Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-05-25
P.W. CLEMENT ACCEPTS
Will Run as Independent Candi.
date for Governor
Says the Caucus Law Is cunnlngly De-
vlsed to Perpetuate the Power Of the
Republican Machine.

Says the Caucus Law Is cunnlngIy De-
Vlsed to Perpetuate the Power Of the
Republican Machine.
In reply to the petitions circulated by
citizens of Bennington and others, ask
ing Percival w. Clement, of Rutland, to
run as an Independent candidate for gov
ernor of Vermont, Mr.. Clement issued a
statement at noon yesterday expressing
his willingness to comply with the wishes
of those who have signed the petitions.
The formal statement follows:
ITO Edward ]. Hall, George II. Dewey,
L. S. Knight, s. B. Hutchins, s. j.
Beatty L. H. Lombard, W. H. II. Blair,
Frank Wilcox, II. c. Soper, E. A.
Walker, c. L. Hathaway G. T. Shanks,
F. b. Markham, William S. Eaton, and
others, independent voters Of Vermont:
81 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
a similar character ever before in the
state of Vermont.
Caucus Law DIstrusted.
I'm the campaign of 1902 the License
| Local Option party demanded a caucus
| law. The legislature which was elected
that year failed to pass one. but the leg
islature of 1904 enacted a cunningly de-
vised law which, put in operation now
way calculated to perpetuate the power
of the Republican machine indefinitely.
| l will not at this time discuss the merits
| of that law or attempt to give the rea-
| sons for its failure. The fact that 1t Is
| distrusted and ignored by a large ma
jority of the voters in all parts of the
state is sufficient reason for your action
and for mine. In no part OF the state,
so far as I know, has a majority of the
voters registered. and in some towns the
. namsa aWaau@ ~
amiiation is only one-quarter of the total
vote.
''Under these conditions, 1t is appar-
ent that the nominations made through
such caucus action will not represent the
great majority of the voters in Vermont.
81 believe that every mans vote should
have its full weight and value in making
nominations for Office, as 1t does In elect
ing candidates to Office. Yet under the
present conditions this cannot be. and as
| l understand il, 1t is for the purpose OF
enabling every Vermonter to record his
Judgment upon the questions which have
} attracted so much public attention dur
ing the last few months that you have
asked me to stand as an independent
candidate for the Office of governor OF
the state.
$50 understanding the motive which
) prompts your action, / accept the high
I commission you tender me. and VIII
make my best effort to accomplish the
changes in state government you so ear
nestly hope for.
e Why He Has Changed His Plans.
Last fall. when announced in a pub
\ lie letter my determination to contest the
u Republican nomination in Republican
J cancuses, It was not supposed that th
caucus law would be repudiated by tn
peopIe in the way Il has been. ina
fact has completely changed the condi
n tions, while the demand for some actor
O looking towards Improvement In stat
government is greater and more insisten
, than ever.
Il ''In view of these facts, cannot con
e sent to have my name presented in tn
n Republican state convention. We canno
r. look to the machine which is now i
II control for improvement. 1t oners n
- change except the change from bad
It worse which always comes with a NAL
st administration of public affairs. IN
RI | men who are in control of political poWe
= stand pat and say to the voter, VIVA
are YOU going to do about itT The
IN claim to represent a majority of the Re
IS publican party. You and 1 do not DC
rs lieve it. We know the Republican part
M believes In an honest and economical ac
10 ministration of state affairs and that
ie majority, through machine methods, ha
rt been denied a fair expression of its wisl
Id We know that In towns Of many times
ID Republican majority has put Democrat
in office when 1t was understood this
such Democrats were better fitted TO az
ministrate the affairs of that otfice tina
the Republican candidate for the ONO
and vice versa, Democrats do not mes
tate to support those of other politics
i'd faith, II they believe II for the interest
,s good government. The best Republics
rs and the best Democrat is he who ca
m and will rise above party when the occi
sion demands 1t. We believe that this
i'd the occasion which demands PATRIOTS
tn rather than partisanship.
We Would Turn Out Ring Master.
- - with you / will Join in an effort
\ turn out the ring master who uses pu
-. lie Office for graft and to perpetuate
- own power. and 1 will Join with you
t t install those who will administer COVER
'e ment for the benefit of the governed.
he will join with you in repeating lay
~ which are obnoxious 10 the people, al
ale enact such as will in a measure rene
W 'WIe us of our burdens and make those bu
-, dens which are necessary bear equal
90 upon all We have now here. Will Jo
"' in such legislation as will attract cal
49, tai TO our state and increase the value
IRE ali we have now here 1 will join in inv
oV' ing people from abroad to cast their Il
sIs tunes with us and in offering opportul
- ~ ties to our young men so that they v
70 remain here rather than seek their II
a.. tunes elsewhere.
lty "The issues of the campaign are all
me home Importance. The results affect @
to ,, utliiy ~, ~ ~ -, ,n,,oi,,ad hut althoueh q
yet cause only affects our own homes, 1t
nevertheless, good, and therein lies
oe- strength of It. We can confidently app
ner TO all men of all parties and ask them
the oJ,,- CIR measures thoue1ptful considel
ess ton and support.
as "From this moment let us all me
cal forward to the conflict, Joined by a co
II mon sentiment and a mutual purpo
ian Let every man of the thousands "
have signed this request become an
ON gressive worker for the general go
ers' with such an army success is assui
Gu from the start.
hey 'ePERCIVAI, w. CLEMENT.
ing