check list indicate
population of some 1900, which
everybody knows this city, cannot
boast of.
Over 800 Democrats signed the Re
publican pledge and voted AZ the Jun.
caucus. A few nights later 500
turned up at the Democratic caucus
and outvoted the regulars, who bolted
and reorganized in another hall. The
delegation chosen by the latter was
recognized by the Democratic State
convention. So we have in Rutland
troup of 800 Democratic rough rid
ers, all members in good standing in
the Republican party, ready for the
word of command
The nomination of practically the
Prohibition ticket which was beaten
two years ago was blunder. Look
ing back at the vote at the last cleo
ton, we find that Mccullough re-
ceived in this country 2,S02 votes, as
against 1888 received by Clement.
The local option party beat the Pro-
hibitionists In this county by more
than two to one. And yet in the face
of the situation, the convention offers
as candidates the very men that met
such signal defeat two years ago.
From whence do they expect to get
vote to secure their election? If
stupid blunder deserves victory, if
treachery merits recompense, if ballot
box stuifing, repeating and political
chicanery deserve reward, then the
action of the convention may be con-
sidsred right and proper; but not 9TH
erwise.
Nevertheless, the Herald looks be-
yond the near horizon and takes into
consideration the national arena,
where the hosts of the great political
parties of the nation are met in bat
tie. Looking at the greater issues, the
local ones pale into insignficance. We
cannot as a Republican ignore the
obligation to maintain the sterling
principles or the party. We believe in
consistent tariff for revenue and a
reasonable degree of protection, and
we also advocate the gold standard,
the development of the army and navy
to point of security for the vast in
terests involved, as we'll as the up
building of merchant marine and
the recognition of the rights of both
capital and labor TO cooperate for
their own benefit so long as the rights
of American citizens are respected.
We also approve a foreign policy that
will eventually give to peoples com.
ing under our jurisdiction the SUBJ
stantial privileges of self government.
The nation should grow, not by the
spirit OF conscious and selfish aggres-
sion but by that law of political de-
velopment which influences a nation