Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-23
OVER A THOUSAND.
4 Grand ana Representative Republican
Rally at 81. Johnsbury.

A Grand ana Representative Republican
Rally at 81. John.bury.
ST. Johnsbury, Aug. GA grand rally,
representative of the best citizenship OF
st. Johnsbury and attended by over one
thousand people heard sound republican
doctrine tonight from Flctcner D.
Proctor and the Hon. James L. Martin.
Music hall was packed to tho doors when
the St. Johnsbury band had finished it's
concert. j. Rolfc Searles made an ex-
celent presiding officer, acquitting him
self with great credit.
Mr.. Martin made the opening speech
and being in fine fettle made one of his
best speeches He attacked vigorously
Clements charges of graft of State Of
fcials and institutions. He showed up
Clement in his true character as the
arch CRATER of the State in his enjoy
ment of secret rebates on coal delivered
to the Bristol railroad. ard also showed
up Clements love for the laboring man
by reducing his wages whenever he had
an opportunity, cutting laborers pay on
his road from N.25 to sllo per day and
claiming that it wasn't healthy for d
working man to get more.
The speaker explained the diseased
beef charges and told of the under
handed way in which this piece of
chicanery had been worked up and of
the investigation now being made by
the attorney general to ferret out the
matter and show it UP in it's true
light. Mr.. Martins speech was sew
eral times interrupted with laughter
and applause.
PROCTOR on GENERAL ISSUES.
Mr.. Proctor arrived from Lyndon
vile shortly after nine o'clock and got
n great ovation when introduced. His
speech was followed with the closest
attention and was Enthusiastically re-
ceived. He spoke on the general
issues, paying particular attention to
the educational and taxation ques-
tions. With respect to the business Of
the Vermont Marble company with the
House of Correction, Mr.. Proctor said
that Mr.. Pratt's evidence showed that
for the IL years ending May 81, 1906,
the total purchases of tho House of
Correction amounted to s139,597.54. of
which amount they bought from the
Vermont Marble company s2S,70G,14,
that is an average of s2,609.00 per
year or a fraction over 90 per cent,
of their purchases.
The entire marble purchases Of the
House of Correction from the time it
began its marble business in 1890 to
June /, 1906, II period little over six
teen years was sls3,53S,3i of which
they bought from tho Vermont Marble
company siO,0o3.S4. an average for the
period of little less than $500. 90
per year or II per cent. of whole.
The Vermont Marble company, said
Mr.. Proctor, is considerably the largest
marble producing company in the
world. 1t produces more than one
half and probably three quarters of
the marble produced in Vermont. 1t
has its mills and yards from which the
House of Correction buys marble with
in a mile of that institution and so
could most conveniently supply it with
marble Still II has had much less
than it's natural proportion of She
trade of the House of Correction.
Mr. Pratt, Mr.. Clements own expert
| in his evidence disposed of the whol,
| insinuation when he was asked, "is
! there are any indication to YOU
Of any favoritism or discrimina
tion between this institution
the House of Correction, and
any of these concerns from which marble
was bought or to which it was sold?" he
answered, mot the slightest. Naturally
they buy more OF the marble Of the Yer
mont Marble company, than Of the Others
| far ic i,Ybt hCr nd
Ito'
Mr.. Clement has insinuated that II he
has not said so directly that smothorcd
the bill II question for some reason con.
ncc,ed with this $500 year trade with
the House of Correction. The Vernon,
Marble companys sales amount to owe,
three millions Of dollars in a year and ht
asks the intelligent voters of Vermont tc
believe that thwarted the regular cours,
of legislation for some hidden reason
connected with this $3.50 of business II,
certainly pays a high tribute said the
speaker, to the painstakng care with
which l look after business entrusted t,
me.
Mr. Proctors friends were surely ou
lin force Judging from the applause follow
ling his speech. He afterwards held a re
ception and greeted several hundred
friends and admirers.
The singing of A. J. Markham was
taking feature.