Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-03
NO. 81
LAST NIGHTS RALLY
Fish Of Vergennes and PlumIey
of NOrthfieId on State Issues

Mr.. Fish Answers in Detail Mr.. Clements
Claims and charges-Mr. Plumley Urges
Republicans to stand by President
Roosevelt, and UphoIds the Republican
Policy In Vermont.
The opening Republican rally of the
campaign in Brattleboro was held in the
Auditorium last evening, the speakers
being Frank Plumley of Northfield and
Frank L. Fish of Vergennes. c. o. Rob-
bins presided, and the First Regiment
band furnished music. A large audience
was present, more women being seen
than were at the Democratic rally on
Monday evening. A noticeable thing
about the two rallies was the large num-
Der of young voters, and voters who may
be termed uncertain" who were present
at both gatherings.
Mr.. Fishs speech was devoted in the
main to an answer to the claims and
charges made by Clement in his speech.
and the audience followed him with close
attention. Mr.. Fish referred pleasantly
to the town and county. speaking of a
neighboring town as his birthplace, of his
life In the county, and of his residence in
Brattleboro as a student of law in the
Office of Judge Tyler
In beginning the essential part of his
address he stated the facts in regard to
the candidacy of Mr.. Proctor for the gov
ernorship, saying that when the latter
adjourned the House of 1900 he was the
probable and logical candidate for gov
erpor in 1902 and that the people were
ready to place him in that position.
When the campaign of 1902 began, how
ever, Gen. Mccullough, DR.. Webb, Mr..
I De- =
the field. 1t was then that the great is
sue of that campaign was fought and a
local option plank, approved by Mr.
Clement, was placed in his party plat
form. The speaker then told of the
Clement followers leaving the convention
of 1902 after one ballot, when Mr.. Proctor
withdrew in Gen. McCullough's favor
The result of that campaign and that of
1904 was recalled. In the fall of 1906, said
Mr.. Fish, Mr.. Clement announced him
self as candidate for the Republican
nomination in 1906. He soon saw, how
ever, that he could not get the regular
nomination and then it was that he de-
cided to ''go 1t" independently. There
must be an excuse for an independent
movement. There was a great issue in
1902. but no such issue was at hand this
year. Some excuse was necessary, so
the Bennington idea" was brought for
ward and after many petitions MIR.
Clement was induced" reluctantly of
course, to enter the campaign. The
| speaker intimated somewhat decidedly
that he believed the Bennington idea''
had it's origin in the brain of Percival w.
Clement and that it was he who paid
the freight" On the other hand Fletcher
d. Proctor was the nominee of a volun-
tary convention, made up of delegates
who paid their own bills. Mr.. Fish de-
MED that before the convention Proctor
had his paid retainers at work in the
different counties.
Mr.. Fish characterized the fusion move
ment as an unnatural union-as between
the independent Republicans and the
Democrats, or as between the two lead
| ing candidates on the fusion ticket.
| There was no great issue to unite them
and they were as oil and water. The
fusion candidates, too, are not we'll mated
Clement, the aristocrat, the millionaire,
the retired railroad president; Pape, the
plain everyday citizen, insurance agent,
consistent Democrat. Speaking at some
length of Mr.. Clement, Mr.. Fish asked
where he had ever shown one particle of
feeling for the laboring man, and then
recited some of his acts as mayor OF
|
railroad. Contrasted with this he told of
Mr.. ProctQrs life in Proctor as the head
of a great concern, which employed $500
men at a monthly wage of more than
100000 Mr.. Fish told of the cordial rela-
tions which exist between employer and
employees, and described the method of
operating the company's stores, all the
| profit of which is turned back to the
workmen who trade there, and coal and
flour are sold to them at cost.
Mr.. Fish then referred to Mr.. Clements
talk about the auditing of the state ac-
counts, saying the auditors business vas
to audit, ito allow" to draw orders, and
that the bookkeeping was done in the
treasurer's Office. No graft had been dis
covered, but Mr.. Clement would have a
more elaborate system. The issue OF
boss rule Mr.. Fish ridiculed. saying
that usually by superior attainments and
capacity for leadership, some one secures
the right to boss. He referred TO Senator
Redfield Proctor as the grand old man"
of Vermont and said that the fact that
Fletcher d. Proctor was the son of his
father should not count against him. In
closing Mr.. Fish compared the makeup
of the two tickets,
Mr.. Plumley said that after Mr.. Fish's
complete and convincing address he was
not a necessity and was not put up for a
luxury. With his 80 feet 10 inches from
heels to head and 50 inches around" he
was "a good solid Vermont Republican"
The muck rake had not gone deep
, enough in Vermont to cause any one to
hold his nose The state needed no de-
fence. After careful search no dollar had
been found misappropriated no cent un-
worthily placed.
Mr.. Plumley strongly urged that there
is no good reason why any Vermont Re
. publican should now allow himself to be
: drawn away from support OF his party
: A new Congress is to be elected this fall
and its complexion will decide whether
President Roosevelt is to be upheld in his
I work for the people, and in the great
, policies which he has yet to carry out
, This year, as always, the people of Other
states will watch for Vermonts action
in September as a sign of the times. Nc
reason for conflict within the party ex'
lists, except through the personal preju
dice and bitterness and desire to rule Of
one man. Mr.. Clements whole policy, h'
! said is destructive, not constructive
9 Nowhere in his speeches does he outline
n any definite, upbuilding policy.
:. Mr.. Plumley defended in eloquent terml
: the Republican policy of state aid to high
e ways and TO schools as the only tru,