Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-13


lican party and to It's candidates. Yer
mont sends a sensible message to elect
ors everywhere throughout the United
States.
COMMENTS OF VERMONT PAPERS
ON THE RESULT OF THE STATE
ELECTION AND IT'S PHASES.
F1rom the Rutland News.)
The most Exciting. and, as we believe.
the most important and significant CAM
.paign which has been waged in the State
politics of Vermont within the memory OF
the present generation, has ended In the
overwhelming defeat OF Percival w. Glenn
ent and the movement which he created.
After the hurrahs have all been shouted
the pleasantries exchanged, and the scores
paid off, the question as 10 the real rea-
son for Mr.. Clements defeat is worth Sc
rious consideration both by his supporters
and his opponents. In his speech in Brat
leboro, and. we think, in every speech
Iafterward, Mr.. Clement said that his
movement was going to succeed because
IT sprang from the people-because at
last the common people were aroused
and were going 70 take their affairs into
their own hands. The exact opposite or
this proved to be true. Mr.. Clement did
not succeed because he did not reach or
convince tho great mass of se~lf-cortained
independent voters Of Vermont. BEFORE
he had been a week on the stump II De-
came clear to thoughtful men that MS
main stock IN trade was a fury or ac-
cusation and an appeal TO put the present
organization out so as TO put him In.
AS the DAYS went by they saw one after
another OF his charges absolutely dis
proved and that the sole effect of his can
vass was to discredit the good name OF
Vermont, with no tangible remedy offered
for the evils which he alleged to exist
They saw that his campaign was simply
one Of destruction, and that he gave no
sign or promise al any plan for Vermonts
future upbuilding. la other words, they
saw that Mr.. Clements real issue was
Percival w. Clement and his own per-
sonal ends.
If Mr.. Clement had convinced the peo-
pie OF Vermont that even one OF his most
serious charges was ~true-that the gov
nmen of the state was corrupt and
tina she was the prey of a ring or graft
ers or self-seekers. not all the machine
influence that over existed could have
prevented them from rising up and driv-
ing out the corruptionists. Mr.. Clement
did not succeed because he did not con
vince the common people," of whom he
talked so much, that he had any real
moral purpose at heart. His overthrow
Is not in the true sense a partisan VIC
tory. 1t is the victory OF the sober COM
mon sense of the people of Vermont.
CAMPAIGN OF WIND.
(From the Randolph Herald,)
The victory is so clean-cut. so over
whelming. as TO need little comment. II
registers the approval of the people o.
Vermont of the record, the policies anc
the candidates of the Republican party
It puts the foot down hard on Mr.. Glenn
ent and his propaganda. 1t says that tn
party in power is entitled by its &C
complishments to continue it's work fol
the State. 1t disposes OF Mr.. CAment full,
, and finally.
=. Mr.. Clement conducted a remarkable
campaign with the material he had a
hand. 1t required little discernment t
see that he lacked all Issues of impor
lance. 1t was a campaign OF wind. per
force. The fusionists made a great dea
, of noise, with little or nott4Cg to tustif!
the cutlery. All the serious charges the.
l brought up to prove them reacted on tn
%instigators. of course. rhe sober judg
ment of the State could not pass sen
r tence OF condemnation on the Republi
J can party without more reason than wa
r at any time disclosed.
Another thing: ermon Is naturally
! strongly republican State. Loyalty I
the party still counts for much. Whel
a Mr.. Clement cut loose from that part
, and hitched I'D with the democrats. wit
9 no Just provocation for the action, h
s forfeited much support that might hav
. been his within the party. 1t looked to
= much like a last desperate attempt t
restore his political fortunes at n an
all cost, He could not fairly hope to lea
g a very considerable following out OF tn
party under such conditions
o In Fletcher d.. Proctor the republican
s~->A /. -~.Asv LeeAAr and NJ CLAmsr