The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-12-02


party in Vermont has a host Of yigor
Gus, aggressive young men standing
for militant American republicanism
Hughes republicanism. II you will
men Of the type Of Congressman
Greene, who can help the two wings O.
the party TO come together in the cam
paign Of 1916.
II the republicans Of Vermont insis
upon the selection Of men Of thi.
stamp to represent them in the next
national convention, and reject any
aspirant who does not measure up e
the standards Of progressive repub'
licanism, they can help pave the way
not only for the reuniting Of the party
in 1916 but also for the election Of a
presidential candidate standing for
vigorous Americanism and genuine
American policies in every particular.
Present indications are that the
younger and more progressive element
Of Vermont republicanism can help
shape the destiny of the nation as did
our Vermont forbears in 1860. The
Vermont delegation then voted for
Lincoln on the second ballot despite
the appeals Of the Seward men to
stand by a New York neighbor, and
helped the Republican party to reach
the political heights under the exalted
leadership of the martyred president.
The younger and more progressive
element of Vermont republicanism
now as in 1896 can smash the slate of
their elders and defy New England
fetch for the choice of man who
stands for political ideals and truly
progressive principles rather than for
mere geography.
Vermont is small State but it
showed that it could help shape the
choice of national convention in
1883, when it was the only State to
vote continuously for Benjamin Harri-
son until he was nominated.
Present indications are that just
such another opportunity will present
itself at the republican national con-
vention of 1916. At this time with
Hughes declining to permit the use of
his name, there is no one man who
stands out clearly and well defined as
the popular standard bearer of the Re-
publican party in the coming national
election
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts is
pushing the candidacy of his col
league, Senator Weeks, and he says |
that every New England State will be
for Weeks. Now Vermont may decide
to support Weeks, but our little State
is not accustomed to be bound and
delivered without any word from the
rank and file of the voters, and until
they speak he will be brave man
who promises the support of Vermont
to any particular candidate.
As matter of fact Senator Lodge
cannot expect the nomination OF
Weeks or any other New England
candidate in the present temper of the
American nation, and every intelll-
gent student Of American politics
knows it. The idea is to hold Vermont
and all the other New England States
lnder the Weeks candidacy, Pennsyl-
,ania under the Penrose candidacy
md so on, until their delegations can
)e delivered to some conservative who
will stand for the things in the nation
hat those men represent.
That is not the way the Vermont
gained distinction in 1860,
1888, and 1896, when they helped lead
he way to the nomination of truly
and successful candi-
lates. 1t will not be the way Vermont
republicans of 1916 will gain distinc-
ion.
If Vermont is free in the coming
ational republican convention to sup
ort a man of the Hughes type and
clip force his nomination, it will do
grand service for our country as
,ell as for our party. There "the
ath Of honor lies. Huntington Free
ress.