Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-05-25
ACCEPTS HIGH COMMISSION
CLEMENT ANSWERS PETITION
OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS.
viii Run as Their Candidate for Gov
ernor-Calls New Caucus Law Fail
ure, Designed to Perpetuate Machine
Power-His Designs for Vermont.

In reply to the petitions circulated
by citizens of Bennington and other
Vermont towns asking Percival w.
Clement of Rutland to run as an inde..
pendent candidate for governor OF
Vermont, Mr.. Clement issued a state
ment at noon yesterday expressing his
willingness to comply with the wishes
of those who have signed the petitions.
The formal statement is as follows:
Rutland, Vt, May "a, 1906.
To Edward j. Hall, ueorge II. Dewey,
l.. 5. Knight, S. b. Hutehins, ). j.
Beatty, l.. III. Lombard, w. II. ii.
Blow. Frank Wilcox, II. c. Soper, +.
A. Walker, G. L. Hathaway, G. I.
Shanks, +. b. Markham, VIM. 5.
Eaton and others, independent voters
of Vermont:
| am in receipt of your request to me
to run as an independent candidate for
governor of the state, more extensively
signed, you tell me, than any request
of similar character ever before in
the state of Vermont.
In the campaign of 1902 the License
Local Option party demanded eau
Gus law. The legislature which was
elected that year failed to pass one,
but the legislature of 1904 enacted a
cunningly devised law which, put in
operation now for the first time, seems
to operate in way calculated to per-
petuate the power of the republican
machine indefinitely, i will not at this
time discuss the merits of that law or
attempt to give the reasons for its
failure. The fact that it is distrusted
and ignored by a large majority of the
voters in all parts of the state is suf'
ficient reason for your action and for
mine. In no part of the state, SO far
as know, has majority of the voters
registered, and in some towns the pro-
portion of voters declaring their party
affiliation is only one-quarter of the
total vote. Under these conditions IT
is apparent that the nominations made
through such caucus action will not
represent the great majority of the
voters in Vermont.
| believe that every mans vote
should have its full weight and value
in making nominations for office, as it
does in electing candidates to office.
Yet under the present conditions this
cannot be; and as | understand it, it is
for the purpose of enabling every Yer
monter to record his judgment upon the
questions which have attracted so
much public attention during the last
few months that you have asked me to
stand as an Independent candidate for
the office OF governor oethe state.
So understanding the motive which
prompts your action, accept the high
commission you tender me, and Will
make my best effort to accomplish the
changes in state government you SO
earnestly hope for.
Last fall, when l announced in a pub
lie letter my determination to contest
the republican nomination in republi-
can caucuses, it was not supposed that
the caucus law would be repudiated by
the people in the way it has been. That
fact has completely changed the condi-
tions, while the demand for some action
looking towards Improvement in state
government is greater and more in
sistent than ever. In view OF these
facts, / cannot consent to have my
name presented in the republican state
convention.
We cannot look to the machine which
is now in control for improvement. 1t
offers no change except the change
| from bad to worse which always comes
with a maladministration of public af-
| fairs. The men who are in control OF
political power "stand pat' and say
| TO the voter, "What are you going to
do about it!n They claim to represent
majority of the republican party.
| You and | do not believe it. We know
the republican party believes in an
honest and economical administration
of state affairs and that majority,
through machine methods, has been de-
MED a fair expression OF its wish. we
know that in towns oftentimes repub-
lican majority has put democrats in Of
fee when it was understood that such
democrats were better fitted to admin
lister the affairs of that Office than the
republican candidate for the office; and,
vice versa, democrats do not hesitate to
support those of other political faith,
| if they believe it for the interest OF
good government. The best republican
and the best democrat is he who can
and will rise above party when the oc'
casion demands it. We believe that
this is the occasion which demands
patriotism rather than partisanship.
With you, I will join in an effort to
turn out the ring master who uses pub
lie office for graft and to perpetuate
his own power, and / will join with you
to install those who will administer
government for the benefit of the gov
erned. l will join with you in repeal
ing laws which are obnoxious to the
people, and enact such as will in 9
measure relieve us of our burdens and
make those burdens which are neces
sary bear equally upon the shoulders
of all. 1 will join with you in sucf
Legislation as will attract capital tt
our state and increase the value of al
we have now here. 1 will join in in
viting people from abroad to cast theil
fortunes with us and in offering op
portunities to our young men so thai
they will remain here rather than seei
their fortunes elsewhere.
The issues of the campaign are all Of
home Importance. The results affec
our daily lives and daily efforts. NJ
national questions are involved, but al
though our cause only affects our owl
homes, it is nevertheless good ant
therein lies the strength of it. We cal
confidently appeal to all men of al
parties and ask them to give our meas
ures thoughtful consideration and sup
.. port. From this moment let us al
move forward to the conflict joined b.
common sentiment and mutual pur
. pose. Let every man of the thousand
who have signed this request becom
an aggressive worker for the genera
good. With such an army, success /
assured from the start.
Very truly yours,
Percival w. Clement.