Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-08-23
REPUBLICAN, RALLY.
Proctor, Prouty and Martin Retute
Charges OF Graft.

Snarses OF Graft.
In spite OF the fact that over 225 neonls
were out Of town last Thursday on the ~
Iatslon 70 MisslsquOi park or ATTENDING
~ oail game 10 Woodstock, the Republic
can railY M the evening called together il
i " GOO. i11
IN the absence Of the Green Mountain
band, the Bethel band gave a preliminary
outdoor concert and opened the indoor
4 proceedings with a pleasing selection
long continued applause greeted the ap-
] peafauce Of the Repu bliean candidates for
I governor and lieutenant governor Hon
I Fletcher d. Proctor OF Proctor and Hon
4 y, h. Prouty Of Newport, and H. 5. Dis
triet attorney, J L. Martin Of Brattleboro,
y. II. Morse hlled the Office OF chairman.
introducing the orators OF the evening in
snort, snappy speeches that served their
/ purpose admirably, an excellent foretaste
OF the spread in store. This is, he saio
young mems year; the party has the
Dest OF its young men at the head OF the
ticket and as one Of Nermonts youth he
had been selected to introduce them. He
lnen presented Mr.. Proctor, who was cor
daily welcomed.
! A good voice and presence. a certain
straightforwardness Of thought and man
ner, and grasp of the states affairs be-
yohd the columns OF its ledgers, recon-
nended the speaker to a thinking audi
ence and secured close attention to what
I be bad to say.
Civilization is advancing he declared.
"and no human agency can stop that
progress. II demands among other things
that children shall have a better education
and that facilities for education shall im-
prove The facilities have improved, and
D & tf4aH fa a. -r4
way transportation questions. The uris-
ons are better, more humane, and tend 10
improve, rather than to degrade criminals.
I We recognize the demands Of the times,
ana We recognize our responsibilities
Vermont has not been 'hitched to q post
bur has been making progress.
The cry Of graft that as been cir
culatIng up aud down the state moved
Gov. Bell 20 appoint commission to in
yestgate the state Institutions. ] believe
that investigation was thoroughly able
and impartial Expert Accountant Pratt
makes some statements and gives sworn
evidence that the expense vouchers are
perfectly correct. There Is nothing peculiar
about the insane asylum accounts which
compare iayorably with those Of any bus
iness enterprise. The House Of Correction
books balance TO within 10 cents, and the
accounts are correctly and honestly kept
No excessive help is employed. and no
great salaries are paid. Mr.. Clement makes
no response in regard 70 specific graft and
by such unjust and unfair charges he IL
bringing the fair name OF Vermont in dis
repute at home and abroad Such un-
founded charges should be vigorously con-
demned by every loyal NermOnter.
MIR. Clement has seen tit IN his speech Of
acceptance and several times since to re-
fer To bill TO reform the auditors office
that be introduced in the Senate and that
he says was smothered by the wrong COM
mittee TO which I as speaker OF the House
referred IT, The bill passed the Senate, came
20 the House, was referred to the strongest
committee Of the House, was reported by
the committee aud killed by the House.
The bin remained in the Senate till
the last day and, If smothered at all, was
smothered in the Senate. Ii contemplated
radical changes and, in the same circum-
stances, should do the same thing again.
"He has also seen iii to make some per-
sonal charges which ! think ! ought 20 re-
flute He asserts that 30 per cent Of the
marble used in the House OF Correction is
purchased from the Vermont Marble COM
pany, but his expert accountant found
that Of sl3l 900 spent for stone .2sOJ0
werth was from the Vermont Marble
company, or 20 per cent instead OF 3d.
The vital question, il seems TO me, Is not
how much stone the marble company has
furnished, but whether Il has a right 10
furnish any at all. The yards Of the COM
panv are conveniently located within a
mile OF the institution, doing away with
railway ireighting and handling, ana m
lbs dealings the company has never re-
ceiyed concessions from the state, or the
slate from the company. In this connec-
ton may be pardoned for saying that
the Vermont Marble company IS the larg-
est marble concern in the wOrl1 and does
business Of 5000 600 a year. DO you
think that ! have been for years manipu-
lating the legislature for the sake Of a sale
Of $500 a year Beyond that ! do not
mood 10 say 10 a Vermont audience that /
would not have any dealings with YER
mont that would not be absolutely honest.
"The Fusion platform says nothing
about the public schools, but the DEM
ocratic platform does In all the re-
forms Nj. Clement has been advocating
he subject OF schools has not been even
mentioned. / think there is nothing
more vital than the school question, we
have better schools aud better buildings
than we once had. In ls90 law was
nsssed for five-cent state school tax,
trbirb was raised TO S cents in 1900; in 1902
the sum OF $4,000 was provided for distri-
hinton among the towns RAISING 10 per
cent town tax, in an endeavor TO equaIlle
tbe burden Of taxation. We should DO all
In our power to strengthen the weaker
schools. and it is the duty Of Vermont TO
meet that question promptly. skill,
superyision should be provided Tor the
rural schools. There viii be no adVan-
tage In more legislation or more money
until we have provided for trained super
vision. s ,,,.,ss /
we have attempted TO improve ~ the mat
ter Of schools and care Of the insane, nav
ing in the latter instance assumed the
burden previously borne by the towns. /
Nr. Clement makes no acknowledgment
~ the improvements that have been
made. but unblushingly compares present
eynerses with those Of years ago. COM
nsring the expenses OF today with what
tbey Mere years sgo is not fair; the only /
lair test is TO consider Il what the people
ere Getting now is worth more than what
they had years ago. 80, ia
s12 0Oo for care OF the insane; 81 years ,
later in 1901, the expense was sloo,VJo.
IL IS-1 the state was maintaining its m
zane al Brattleboro and did not care tor