Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-08-17
Why Mr.. Clements Canvass Has
SIumped.

Slumped.
1t cannot be an altogether pleasing re-
Election for Mr. Clement that the begin
ming OF the slump in his campaign as re-
ported by Mr.. Howe in the Bennington
Banner, was coincident with his own ap-
pearance on the stump. But the reason
that this is the fact is not far TO seek.
The coming of Mr.. Clement into the field
as a reform candidate had been widely
heralded, and the people were disposed to
give him n candid hearing, because they
took for granted. as they had a right to
do that he would have something def
mite and positive and practical to say
about the correction Of the abuses in our
state administration which he alleged to
exist. His first speech was delivered
in Bennington on Saturday evening, July
2S, before an audience and in an environ
ment distinctly friendly to him. 1t was
the time OF all others for Clement, the
candidate, to put himself before the peo-
pie OF Vermont as a man Of high purpose
man of convictions with a definite plan
for benefiting the people by giving his
convictions force and effect. But what
| he really did in his Bennington speech
|
a sensational star performer to deliver a
generallzing defamation about state
boss ruled and machine ridden, with the
cry, Smash the machinep for punctua-
ton marks. Mr. Clement made 1t per-
fectly evident that he was all ready to
tear down or upset the structure and
management OF our state institutions. but
in no single instance did he tell what
plan he had for reforming them When
the speech was all done, or when one had
read 1t all through, no live man could tell
what Mr.. Clement intended to do IL he
should be elected governor.
Mr.. Clements next speech was delivered
in Brattleboro the next Monday evening
before an audience that gave him candid
and courteous attention. and large por-
ton Of which, at least, was sincere in its
wish to know what principles Mr.. Clement
represented. This audience. and the far
larger audience that read the report OF
his speech, Mr. Clement distinctly dis
appointed. for here in Brattleboro he was
given the best opportunity that he could
have to declare his principles. show
himself a man Of convictions. and tell the
people what plans ne had for their help
In The Phoenix OF the week before. CIV
ing him ample time TO frame his reply
there had been printed a series of ques-
tions asking Mr.. Clment what was his at
titude and what his plan OF action toward
those vital questions and measures OF
state policy which most closely affect tn,
people, and especially those in the
smaller towns. These questions were pre-
sented to Mr. Clement in entire goot
faith. and they gave him free rein anC
the whole of the road to declare his con
victions and outline his policy, IL he haC
any.
What he did was entirely to ignor,
those questions, repeating here. in gen
erai substance, his Bennington speech
with it's frequent exhoTtation to "smasl
the machine" and a buffoon's side shov
OF imitation of "Old Proctor yoi1ing NJ
his team OF machine-ridden oxen. Thick
and-thin Clement men undoubtedly like,
this speech. but voters who went to hea
it because they wished to know wha
principles he represented. and what h
meant to do about variety of state is
sues II elected governor, came away dis
appointed.
The slump in the Clement strength q
; Brattleboro began when Mr.. Clement
made his speech here. and the same in
fluence has been at work throughout tn
state The questions propounded to MI
Clement in Brattleboro were widely re
> produced by the newspapers of the state
J the people everywhere became familia
r with them. and everywhere they hav
} sized up Mr.. Clement for his failure t
answer them and to tell them in this q
any other way what he stands for an
what he means to do, besides to ''smas
the machine" If elected governor o
Vermont.
In other words. the people have dis
! covered that Mr.. Clement has no construc
! tive, upbuilding policy and that he ha
no capacity to formulate such a polio!
2 And they have concluded that, for then
, it would be a nightly poor policy I
elect man governor of Vermont simpl
, because he happens to have a persons
hatred for Senator Proctor and his Sol
5 and a personal ambition to smash tn
machine" so as TO become boss himsel
= Mr.. Clements canvass has slumped bt
) cause the people have found him out