Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-05-31
CLEMENT AN INDEPENDENT.
Aeeedes TO Request Of Petitioners in
His Try for GovernorshIp.

Shanks. F. b. Markham, w. ID. S,
Eaton and others:
independent voters of Vermont:
am in receipt OF your request TO me "a
run as an Independent candidate fOI
governor OF the state, more extensive
ly signed. you tell me, than any re-
quest OF a similar character ever be.
/ lore in the State OF Vermont.
In the campaign OF 1902 the license
local option party demanded caucus
law. The legislature which was elect
ed that year failed to pass one, but the
/ leoisl allure of 1904 enacted a cunningly
devised law which, put in operation
now for the first time, seems 10 oper-
ate in a way calculated to perpetuate
the power OF the Republican machine
1 indefinitely. | will not at this time
discuss tle merits of that law or at
tempt TO give the reasons tor Its fall
ure. The fact that it is distrusted and
ignored by a large majority OF the yo-
tiers in all parts OF the state is sufficient
reason for your action and for mine. In
no part OF the state, so far as l know,
has majority OF the voters registered
and in some towns the proportion Of
voters declaring their party utilization
is only one-quarter OF the total vote
Under these conditions II Is apparent
that the nominations made through
such caucus action will not represent
the great majority OF the voters OF Yer
mont.
| believe that every mans vote
should have its full weight and value
in making nominations for office as IL
does in electing candidates to office.
Yet under the present conditions this
cannot be and as understand il, it is
for the purpose of enabling every Yer
monter TO record his Judgment upon
the questions which have attracted so
much public attention during the last
few months that you have asked me 10
stand as an independent candidate for
the Office OF governor OF the state.
So, understanding the motive which
prompts your action, accept the high
commission you tender me, and Will
make my best effort TO accomplish the
changes in state government you 50
earnestly hope tor. Last fall, when ]
announced in public letter my deter
mination to contest the Republican
nomination in Republican caucuses, II
was not supposed that the caucus law
would be repudiated by the people in
the way it has been. That fact has
completely changed the conditions,
while the demand Tor some action
looking towards improvement in state
government is greater and more insis-
tent than ever.
In view of these facts, cannot CON
sent to have my name presented in
the Republican state convention
We cannot look to the machine which
is now in control for improvement. III
offers no change except the change
from bad TO worse which always
comes with a maladministration OF
public affairs. The men who are in
control OF political power "stand pat
and say To the voter what are you 90
ing to do about it Pr They claim to
represent a majority OF the Republican
party. You and | DO not believe il.
We know the Republican party be-
lieVes in an honest and economical adj
ministration OF state affairs and that a
majority. through machine methods,
has been denied fair expression of its
wish. We know that in towns often
times a Republican majority has put
Democrats in Office when 1t was under
stood that such Democrats were better
fitted to administer the affairs OF the
office than the Republican candidate
for the office. And vice versa, Demo-
Gratis do not hesitate TO support those
OF other political faith if they believe ii
is for the interest OF good government.
The best Republican and the best DEM
ocrat is he who can and will rise above
party when the occasion demands il.
We believe that this is the occasion
which demands patriotism rather than
partisanship.
With you | will join in an effort to
turn opt the ringmaster who uses pub
Tic Office Tor graft and 10 perpetuate
his own power. aud | will join you 10
install those who will administer gov
ernment for the benefit of the gov
erned.
| will join with you in repeating
laws which are obnoxious TO the peo-
pie. and enact such as will in a meas
ure relieve US OF our burdens and
make those burdens which are neces-
sary bear equally upon the shoulders
OF all. l Will join with you in such
legislation as will attract capital to our
state and increase the value OF all we
have now here. | will join in inviting
people from abroad 70 cast their ior-
tunes with US and in offering oppor- |
tnnities TO young men so that they
will remain here rather than seek their |
fortunes elsewhere.
The issues OF the campaign are an of
home importance. The results affect
our daily lives and daily efforts. No
national questions are involved, but |
our cause only affects our
homes, it is nevertheless good and |
therein lies the strength of il.
We can confidently appeal to all men |
of all parties and ask them to give our
measures thoughtful consideration and |
support. From this moment let us all |
move forward to tde conflict joined by |
a common sentiment and a mutual |
purpose. Let every man OF the thou |
sands Vhn have siUUaI This raauasf ia /