Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-02
ISSUE Of POLICY
N0TF|NANCES, SAY
PR0CRESS|vES
Statements Are Given Out in
Explanation of Recent Shake.
up in Party Organ.
izatiOn.

Montpelier March ca.-Butl Moose lead
ers in this section say that questions OF
party policies and not finances were re-
sponsible for the shake-up Of the Or
ganization, when the names of NJ. l..
Ascltine of ST. Adams, r. l.. Kelley of
Salisbury and G. n. Thompson of Mont
pelier were omitted from the executive
committee at the time that the new com
mttee was named at the Burlington
meeting. The principal bone Of conten-
ton Is said to he the so-called nom
partisan movement for the nomination
Of former Interstate Commerce Commits
sioner Charles A prouty for United
States senator. A section of the progress
sives are unwilling 10 take part in any
movement that will not make Mr.. Prouty
the full pledge candidate OF the party
Others are willing to take him In any
form. Pressure outside the State has been
in the direction Of strict Progressive
party candidates and policies.
Charles n. Thompson, national COM
mitteeman. SAYS be is in entire eccord
with the reorganization OF the executive
committee. He also denies that he has
been asked to resign as national COM
mitteeman and that the New York head
quarters have washed their hands Of
him.
He made the following statement to-
day:
In regard to the rumors concerning
friction in the Progressive party as
evidenced by articles which appeared
in certain newspapers, would say
that any statements that there have
a1 ~
the Progressive party as to financial
discrepancies. are maliciously false
| 1t is true, however, that there has been
a sharp difference Of opinion between
myself and one member of the state
committee on matters of party policies
these differences Of opinion have ex-
listed since the inception of the party
two years ago. 1t is also true that
have held too many offices in the party
and have for some time urged that
be relieved from the entire RESPONSE.
| bility Of every party move that was
made. Therefore, the action of the
State committee in creating a new ex-
ccutive committee met with my full
approval. My personal relations with
the New York and Washington office.
of the party have not changed and are
as cordial as they have always been
! Mr.. Thompson called attention to the
statement made by Judge T.. w. Glib
son of Brattleboro, which follows:
| II was a member Of a committee t.
consider certain matters of difference.
for the progressive state committee
| There was no claim made of any dis
crepancy in the figures of the money
received and of the money paid gu
from progressive headquarters by Mr.
| Thompson. For a portion of the tim,
during Mr.. Thompsons incumbency al
chairman OF the executive committee
his accounts were audited by Mr.. Kel
ley, the treasurer and the balance o
the time by Mr.. Sumner, the auditor
Both Mr.. Sumner and Mr.. Kelley re
ported that they knew of no discre
pancies in Mr., Thompson's accounts.
"It is true that some differences hav
arisen between certain progressive lead
ers and it was thought best by the com
mttec to keep clear OF any such Ell
tanglements. Everyone interested agreed
that this was the only and just cours
to pursue. The action taken BY tn
State committee completely cleared tn
atmosphere.
MI HOInpSOH Is not ana mas neNe
been a member of the State committee
1t was not therefore expected of him (
attend the Burlington meeting. Lookin
to a reorganization of the party machin
cry, all standing committees wer
abolished at former meeting Of tn
State committee. This included the ex
ecutive committee Of which Mr.. Thomp
son was chairman. The matters of differ
ence referred to are due. in no sma
degree, to outsiders, who have consist
entity labored to injure the Progressiv
party. Their efforts are doomed to fail
ure."
The new executive committee are: Dl
H. Nelson Jackson of Burlington, d.
w. j. Aldrich OF St. Johnsbury, w.
Nichols Of Bennington, e. w. Gibson q
Brattleboro NJ NJ, Wilson of Randolph
The old committee We're: c. II. Thomp
son of Montpelier. VI. L. Aseitine of 81
Adams, DR., II. Nelson Jackson OF Bur
ineton, +. L. Kelley Of Salisbury, NJ. NJ
Wilson Of Randolph.