Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-02-02
THE BOLT OF 1902.
A Little Chapter Of Facts that May Be Of
Interest as this Years Campaign Pro-

We are little disappointed that Mr..
Clements paper didn't back us right
up in our opinion expressed that hd
would not bolt the Republican conven-
ton and ticket this year, whatever the
outcome, but would remain In the traces.
Instead, the Rutland Herald talks about
the corruption of the campaign Of 1902.
ard one disposed to read between the lines
might note an advance justification for
a bolt this year. AS the Herald enjoys
talking about 1902, will 1t answer this
query What did Mr.. Clement discover
as to vote buying and corruption charges
at the moment when he bolted and his
followers marched out of the Montpelier
convention hall and down to Mr.. Clements
private car with the band ahead playing
Onward Christian Soldiers we
ask, did he discover at that moment that
he didn't know five minutes before. when
he stood ready to accept the nomination,
II he could get it?-tRandolph Herald.
Mr.. Clement Is in the West, but in the
meantime this Is such an easy question
that VIC wonder why our genial contempt
rary took the trouble to ask It, Mr.
Clement did not know five minutes before
the convention that Clement delegates
with their pockets full of affidavits show
ing attempts at bribery would not be
recognized by the chairman of the conven-
ton when addressed in regular parliament
tary form. Rutland Herald.
So IL was the action Of the chairman
that precipitated the bolt, was It?
According to the Herald, Clement dele
gates had their pockets full Of afidl-
Wits showing attempts at bribery, and
couldn't get a hearing to present them
because the chairman wouldn't recog-
nlze them. So they bolted. Now as
this bolt Is liable to figure somewhat
in the pen ling canvass for tie COVER
norship, 1t is just as well to take a
little time right here and brush up on 1t.
During the caucus period, charges had
been rife that large sums of money had
been offered and expended In the choice
of delegates, by, or at least in behalf of,
one of the candidates. There were
counter charges Of a similar nature.
1t was understood that Clement had Sc
cured numerous affidavits tending to
substantiate his allegations. other can
dldates had done likewise.
The Republican state committee always
acts as a committee on credentials at
state conventions, and If there are any
questions affecting the right of any dele
gate returned as elected at town caucus
TO a seat in the convention the state
committee is the proper tribunal to con-
slider whatever objections may be raised.
Its decision is subject to reversal by the
convention, which cannot devote the nee
essary time to hear election contests on
the floor. unless there Is appeal from
the committee findings
Now at the Republican convention Of
1902, held at Montpelier the state COM
mittee gave due notice of its session held
to consider the credentials OF delegates
At that session nobody representing Mr..
Clement appeared to submit any proof.
or any affidavits or make any argument
to secure the unseating of any delegate.
1t is a fact that the only contest before
the committee was one that came up from
the town Of Orange. where a Clement
delegate was unseated, 1t having been
established that nine Democrats voted
for aim In the caucus. This decision was
sustained by the convention after
short discussion. So that the roll of
delegates prepared by the committee on
credentials was approved without
single question by the Clement men
Except n little objection on account of
the ruling in the Orange case) as the
roll of the convention. II we are to
believe the Herald, Clement. with plenty
of affidavts to prove that numerous dele
gates were unfairly elected. made no use
of them at the proper time, went into
the convention and helped organize It
without a single protest, except when one
Clement man was unseated.
Not only that, but Mr.. Clement, with
pockets full of affidavits proving con-
clusively that delegates had been bought
took part in the formulation OF a most
important convention platform which EN-
bodied his own views on a leading issue
Of the campaign. No objection thus far
though Clement delegates sat with pock-
cts full of affidavits proving that other
delegates were there illegally.
Still further. When the time came for
nominating a candidate for governor no
aala 70 nd nnaA
the convention as one constituted through
| fraud and corruption. Instead, Clements
name was duly presented as a candidate
| for that nomination, though the pockets
of his delegates were bullying with the
aforesaid affidavits. Not once, but twice
| did Clements 221 delegates cast their
| votes for him, conscious all the while
that other delegates had no right to vote
against them-conscious, but unprotest-
| ing.
After the second ballot the name of
| Fletcher d. Proctor, who had been third
| I'm the race, was withdrawn by Frank c.
! Partridge, who i'm his brief speech, sec
onded Mccullough Then the tempest
broke. Naturally there was great enthusi-
asm and excitement on the part of Nc
| Cullough and Proctor men, and consterna-
! ton among the Clement cohorts. DIR. Peck
Of Brandon and Joe" Jones of Rutland
yelled vituperatlon against the two candi-
would join and down Clement. The
I chairman was pounding for order No
body could be heard above the din. A
dozen men all over the hall were shouting
| for recognition. Suddenly Jones threw
a double handful of votes in the air,
which came down in a shower, and from
| his actions and what little could be made
out of his remarks above the tumult it
was understood that he was calling for
| the Clement men to leave the hall. After
he and his followers had left and
quiet had been. restored the chairman
stated that Mr.. Jones had the floor, but
he was not there to speak then.
The point We desire to bring out is
this:-Mr. Clement granting that ne had
proofs of Irregularities in the makeup OF
| the convention, did not present those
proofs, or make any move to present
them until 1t appeared conclusively that
he was a beaten man. He was willing to
accept a platform and a nomination from
this conventions he played baby when
he was on the point of going down in
| defeat before it. At that late moment,
after seeking its favor he had no right
to cry "Unfair!' when 1t turned him
down.