The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-01
Democrats Refuse to Join
Republicans in Petition
to the Governor
THE DIRECT PRIMARY
LAW is INVOLVED
Mayor Burke of Burlington Beaten in
the Plan He Presented-Brown of
Pownal Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee


State Committee.
BURLINGTON, August AT al
meeting of the Democratic state com
mittee he'd at the Van Ness House
last night questions relating to ways
and means of endorsing primary
were discussed, and important business
transacted. Before going into execu-
tive session the members of the state
committee held an open meeting at
which all Democrats present were in
vited to take part in the party coun-
ellis.
Mayor James f. Burke of Burling-
ton was on his feet soon after the
meeting was called to order demanding
that THE Democrats join the Republi-
cans and Progressives in petitioning
the governor for an extra session of
the legislature to enact q primary
law.
Mr.. Burke spoke at some length as
to what the state was expecting of
the Democrats of Vermont and what
the Democrats must do.
When he had completed his argu-
ment II. c. Shurtleff of Montpelier
answered him, taking the ground
that if Mayor Burke s 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 a position OF leadership rather
than to follow this year being the
party of the national administration.
He was heartily in favor of a direct
primary, but not in favor Of the
means of securing one rs suggested by
Mr.. Burke.
Thomas II. Browne of Rutland said
| that while he, too, favored n direct
primary he was Cmphatically opposed
to Mr.. Burke s suggestion.
The state committee went into ex.
ecutive session at o O'Clock and
emerged an hour later. 1t was voted
| by the committee to lay on the table
| the communication from the Republi
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 it wa,
/ left to the chairman to communicate
! this decision to the members of the
party.
This action with reference to {
! primary was based upon writer
opinion submitted to the committee By
Charles ID. Watson of St. Adams
F. C. Brown Elected Chairman.
The resignation Of f. s. Harris Of
| Bennington as chairman and member
Of the committee was accepted, ant
Fred c. Brown of Pownal was clecte,
to take his place, both as membe
from Bennington county and as chair
/ man.
/ The resignation Of A. II. Gleason
Il Of st. Johnsbury as treasurer an,
member was also accepted aud tn,
choice Of his successor in both office
was left to him.
Both Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Gleason
/ resigned because they have recentI1
j become postmasters of their RESPECTIVE,
towns and as federal office holder
felt that they ought not to be active
iy connected with the conduct of par
tisan politics.
The meeting was adjourned, subjec
4 to call of the chairman. All but on
of the members Of the committee wer
present and that one, d. F. Carmod
of Fair Haven, sent an alternate i
the person of John II. Pollard of tn
same town. .
i Prominent members of the Demo
cratic party present in the hotel a
the time of the meeting were Harlan
B. Howe of st. Johnsbury, G. d. Wal
son of st. Adams, National Committee
man Thomas II. Browne of Rutlan
and Martin A. Brown of Wilmington
1t was remarked that with
Browne for national committeemaI
another Brown for chairman of tn
state committee and a third Brow
accused of dispensing federal patron
age, party gatherings would in the fl
ture would resemble a Brown famil
J reunion.