Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-16
WHY CLEMENTOCRACY is WANING

Republicans are so sure of a grand
victory on September 4 that the only
danger to be guarded against from this
time on is o~ver-conhdonce. The man
ayers of the republican campaign know
that Clemcntocracy is waning, and the
movement has already reached the philo-
sophical stage. when men pass from the
consideration Of evidence of the fact to
e%ndeavor to account for the fact itself.
The evidences that the fusion move
ment is already "A lost cause are to be
found on every hand. Assuring that its
State convention was not packed with
personally conducted delegates. whose ex-
pcnses were all paid, the people of Yer
mont witnessed the spectacle of a big
State convention followed by a slump
which a few weeks later made it impos-
sible to get more than a ~corporal's guard
to county conventions in many of the
counties. In some counties fusion failed
utterly, while in Addison county it was
not even mentioned.
III yin 'l Nv univ 'f'h''
strongholds Of the leader of fusion, like
Windsor, We mud not a few towns trying
IN vain to get together a sufficient num-
Der of disgruntlcd republicans to hold an
independent caucus. In many counties,
as in Lamoflle. men who started out as
leaders. In the fusion movement, have
discovered that things are not what they
were made to seem. and they are resign
ing from fusion committees
Inquiry in localities where there was
temporary detection caused through mis-
representation. shows that the people
have begun to think for themselves, and
, they now realize that an attempt was
Instituted to make them the victims OF
t the greatest political bunco game on rec
t ord in Vermont or anywhere else.
4 Nothing has helped to open the eyes
G of the people more than the uttcrance'
I of the democratic candidate himself.
When "A man. protesting nor to be con
< Quoting a campaign of hatred, refers il
=, a public speech to Nermont's senio
United States senator as "Old Proctor.
n the people do not need the aid of tn
- X-rays to see through his sham preten
sions.
When q candidate for governor says i
a public speech of the asylum of Water
bury that 1t was the stupidist an
craziest thing Vermont ever did to bull
it, and whoever is responsible for it ough
to have been the first man in it," thong
Vermont's junior United States senator
william T. Dillingham;. while governo
headed the movement to build that asI
lum, all right thinking people set all III
" terance of that candidate down for wha
they are actually worth.
When a candidate tells half the trut
and omits the half which would max
= clear the first hall, as regards the increas
Of State expenses in twenty years: whe
n candidate says there is graft, and W
officials; when a man says he VIII he
the poor taxpayer, though he vote
against the taxpayer and for the co
porations every time he had "A chance
the Legislature, the people do not nee
re to 20 beyond his own uttcrances II
ed proof of his inshnCority.
~ The democratic candidate for govern'
an has condemned himself out OF his o"
mouth.
en No wonder that Clemcntocracy is wal
ing, and that the only question now
the size of the majority for the repupl
M can ticket,