Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-08-22
JOHNSON ANSWERS METzGER
Chairman Of Platform Committee
Says Progressive Candidate
Was Not Refused a Hear.
ing at Convention.

itoB inisilB ruby mere yesterday aLteTnOou
with q large attendance. A squad Of Civil
War veterans, Is In number. with Com
rade George w. Flags as leader. helped
In the cheering as the new banner was
flung to the breeze, The Green Mountain
band furnished music. The speakers at
Chandler Music hall were the Hon. Allen
NJ Fletcher, candidate for governor,
G. c. Fits of Brattleboro. Hale X. OAR
ling Of Chelsea. nominee for county sena-
tor. and l.. B. johnson, nominee for town
representative.
Mr.. Darling explained his action In with
drawing from the progressive county ticket
on which he was endorsed. He could not he
said conscen tiously receive the votes Of
progressves as some Of the principles they
enunc!ated In their State platform ran
counter to what he believed to be for the
best interests Of the State and especially
Orange county. Statewide, direct primaries.
the initiative and referendum. applied In
Vermont. would put the small weak
towns and counties at the mercy of the
larger places. Nor could he qualify for
the progressive nomination by being a fol-
lower of Roosevelts present principles.
He though: 1t fair to withdraw so that his
progressive friends could nominate an
other candidate II they saw ft
EXPLANATION BY JOHNSON.
l.. 3. Johnson devoted his attention to
statements made by the Rev. Fraser
Metzger, progressive candidate for gov
ernor. at rally here Friday evening
respecting certain alleged occurrences at
the republican State convention in Bur-
AS proof that the Republican party of
Vermont was boss-ruled and unfair to
the people and as a justification for his
joining the new party. To Mr.. Metzgers
charge that the State committee refused
him a hearing In the matter Of pri-
maries plank, Mr. johnson replied that
the State committee had nothing to do
with the platform except to name the
members of the platform committee
selecting them from the delegates-elect
Instead of trying to stifle attempts to
change the platform. the State commit
tee. by having a preliminary platform
prepared and widely published days be-
fore the convention. invited the fullest
public consideration.
The committee on resolutions gave
notice OF time and place for public
hearings on proposals for the platform
and such hearings were held as appoint
ed. Men appeared for and against var
ious propositions. but Mr.. MetZger was
not among them. He did not even arrive
in Burlington until early on the morning
Of the convention when the appointed
hearings were over. Mr.. Metxger with
others. including several regular or Tai.
| NJ nj cd hov
selves IN having a general declaration for
more direct methods OF making nomina-
tons Incorporated In the platform which
as left the night before contained no ref
| crence to II.
The platform committee was consulted
individually. and hurriedly assembled In
response 10 the call. A short declaration
was considered, the wording revised
somewhat. and It was put in the platform,
only few minutes before the conven-
ton opened
NOT DISSUADED BY MACHINE.
Various delegates were In and out
OF the room meanwhile and the door
was closed only moment or two
when the committee finally voted on
the plank in order to avoid interrup.
|
might serve as the basis OF Mr.. Metz
gers claim that he was denied hear
ing.
To his claim that ne was held back
In the convention from precipitating b
fight on this plank by representatives
OF the machine II was shown by Mr.
johnson that the dssuaders were
mostly republicans of the progressive
stripe who were satisfied with the dec
laration as 1t stood. In spite of mis- al
legged refusal to take part further ir
the convention, II was established thai
he did take part by voting for the can
didntes subsequently put in nomina
ton.
Mr.. Metzger's insinuation tina
the trust exemption plank was pur
posely omitted was answered by ;
complete account OF how the plani
fell out in the process OF copying. Mr.
Johnson produced the original copy a,
adopted by the committee. There Il
no basis. ne said. for the charge tina
the plank did not honestly represen
the party's position. Mr.. Johnson de
pIored the necessity of taking issue OIL
a question Of facts with persona
FRIEND.
FLETCHER PRAISES TICKET.
The Hon. Allen NJ Fletcher spoke pleas
antly of the other gubernatorial candi
dates, He pleaded especially for the re
, tention in office of the tried and efficien
corps Of subordinate state officials. MI
Fletcher took up II. b. Howe's oharg
that the Republican party was con
troiied by the bosses and the inter
: ests and that the taxing system wa
, devised to favor the corporations. Sine
1892. the corporation tax revenue
have doubled. Vermont Is one of thre
or four States only that support thei
government wholly by taxes paid b
corporations. We spent $4,000 NOR
for education the past two years tina
I over before. Isn't that progression
. Mr.. Howe's tax scheme might help 80 O
40 towns hut how about the remainin
1900? Do you want to go back to tn
. plan OF 20 years ago? What you wan
10 equalization OF taxation. You wan
le 9islation that will encourage the In
r vestment OF Vermont money at HON,
I A law that would exempt all mono
Q loaned AT five per cent or less by ban
Q or individual would DO more 10 hei
{ the farmer and merchant than an
n other sch 'r'e II has been tried OF
: in New Hampshire with entire success