Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-08-30
LARGE CROWD At
REPUBLICAN RALLY
ForcefuI and Logical Arguments
Made at Island Park
Senator Townsend Of Michigan, Attorney
General Sargent and Scion A. Rich.
mond the Speakers.

mond the speakers.
An audience of 1000 persons attended
the Republican rally at Island park
Monday night, and when 1t is considered
that the stores were open and that the
weather was unfavorable the large at
tendance is indicative of a deep public
interest in politics this year. The pro-
gram was rather too long, many leaving
before the speakers had finished. The
addresses were given by Scion A. Rich
mond, candidate for town representa-
tive, Senator Charles f. Townsend of
Michigan and Attorney General John G..
Sargent of Ludlow. Senator Townsend
was asked by Mr.. Sargent to take all
the time he wanted, which he did, and
he made by far the best political adj
dress that has been heard in Brattle-
boro this year, speaking logically, force
fully and distinctly.
Herbert G.. Barber, nominee for sena-
tor, presided and made some opening
remarks in which he said that every
party had to have leaders and that
bosses existed only in so far as the in
dividual voters allowed them to exist.
Mr.. Richmond, who is at the head OF
the labor organizations In Brattleboro.
stated that labor was we'll employed and
that wages were on a higher scale than
ever before. He said that with one or
two exceptions the rate Of taxation on
railroads in Vermont produced more rev.
enue than in any other state. II the
poll tax payer paid on the same basis
as the railroads do, Mr.. Richmond said,
he would pay $3.50. Two years ago the
Republican legislature adopted an
amendment to the constitution of Yer
mont, allowing the legislature to COM
pei compensation for injuries received
by employees in the course of the en-
ployment, for the benefit of themselves,
their widows or next. of kin. If the
coming legislature again votes in favor
of the amendment it may then be SUBJ
mitted to the people for approval. This
law Is designed to make each industry
bear its share of a burden which now
falls upon the state. and 1t is essential
that a Republican legisla ture be elected
this fall Il shall follow the road" Mr.
Richmond said, that has brought sue
cess to the town, the state and the ma
ton"
Senator Townsend's address was in
defense of the Taft administratio ton. Ev-
erything worth while in the political his
tory of the country since 1860 he said
was written by the Republican party.
The insurgent movement. which began
in Senator Townsends office when he
was a representative, was a protest, not
against the party. but against certain
rules in the House. There is said to be
dissatisfaction with President Taft, but
no bill of particulars ever has been fled
He said President Taft had more nearly
fulfilled the platform on which he was
elected than had any other president be-
fore him. Then he took up plank by
plank the platform of 1908 and showed
how the promises to the country had
been carried out. Under the operation
of the present tariff law the country
has never known such prosperity as 1t
today enjoys.
The Democratic party in Congress is
playing. the game of politics, the speaker
asserted. The Senate passed an en-
ployers' liability bill. approved by Presi-
dent Taft, but it sleeps IN the judiciary
committee of the Democratic House.
Elk President Roosevelt was referred to
as "a consummate politician, and moth
ing else" The Democrats emasculated
the civil service bill with the expecta-
ton that Wilson would be elected and
that there would be opportunity to turn
out great numbers of federal officials
and put Democrats in their places, but
President Taft vetoed the bill.
The Republican party was good
enough for Roosevelt to seek from 1t a
nomination for a third term. but when
1t failed to nominate him the country
needed a new party. Has it come to
this, that to renounce the bosses we
must enlist under a banner which shall
divest US of all individuality" Senator
Townsend read an editorial from Frank
Munsey's Washington newspaper admit
ting that Roosevelt's contests at Chi
cago were started for political effect.
The speaker made the prediction that If
Taft was defeated great adversely
would come upon the country and real
reform would receive a setback.
1t was so late when Mr.. Sargent's turn
came he occupied but few minutes, but
he made some effective statements.
Sixty eight men, he said, self-appointed
delegates, met in Burlington and con-
stituted a Progressive convention. They
adopted platform in which they re-
pudiated every office holder or candi-
date for office as unworthy the con-
fidence of the people unless they openly
declared for the principles advocated by
Roosevelt. The speaker regarded the
platform as an insolent proposition. He
mentioned the new Republican candi-
dates as able and worthy, and without
saying anything against the Progressive
Fraser Metzger, the nominee for gov
ernor, and asked: "Who ever heard of
him until he was nominated?" He said
Mr. Metzger was active in the Republic
can convention and signed the platform,
endorsing all that 1t contained. Look at
his political record" said the speaker.
What assurance have you that he will
do tomorrow what he says he will do
today?"
Mr.. Sargent took up the question Of
railroad taxation, and his views are
quoted elsewhere in this paper He re-
garded the public utilities law. which
was introduced in the House by III. G.
Barber OF Brattleboro. as the most eff
fective law of its kind in the country.
At 7.30 the First Regiment band
marched down Main street to the park.
and a program Of music and moving
pictures was given.