The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-14
STATEMENT FROM HAPGOOD.
Says General Public Conscience Must
Receive An Ublift.

Receive An Ublift.
The following statement has been
given out by M. j. I1apgood, of Pc
ru, concerning his connection with,
the Governorship canvass and nom
nation:
Mr.. Hapgood entered the canvass
solely with the aim to aid in purify
ing the situation. He did not expect
the nomination. and never asked any
personal support from any quarter
However, after having entered heI
took due care not ito show the white
feather" His only reliance for any
support for himself was in the adop-
ton of the Australian form of ballot,
and when that was rejected he open
ly gave out word that he desired no
support except from the remaining
delegates from his own town and
Landgrove. Mr.. Hapgood, himself
voted for Fleetwood.
He hoped that there would be good
sense enough, under the peculiar cir
cumstances, not to move to make the
nomination unanimous; but when
that motion came he was ready for it,
and did not finch. Believing that
DR.. Meads canvass had been rotten,
illegitimate, and a disgrace to the
State, he acted as though he was sin
cere in that belief and, without finch
ing, in the face of a bowling mob,
jumped upon the platform and declar-
ed that the nomination could not be
made unanimous, since the word
unanimous" means every one" and
he, as a delegate, should object be-
cause he believed DR.. Mead's can
vass had been rotten, illegitimate, and
a disgrace to the State" He was,
in no sense, put down, as some of the
Mead papers declare, but spoke every
word he had in mind.
He slept well the night after the
convention, sleeps well now, and de-
clares that he would much rather be
in his own shoes than in those of
DR.. Mead. Hebelieves, that, in may
respects, Dr.. Mead's canvass was
more rotten ard detrimental to the
interests of the State than any of his
predecessors; si2ce, as he believes,
DR.. Mead was ersonally cognizant
of the methods used and knew full
well what his agents were about.
He was directly in front of DR..
Mead, looking him squarely in the
face when the Doctor read that part
! his adherence to the principle COM
polling every candidate to file an
account of his expenses; and, upon
hearing that, Mr.. Hapgood remarked
to his seatmate, That takes the
cake" He was, also, much amused
at the Doctors reference to Pres.
Roosevelt, as though they were in
accord in principles of action.
As to the remedy for the situation,
Mr.. Hapgood believes that it mainly
lies in bold, determined, unflinching
action upon the part of those who
| really believe in clean politics. The
general public conscience must re-
ceive an uplife. He also believes
that it would be healthful if we had
more Democrats in the State, espec-
tally of the Grover Cleveland stamp,
enough to have controlling influence
when joined to those who consider
party ties as subservient to public
interests.
Mr.. Hapgood believes that this is
the last canvass when mercenary in
fuences will control the situation; it
was only by the skin of his teeth"
that it succeeded this time; as the
majority was only three upon the
second ballot, and several of the op-
posing delegates were absent seeking
a lunch, we trust not by design, how
ever.
The deliberat1 refusal to allow a
nomination to W made unanimous, is,
indeed, something which our State
conventions are not used to-; but Mr..
Hapgood has, already received warm
words of approval from some OF the
highest influences in the land. The
Kisses he received he considers an
honor and hereby extends his thanks
IN tbnca ubo oaua thaDn
Mr.. Hapgood is not "soured" by
this adventure but only the more
firmly determined to give the best en-
ereica of his life to the cause of clean
and good government
MISSING FROM HOME.