Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-09-28
CLEMENT AS A PRoolGAL.


charge that Mr. Clement is a tfaito
20 the Republican party, because o
his unwarfanted bolt in 1909. woule
have great influence now for The
reason that he was recognized by the
state committee in last years cam.
paign. n liberal subscription was
accepted from him by the state con-
mittee and ne addressed Republican
rallies during that canvass. This was
generally considered as a welcome 10
the returned prodigal The stannch
| Republicans as individuals may not.
however, be as f0rgiving as were their
committee managers last year.
II Northdeld News.
Mr. Clement. after his unsuccessful
bolt in 1902, took the earliest occa-
sion to reestablish himself as Re-
publican. lie tried to head delega-
ton from Rutland city to the Roose-
welt convention In April, 1904, the
direct object being to inject a Clement
man, Judge Merrill, OF Rutland, as
member of the state delegation. This
thVAb iNiACAs tLdilhs " tue 6utiLtAlG
work of DR.. j A. Mead of Rutland,
who wanted to head the city delega-
ton himself. in order to promote his
lleutenant-governorship ambition Al
this convention, the state con mittee
sat down emphatically on the action of
certain town caucuses in Rutland
county engineered by Cleme.t men
who had deserted the party in 1902
and did their best to beat it at the
polls. There was no indication at
that time that Clement and bis fol-
lowers had been welcomed back and
the fitted calf killed for them.
As the state and national campaign
progressed. Clement was recognized
BY the state committee, If the accept
ance of fair sized, but BY no means
"liberal,n contribution at his hands
constituted recognition. His offer TO
speak in behalf OF the ticket was also
acknowledged, anu he VS. assigned
for such service to the three or four
points in the state where there came
request for him. The state COM
mittee treated Mr.. Clement Just as,
under the circumstances, it was bound
to do in fairness and courtesy. No
one would have justified the COM
mittee in declining either his prof
ferred money or service. His pro-
fessions OF a desire to return to party
regularity We're accepted, as they
should have been.
Mr. Clements utterances on the /
stump were something Of a disappoint-
ment to party men. Ii Will be re- I
cllled that the main issues last year in
Vermont were the charges Of Republic /
can misgovernment and worse made
by G. II. Davenport and pushed BY the
Democrats. The auditors vouchers
were brought into question and Candi- I
date Bell was even accused of padding
his accounts as a former state official. .
All Of these charges fell flat when
finally investigated. But before this /
occurred, Mr.. Clement, in his speech
es, almost confessed The allegations, at
least he said little to rebut them, and
for the reason that these charges were
right in line with the accusations he
had himself repeatedly brought Of
waste, graft and corruption in state
administration. He virtually second
ed the Democratic attack, for which he
had previously supplied the ammuni-
ton himself. The curious spectacle
was once seen during the campaign Of
the state auditor vigorously defending
the administration, while Clement
from the same platform virtually con-
coded the charges. Hearers called it
'joint debate The effect of such
was OF doubtful value at
time when every effort was being !
put forth to hold and make votes.
That Mr.. Clement is a Republican I
now must be accepted as true. mas !
much as any voter is a Republican ,
who, ike Mr. Clement. nominallv
supported and actually voted for the /
regular Republican tickets last year. {
But that Mr.. Clement, through his .
contribution and speech making then. /
lid extraordinary service for the party 5
-tor instance, did enough to Offset his {
lerculean efforts in 1902 to disrupt it :
there may be reason to question. :