The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-08-01
DEMOCRATS ELECT
FRED c. BROWN
CHAIRMAN
Pownal Man Chosen to Had
State Committee
OPPOSED TO EXTRA SESSION
Proposal to Join With Republicans
In Informal Primary Also
Rejected

burlington, July ol.--At Meetlns
OF the democratic state committee
held at the Van Ness house tonight
questions relating to ways and means
of endorsing a primary were discuss
ed, and important business transact
ed. Before going into executive SEES
sion the members of the state COM
mittee held an open meeting at which
all held an open meeting at which ali
all democrats present were invited u
take part in the party councils
Mayor James E. Burke Of Burlinc
ton was on his feet soon after the
meeting was called to order demana-
ing that the democrats join tire
publicans and progressiges in pc
tioning the governor for an extra Sc
sion Of the Legislature to enact p
mary law
Mr. Burke spoke at some length as
to what the state was expecting OF
the democ ats OF Vermont and wha
the democrats must do.
When he had completed his argu-
ment II. C. Shurtleff of Montpelier
answered him, taking the ground that
If Mayor Burkes suggestions were
followed the governor might lure the
democrats along with the hope of an
extra session until the last minute
and then fail to call one.
He thought that the party should
assume position of leadership rath-
er than to follow this year being the
party of the national administration.
He was heartily in favor Of d.
rect primary but not in favor OF the
means of securing one as suggested
by Mr.. Burke.
Thomas II. Browne of Rutland said
that while he. too, favored direct
primary he was emphatically opposed
to Mr. Burkes suggestion.
The state committee went into ex-
ecutive session at 3 o'clock and
emerged an hour later. 1t was voted
by the committee TO lay on the table
the communication from the republs-
can state committee asking that the
democrats join with them in petition
ing the governor to call an extra ses-
sion to pass a primary law and II
was left to the chairman to communi-
cate this decision to the members of
the party.
This action with reference to a
primary was based upon written
opinion submitted TO the committee
by Charles d. Watson of St. Adams.
The resignation of E. S. Harris OF
Bennington as chairman and member
of the committee was accepted. and
Fred c. Brown of Pownal elected to
take his place, both as member from
Bennington county and as chairman.
The resignation of A. H. Gleason
of St Johnsbury as treasurer and
member was also accepted and the
choice OF his successor in both offices
was left TO him.
Both Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Gleason
resigned because they have recently
become postmasters of their respec-
tive towns and as federal Office hold
ers felt that they ought not be active
ly connected with the conduct of par.
tisan politics.
The meeting was adjourned. sub
ject TO call of the chairman. All bu:
one OF the members of the commit
tee we're present and that one. ID. +.
Carmody of Fair Haven. sent an al
;ernate in the person Of John II. Pol
lard Of the SAME town.
Prominent members of the demo
cratic party present in the hotel at
the time OF the meeting we're Harland
B. Howe Of s.. Johnsbury. c. d. Wat
son of St Adams, National Commits
teeman Thomas II. Browne OF Rut-
land and Martin 4. Brown OF vii
mington.
Il was remarked that with a
Browne for national commit eeman.
another Brown for chairman of the
state committee and third Brown
accused Of dispensing federal patron-
age. party gatherings would in the
future resemble a Brown family re-
union