The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-08-31
CLOSING RALLY
LAST NIGHT
rusioniSts Held Boards With
Big Showing.
HALL PREDICTS VICTORY
Mellon Made Fine Speech But
Mayor Burke Vas a Disap.
pointment

The closing Fusion rally last even.
Ing at the Putnam house square was
listened TO by an enthusiastic audience
OF fully 1000 people. The band and
local fusion club started at s O'Clock
and went TO the station where Il wait.
ed the arrival Of the speakers OF the
evening and escorted them TO the plat.
form, amidst fireworks, cannon eracls-
ers and cheers. A large American
nag completely enclosed with red.
white and blue electric lights, was
hung across South street.
On the platform with the speakers
we're r. NJ. Houehton, Homer A.
Lyons, Il. $. Drysdale, S. II. Black.
mer' II. Il. Hutchins, NJ. N. Clapp.
x. 3. Godfrey and John Conroy Of
Arlington, Fusion candidate for
sheriff
X. NJ. Houghton at s:3j started the
ball with few words on reform and
introduced +. j. Hall, Of this village
as 1.-THE next state auditor" Mr Hail
made a short direct speech and was
given the warmest applause OF the eve.
ming.
He said that he felt more pleasure in
speaking to a Bennington audience
than any other. He was born here.
had always lived here and he thought
that Bennington scenery was the most
beautiful, Bennington men the man.
lest ana Bennington girls the pref.
test.
He then spoke OF some of the i'm.
portant issues OF the campaign. lie
told OF the increase OF state expenses
in the last - years and made the
statement that one half a million dol
lars year is being expended for which
there Is nothing TO show. He said
that the railroad commission is not
what 1t ought to be and that the com.
mission should be composed OF practi-
cal railroad men. All the commission
should be made up OF practical men.
and practical men should be placed in
all the state offices. He spoke of the
meat scandal question and placed be.
fore his audience some new evidence
teoding to convict Veterinary Rich of
Burlington.
Mr. Hall then gave his opinion of
the condition OF the campaign through
out the state. ave have gained in
the last week" he said, land gained
heavily. A week ago we would have
carried the state by from 1000 to TO-
600. Today our estimates would be
above that figure. " He said the Glenn.
ent party was sure of Bennington.
Chittenden, Grand Isle, Rutland,
Franklin, Washington and Windsor
counties; had more than an even
chance in Lamoille and Windam and
had an even show in Orange, Essex.
Addison and Caledonia and that the
only county they would certainly lose
Is Orleans and that by a decreased
majority.
There were two things, the speaker
said, that would defeat them. First.
the use of money corruptly, and sec
ondly the absence of the voters from
the polls and be urged the Clement
men to see that every Clement voter
Is at the polls election day.
The next speaker, Hon. p. N. Meld.
on OF Rutland proved to be an unusual
ly fluent and interesting speaker and
made a really brilliant address.
Among other things he mentioned in
particular the work of E. j. Hall
OF Bennington aud said that
they had found him to be patient.
loyal, faithful and true"
Mr. Meldon, S speech was filed with
state prison scandal, insane ASYLUM
scandal and meat scandal, charges
against the Republican party. The
conclusion of his remarks was a beau.
tifully worded and well given perora-
ton on the patriotic devotion whic h
we owe to our dear old stat OF YER
mont.
Before introducing the last speaker,
Il. M. Houghton spoke at some length
on the County Fusion ticket. He then
presented Hon. James E. Burke, may
or of Burlington.
Mayor Burke, although not fluent
speaker, spoke earnestly and to some
point but following the brilliant adj
dress of Mr. Meldon it came as a dis
appointment and the audience rapidly
melted away while he was talking. His
speech was largely devoted to his own
experiences in running the city of Bur
lington.