The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-08-17
PARTY CALLS ON
|. GRAHAM TO RESIGN
Resolution Adopted by State
Republican Committee
and Other Leaders
ALLEGED SHORTAGE
CAUSE OF ACTION
Committee Elected to Present Resolu-
tion to the Governor-He Had Been
Notified to Be Present, But Did Not
Apnaar

Appear
BURLINGTON, Aug. 17.-That Gov.
Horace F. Graham should resign his
office as chief executive of the state to
preserve the states fair name, was the
gist of resolutions adopted last evening
at meeting of the state Republican
committee and leaders of the party. The
meeting was one of the most noteworthy
in the history of Vermont Republican
ism and nearly every leader in the state
was in the city, although they were not
admitted to the executive session.
The action taken by the state com
mittee, follows the revelations of dis
erepancies in the ACCOUNTS of Gov. Gra-
ham while he was state auditor. There
is an alleged shortage in the accounts
of more than $4,000 covering a period
of IA years, and this Gov. Graham has
not yet explained satisfactorily.
The resolution as adopted after three
hours consultation is as follows:
'Resolved that it is the Judgment
of the Republican state committee
that the fair name and reputation
of the state of Vermont make il
the duty of Gov. Horace +. Graham
OF Craftsbury to vaeate and resign
his high office at once"
A committee was elected to present
the resolution to the governor.
There was remarkable harmony
among the Republicans, although the
On, ff,,,o Al.
of personal sympathy for a public Off
eial, who has been good executive dur
ing the war stress, TO one of insistcnce
that he IS held to strict account if he is
guilty. 1t was felt by some of the most
influential that in these days of social
unrest the commonwealth cotad not af-
ford to make an exception in the ease
of one so high in office.
The meeting was kept strictly secret.
but it is known that many of the prom
inent Republicans favor criminal prose
eution and state they will insist on it.
There seemed to be little doubt in the
minds of those present that Gov.
Graham had misappropriated funds
while auditor. They pointed to the fact
that since he took the money he had
paid back moro than one-half of it.
This would preclude any belief that he
could find vouchers for the money which
has been expended, no one seems to
know where.
Among the men who sat on the case
IN the afternoon were Congressman
Frank L. Greene, ex-Govs. C. w. Gates
W. W. Stickney and G. II Prouty, Per.
eival W. Clement and editors of the
leading Vermont papers.
Gov. Graham had been notified to be
present, but did not put in an appear.
ance.
1t was rumored about the hotel lobby
following the meeting, that those close
to the governor stated he would not re-
sign.
In case he does resign, Roger w
| Hulburd, lieutenant governor, will steI
| into the chair and this would probably
| have an important bearing on the next
election, for Mr.. Hulburd, while not
entering into the race for the governor
ship, has always been considered one OF
the strongest men in the state.
To the charges made against Gov
Graham, he has only asked the people
to be patient and wait developments
He admitted that he had done wrong
in the manner of handling his expenses
and salary, and for that was extremely
| sorry. just what he meant by this has
not been made clear.
There have been no formal charge:
filed against the governor for his con
duet of affairs as auditor during his IA
| years term in that Office, which ended
two years ago, when he was elected tC
| his present office.